Short answer: If your degree was issued by a Korean university and you need it recognized in another Hague Convention country — like India — the exact steps depend on whether the university is public or private. Private university documents usually need lawyer/notary certification first, then confirmation from South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). After that, the apostille is valid in all other Hague member countries, without needing embassy legalization.

Why you’d need this

Common reasons someone apostilles a Korean degree certificate:

  • Applying for further study abroad using your Korean degree as a prerequisite
  • Applying for a job overseas that requires credential verification
  • Immigration or work visa applications in another country
  • Professional licensing or credential evaluation abroad

Step 1 — Check if your university is public or private

This matters because it changes your first step:

  • Public university documents can usually go straight to apostille confirmation, since they’re issued by a government-recognized institution.
  • Private university documents (in English) typically need to be notarized by a lawyer or notary public first, before applying for the MOFA apostille confirmation.

If you’re not sure which category your university falls into, ask your university’s registrar or international office — they usually know the exact requirement, since they handle this for graduating international students regularly.

Step 2 — Get the certificate ready

  • Request an original degree certificate or an official true copy from your university’s registrar — not a photocopy you made yourself.
  • If English and Korean versions exist, confirm with the receiving country which language version they need apostilled — sometimes both.

Step 3 — Notarize (if a private university document)

Take the document to a , who certifies the document or the translator’s signature, if a translation is attached. This step doesn’t apply if your university is public and the document is already treated as an official government-recognized record.

Step 4 — Apply for MOFA apostille confirmation

Submit to MOFA’s Consular Service (in Seoul) or apply online if your document type is eligible for the e-Apostille service — see our full for the counter address, fees, and processing time. You’ll need:

  • The original (or notarized) certificate
  • Your passport or ID
  • The apostille request form

Step 5 — Confirm the destination country accepts a straight apostille

Since Korea and most countries — including India — are both members of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille from Korean MOFA is generally sufficient; no additional embassy legalization is required. If the destination country is not a Hague member, you’ll need consular/embassy legalization instead, which is a separate, longer process.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Applying for apostille on a photocopy instead of an original or an officially certified true copy.
  • Skipping notarization for a private university document that required it.
  • Not checking whether the destination institution wants the apostille on the original, the translation, or both.
  • Waiting until close to a deadline — build in a few extra days for notarization plus MOFA processing.
Need an Indian degree apostilled instead?

If you already hold an Indian degree certificate and need it apostilled for use abroad, that’s a separate India-side MEA process — see our service.

FAQ

Do all Korean degree certificates need notarization before apostille? No — this mainly applies to private university documents. Public university documents are usually accepted for apostille without a separate notarization step, but confirm with your specific university.

Can I apostille a translated version of my degree certificate? Yes, if the destination country requires an English or other-language version — see our . The apostille can go on the notarized translation, the original, or both.

Is a Korean degree apostille valid in India? Yes. Both Korea and India are Hague Apostille Convention members, so a Korean MOFA apostille is recognized directly in India without further embassy attestation.

How long does it take to apostille a Korean degree certificate? Notarization, if needed, adds a few days; MOFA apostille confirmation itself is typically processed within a few business days once submitted correctly.

Next steps with VerifiedApostille

If instead you need an Indian degree, marksheet, or transfer certificate apostilled for use in Korea, message us on — we handle the MEA apostille remotely and courier the original to South Korea.