Key Summary
- DefinitionThis is a service that issues documents issued overseas locally, notarizes and apostilles them, and delivers them to the country.
- PurposeUsed when local documents such as the US FBI criminal record certificate, driver's license record, or Chinese crime-free certificate and household register are required.
- FeaturesThe direction is opposite to the general authentication for sending Korean documents overseas.
- CautionLocal issuance, certification, and international shipping require additional time and cost.
There are frequently asked questions. “I need documents from the U.S., but I’m in Korea right now. Is this okay?”
Yes. The service for these cases is Overseas Civil Service. Many people don't know what the service is because the name is unfamiliar, but in reality, it is needed quite often.
In this article, we will summarize what overseas document service is, under what circumstances it can be used, and what to keep in mind when proceeding.
What is an overseas civil complaint?
Overseas document service is a service that receives documents issued overseas on your behalf and delivers them to the country.
General document authentication is to certify documents issued in Korea for submission overseas. The opposite is true for overseas complaints. If a document issued by an overseas organization is needed in Korea, it will be issued locally, and if necessary, notarized locally and have an Apostille completed, and then sent to Korea.
The important thing here is that it is not just about issuance. In many cases, local authentication is required to use the document in Korea, but issuance and authentication must be processed locally to enable domestic submission.
In what cases is it necessary?
Let’s look at a case where there are actually a lot of requests.
The most requests are related to the United States. A representative example is the FBI criminal record certificate. It is required for employment, visas, and various qualifications screening, but the issuance process is complicated and it is cumbersome to apply directly in Korea. U.S. driver's license records or licenses are also frequently requested. It is required when you need to exchange your driver's license or prove your career in Korea. School graduation certificate and transcript are also required to prove your study abroad history. There are also requests related to consular services, such as passport extension.
China-related matters are also constant. These are documents such as a certificate of no crime, notarization of the household register, and proof of kinship. It is required for procedures related to international marriage, family relationship verification, and residence status. Chinese driver's license records are also requested.
In addition, requests for educational documents or various certificates from individual countries, such as a Canadian diploma, are received.
Why is it difficult to do it yourself?
The reason why overseas civil complaint requests arise is because it is realistically difficult to process them directly.
First of all, I am not physically in the country. It is burdensome to leave the country with just one document, and even if you apply online, you may be asked for a local address or local payment method.
It does not end once it is issued. In order to use the document in Korea, you often need to get it Apostille or notarized locally, but this is a separate procedure that must go through a local agency again. And the documents must be safely sent to Korea.
You can also ask a local acquaintance, but it is often burdensome because it requires a delegation process or requires traveling to multiple organizations. Moreover, if you proceed without knowing the procedure, you may receive it incorrectly or the certification may be missing and you may have to do it again.
Things to keep in mind when proceeding
Overseas civil complaints tend to take more time and cost than general document verification. This is because the local agency's issuance period remains the same, and local certification procedures and international shipping are added.
So, if you have a set point in time when you need it, it is safe to start with some time to spare. In particular, for documents that take a long time to be issued, such as an FBI criminal record certificate, you must schedule ample time.
It would be best if you let us know the purpose when making a request. Even if the same documents are submitted, the level of certification required varies depending on where they are submitted. This is because it depends on the purpose whether you only need to receive an issuance, whether you need a local Apostille, or whether you need a Korean translation.
It would be good if you let us know when making a request.
When inquiring, please provide the following information so that you can quickly be notified of the availability and schedule.
- What documents are needed from which country?
- Where to submit the documents
- How long will it be needed?
- How much local information do you have?
For example, if it is a US school document, information such as the school name and period of attendance may be required, and if it is a Chinese document, information such as the location of the family register may be required.
Even if there is insufficient information, just let us know what documents you need first and we will provide you with the information necessary to proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the difference between an overseas civil complaint and a regular Apostille?
The direction is reversed. General document authentication is for submitting Korean documents overseas, and overseas document service is for overseas documents to be issued and certified locally for use in Korea.
Q. From which countries are documents accepted?
The most requested requests are from the United States and China, and other countries are also proceeding. Procedures and periods vary depending on the country and type of document, so check first.
Q. How long does it take?
Local certification and international shipping are added to the local agency's issuance period, making it take longer than domestic documents. There is a big difference depending on the type of document, so please let us know when you need it and we will provide you with an estimated schedule.
Q. Why is it more expensive?
This is because local issuance fees, local certification costs, international shipping costs are involved, and procedures must be carried out locally. The structure is different from documents processed domestically.
Q. Are there any documents that I need to apply in person?
Depending on the document, identity verification or delegation procedures may be required. If you tell us what kind of document it is, we will guide you on what you need to prepare.
Conclusion
Overseas document service is a service that receives documents issued overseas, completes authentication, and delivers them to Korea. This applies to local documents required while in Korea, such as the US FBI criminal record certificate or driver's license record, and China's crime-free certificate or household registration book. It is an alternative in situations where it is difficult to leave the country yourself or ask an acquaintance.
Nanum Global processes local issuance, notarization, apostille, and domestic delivery of overseas documents, mainly in the United States and China. We will guide you through what documents are required, what procedures are required, and what information you need to prepare. If you need overseas documents, please let us know the country, type of document, where to submit, and when it is needed. We will reply to you regarding the availability and estimated schedule.
Do you need documents issued overseas?
If you tell us the country, type of document, submission destination, and time of need, we will inform you of whether the process is possible and the expected schedule.
