Title
Apostille Korea handles embassy confirmation letters for foreign licence conversion in Korea A foreign licence alone does not permit driving in Korea, but a licence issued by a competent foreign authority can be exchanged for a Korean one.
- Related countries
- 한국
Content
Apostille Korea said it handles the embassy confirmation letter that foreign residents need when converting a foreign driving licence into a Korean one. Among the required documents, the embassy confirmation letter effectively cannot be obtained inside Korea, leaving applicants to spend considerable time and money. Apostille Korea supports the consular legalisation and apostille steps carried out overseas.
- A driving licence issued abroad does not on its own permit driving in Korea.
- Licences from countries recognised by Korea require only an aptitude test, while those from non-recognised countries also require a written exam.
- Conversion requires the original foreign licence, original passport, original alien registration card, an embassy confirmation letter and an entry-exit record certificate.
- The confirmation letter is authenticated by the foreign ministry in apostille member states and by the local embassy in non-member states.
The exam depends on whether the country is recognised
According to the driving licence service of the Korea Road Traffic Authority, a licence issued abroad does not by itself allow a person to drive in Korea. However, holders of a licence issued by a competent foreign authority may apply to exchange it for a Korean licence. The first point to check is whether the applicant's country of nationality is recognised by Korea for licence purposes. Where the licence comes from a recognised country, only an aptitude test, that is a physical examination, is required; where it comes from a non-recognised country, a written exam is required in addition. The authority's website lists around 140 recognised countries across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The submitted supporting documents are also reviewed as part of the exchange procedure.
The hardest document to obtain is the embassy confirmation letter
Applicants must submit the original foreign licence, the original passport, the original alien registration card, an embassy confirmation letter for the licence, and an entry-exit record certificate covering the period from the year of birth to the present. The alien registration card is issued by the immigration office, and the entry-exit record certificate can be obtained at a nearby community service centre. Of these, the embassy confirmation letter is by far the most complicated to obtain. Because it exists to verify that the foreign licence is genuine, it must be authenticated by the local embassy of the applicant's country when that country is not a party to the apostille convention, and by that country's foreign ministry when it is. As the step cannot realistically be completed inside Korea, many applicants have absorbed long waits and high costs. Since the format and procedure differ from country to country, it is safer to confirm the applicable requirements before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in Korea with my foreign licence?
No. A licence issued abroad does not on its own permit driving in Korea. You need to apply to exchange it for a Korean licence.
What exams are required?
If the licence comes from a country recognised by Korea, only an aptitude test is required. If it comes from a non-recognised country, a written exam is required as well.
Where is the embassy confirmation letter obtained?
If the applicant's country is not a party to the apostille convention, it is authenticated at that country's local embassy. If it is a party, authentication is done by that country's foreign ministry. The step is difficult to complete from within Korea.
Source: 문화뉴스 · 2017-03-29