Title
Swapping a foreign driving licence for a Korean one turns on the embassy confirmation The Road Traffic Authority runs an exchange scheme for licences issued abroad, but the embassy confirmation of the licence cannot realistically be arranged from inside Korea.
- Related countries
- 한국, 미국
Content
Apostille Korea said it provides an agency service for consular legalisation and apostille certification carried out abroad. The company said the service is aimed at users who struggle to obtain the embassy confirmation required when exchanging a foreign driving licence for a Korean one. Because that confirmation is difficult to arrange from inside Korea, preparing it takes considerable time and expense.
- A driving licence issued by a competent authority abroad can be exchanged for a Korean licence.
- The required papers are the original foreign licence, the original passport, the original alien registration card, an embassy confirmation of the licence and an entry and exit record certificate covering the period from the year of birth to the present.
- Licences from countries whose licences Korea recognises require only the aptitude test, while licences from other countries also require the written examination.
- The embassy confirmation is certified by the foreign ministry of the issuing country if it is a party to the apostille convention, and by that country's embassy locally if it is not.
The exchange scheme and the papers it calls for
An American resident of Jongno-gu in Seoul, identified as J, found that his international driving permit had expired just as a job in Korea was confirmed, and he set out to obtain a Korean driving licence. Faced with a complicated issuing process, he was informed by the Road Traffic Authority of a scheme allowing a foreign licence to be exchanged for a Korean one, and through it he converted his existing foreign licence. According to the authority's driver licensing service, a holder of a licence issued by a competent authority abroad must present the original foreign licence, the original passport, the original alien registration card, an embassy confirmation of the licence, and an entry and exit record certificate covering the period from the year of birth to the present. Of these, the alien registration card is issued by the immigration office and the entry and exit record certificate by a community service centre near the applicant's residence.
The embassy confirmation is the hardest item
Once the papers are in order, the next question is whether Korea recognises licences from the issuing country. A licence from a recognised country requires only the aptitude test, meaning the physical examination, while a licence from a country outside that list requires the written examination as well. The Road Traffic Authority's website lists more than 140 recognised countries across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Among all the required papers, the embassy confirmation of the licence involves the most complicated procedure. This document exists to verify that the foreign licence is genuine, and where the issuing country is not a party to the apostille convention it must be certified by that country's embassy locally, while for a convention country it must be certified by that country's foreign ministry. Since it cannot realistically be arranged from inside Korea, many applicants spend considerable time and money assembling it. Apostille Korea said that because the format and procedure for the certification differ from country to country, it is safer to work through a specialist office.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign driving licence be exchanged for a Korean one?
Yes, if the licence was issued by a competent authority abroad. The original foreign licence, the original passport, the original alien registration card, an embassy confirmation of the licence and an entry and exit record certificate are required.
Do I have to take a test again?
A licence from a country whose licences Korea recognises requires only the aptitude test, while a licence from a country outside that list also requires the written examination. The Road Traffic Authority's website lists more than 140 recognised countries.
Where is the embassy confirmation obtained?
If the issuing country is a party to the apostille convention, it is certified by that country's foreign ministry; if not, by that country's embassy locally. Since it cannot realistically be arranged from inside Korea, Apostille Korea handles the procedure on the applicant's behalf.
Source: 아시아뉴스통신 · 2017-05-03