Swapping a foreign licence for a Korean one hinges on the embassy confirmation Licences from recognised countries can be exchanged after an aptitude test alone, but the embassy confirmation that must be obtained abroad slows the process.

Apostille Korea said it provides consular legalisation and apostille solutions handled in the country of origin. A driving licence issued abroad cannot be used to drive in Korea on its own, but a holder of a licence issued by a competent foreign authority can apply through the proper procedure to exchange it for a Korean licence.

The exchange scheme and the documents needed

A Canadian citizen surnamed Kim was assigned by his company to work at its Korean branch for about two years. He wanted a Korean driving licence for a reliable commute, but could not spare the time for the long and complex sequence of an aptitude test, a written examination and a practical test. After enquiring with the Korea Road Traffic Authority he was informed of the scheme allowing a foreign licence to be exchanged for a Korean one, and was able to exchange his existing licence through it. The authority states in its driving licence service that a licence issued abroad alone does not permit driving in Korea, but that a holder of a licence issued by a competent foreign authority may apply through the appropriate procedure to have it exchanged for a Korean licence. An applicant for the exchange must provide the original foreign licence, the original passport, the original alien registration card, an embassy confirmation for the licence and an entry and exit record certificate covering the period from the year of birth to the present; the alien registration card is issued by an immigration office and the entry and exit record certificate at a nearby community service centre.

Recognised countries and the embassy confirmation

Once the documents are ready, the next question is whether the licence comes from a country Korea recognises. A licence issued in a recognised country requires only an aptitude test, meaning a physical examination, while a licence from a non-recognised country requires a written examination in addition. The Korea Road Traffic Authority website currently lists around 140 countries across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa as recognised. Of all the paperwork, the item that holds applicants up most is the embassy confirmation for the licence. It is the step that proves the licence was issued lawfully and properly in the country concerned: where that country is not party to the apostille convention, authentication is obtained at the applicant's own embassy locally, and where it is a party, at that country's foreign ministry. Because this is in practice a procedure that has to be carried out in the country of origin, applicants often spend time and money travelling back to their own country to obtain it, and the format and process of the authentication also differ from country to country.

Frequently asked questions

Source: 이투데이 · 2017-05-19