Title
Local apostille steps stalled by border controls, handled remotely by Apostille Korea With travel from Europe to the United States suspended and movement blocked, obtaining apostille certification from a foreign ministry or state department in person has become impractical.
- Related countries
- 미국, 한국
Content
Apostille Korea said it provides a contactless agency service for people who can no longer obtain a local apostille or embassy legalisation in person because of border controls. Documents can be requested from anywhere in the world without a computer, printer, scanner or digital certificate.
- In Europe, confirmed cases passed 20,000 in Italy, 7,000 in Spain and 5,000 in France, while the United States passed 3,000, centred on Washington State and New York State.
- Following an announcement on the 12th, the United States suspended entry from Europe for 30 days from the 13th, and on the 15th widened it to 28 European countries including the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- The apostille is based on the convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents, letting a document be used abroad on the strength of the issuing state's certification alone.
- Some 120 countries have joined the apostille convention, including Korea, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan.
When movement stopped, so did legalisation
COVID-19 spread rapidly through Europe and the United States. In Europe, confirmed cases passed 20,000 in Italy, 7,000 in Spain and 5,000 in France, and in the United States the count passed 3,000, centred on Washington State in the west and New York State. Following an announcement on the 12th, the United States suspended entry from Europe for 30 days from the 13th, and on the 15th extended the measure to 28 European countries including the United Kingdom and Ireland. As movement was cut off, paperwork for emigration, study, employment and international marriage abroad was disrupted alongside it. The local apostille and embassy legalisation that documents submitted abroad always require became particularly hard to obtain. An American preparing to join a multinational company in Italy has to return to the United States for the local apostille on a graduation certificate and transcript, but travel closed off with the submission deadline approaching. Someone who finished school in the United States and is job-hunting in Korea faces the same halt: after obtaining the FBI Check an employer asked for, apostille certification must be obtained from the state department there.
Why an apostille is needed and how it is handled
The apostille rests on the convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents. Certification by the foreign ministry of the issuing country is enough for the document to be used in the receiving country, with no further check by an embassy. Some 120 countries have joined the convention, among them Korea, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan. Through an overseas network built up over several years, Apostille Korea lets users complete issuance, translation, notarisation, foreign ministry apostille, embassy legalisation and overseas delivery without travelling themselves. A request takes a few clicks online or by mobile, and documents can be requested from anywhere in the world without a computer, printer, scanner or digital certificate. Work sent from Korea abroad, from abroad to Korea and from one foreign country to another is all covered.
Frequently asked questions
What is an apostille?
It is the arrangement under the convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents. Certification by the issuing country's foreign ministry alone allows the document to be used abroad, with no further check by an embassy.
How many countries have joined the apostille convention?
Some 120 countries, including Korea, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan.
Can an apostille be obtained without travelling to the country concerned?
Apostille Korea handles issuance, legalisation and delivery through its local network. Requests are made online or by mobile, and no scanner or digital certificate is needed.
Source: 이투뉴스 · 2020-03-17