Title
Apostille Korea handles legalisation for foreign driving licence exchange in Korea Converting a foreign licence into a Korean one requires paperwork certified by the issuing country, a burden for long-term foreign residents.
- Связанные страны
- 한국
Content
Apostille Korea said it handles the overseas consular legalisation and apostille certification required when a foreign licence holder exchanges that licence for a Korean one. Use of the service is growing among foreign nationals staying in Korea long term.
- The Korea Road Traffic Authority operates an exchange scheme that converts a valid foreign driving licence into a Korean licence.
- A foreign licence alone does not permit driving in Korea, but a licence issued by a competent foreign authority can be submitted for exchange through the proper procedure.
- The exchange requires five to six documents, including the original passport and the original foreign licence.
- Proof that the licence was lawfully issued comes from the foreign ministry in apostille convention countries and from the applicant's own embassy in non-member countries.
What the foreign licence exchange scheme is
The Korea Road Traffic Authority introduced the foreign driving licence exchange scheme so that holders of a valid overseas licence do not have to repeat the entire process of obtaining a Korean licence from scratch. Its driving licence service states that a foreign licence on its own does not allow a person to drive in Korea, while adding that a holder of a licence issued by a competent foreign authority may apply to have it exchanged for a Korean licence through the proper procedure. Using the scheme requires five to six documents, including the original passport and the original foreign licence. As the number of foreign nationals staying in Korea long term grows, so does the number of people turning to the scheme. For foreign licence holders coming to Korea it is a lighter path than acquiring a Korean licence from the beginning.
The certification route depends on convention membership
The step applicants find hardest is proving that the licence was lawfully and properly issued in the country concerned. A licence issued in a country that has joined the apostille convention is certified by that country's foreign ministry, while a licence from a non-member country is certified by the applicant's own embassy. Either route is completed abroad, so travelling to the issuing country in person to collect the paperwork adds considerable time and travel. Procedures and conditions also differ from country to country, and the requirements for obtaining an embassy confirmation letter must be checked separately in advance. Because checking each of these points individually is cumbersome and complicated, more applicants are choosing to work through a specialist office. Apostille Korea supports this stage by handling overseas consular legalisation and apostille certification on the applicant's behalf.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in Korea with only my foreign licence?
No. A foreign licence alone does not permit driving in Korea, and you must go through the exchange procedure.
What documents does the exchange require?
Five to six documents are needed, including the original passport and the original foreign licence.
Where is the licence certified?
In apostille convention countries the foreign ministry certifies it; in non-member countries the applicant's own embassy does.
Source: 브릿지경제 · 2017-06-28