Title
English Family Relationship Certificate now issued, check where to apply The Supreme Court, working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, began issuing the certificate in English linked to passport information.
Content
Apostille Korea said the English Family Relationship Certificate has been issued since 27 December and that applicants should check the issuing routes and the points to verify. Until now, most people obtained the Korean version and then paid for English translation and notarisation themselves. The Supreme Court explained that it introduced the service after criticism that inconsistent translation formats reduced reliability, and to ease the time and cost burden on the public.
- The Supreme Court began issuing the English Family Relationship Certificate on 27 December in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, linked to passport information.
- Residents in Korea apply at a nearby family relations registration office; those abroad visit a Korean diplomatic mission or apply by post.
- Online issuance is possible but requires security software, a public certificate and a printer.
- On an applicant basis the certificate shows only father, mother and spouse; children are not included.
An English original instead of translation and notarisation
On 27 December the Supreme Court announced that, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it had started issuing in English the Family Relationship Certificate previously available only in Korean. Passport information is linked to the issuance. The certificate is one of the documents submitted abroad to prove a family relationship, for immigration, employment, travel and entry screening of minors. Until now most people obtained the Korean version and then had it translated into English and notarised at their own expense. The Supreme Court explained that, although the certificate is widely used abroad, differing translation formats had drawn criticism for reducing reliability. It also stated that the measure is intended to ease the time and cost burden on the public.
Issuing routes and points to check
Residents in Korea can obtain the English certificate at a nearby family relations registration office. Those staying abroad must visit a Korean diplomatic mission or apply by post, which makes the process more cumbersome than at home. Online issuance is also available, but it requires installing various security programs, a public certificate, and a printer to produce the document. The content differs from the Korean version and needs checking. When applied for on an applicant basis, only the father, mother and spouse appear and children are not included, so a separate certificate must be obtained for each child. If no passport information exists, the name is issued in Korean romanisation, which can result in a surname different from the child's, and this deserves attention. Apostille Korea offers issuance in English, translation into a range of languages, and one-stop handling from issuance through delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Where can the English Family Relationship Certificate be obtained?
Residents in Korea can obtain it at a nearby family relations registration office. Those abroad may visit a Korean diplomatic mission or apply by post.
Are children shown on the certificate?
No. When applied for on an applicant basis, only the father, mother and spouse appear. A separate certificate must be obtained for each child.
What happens if there is no passport information?
The name is issued in Korean romanisation. In that case the surname may differ from the child's, so it should be checked.
Source: 디지틀조선일보 · 2019-12-30