Local Hires Now Require Apostilled or Legalized Documents

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At a Glance

• The Korean Immigration Service now requires applicants for the E-7 Visa (Particular Occupation Visa, used for local hires) to apostille or legalize their work experience certificates and educational degree certificates that support their visa applications.

• This new requirement may, in certain cases, extend the E-7 Visa application process, though processing times, fees, requirements and process steps for the apostille and/or legalization process varies by consular post.

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The situation

The Korean Immigration Service now requires applicants for the E-7 Visa (Particular Occupation Visa, which are used by foreign nationals directly hired by a Korean company under a local employment contract) to apostille or legalize their work experience certificates and educational degree certificates.

A closer look

E-7 Visa applicants will need to visit the issuing country's foreign affairs ministry (if the document was issued in an apostille convention nation) or will need to legalize their documents at a South Korean consular post (if it was issued in a non-apostille convention nation).

Processing times, fees, requirements and process steps will vary across Korean consular posts.

Impact

Because the new requirement may extend the E-7 Visa application preparation time, affected foreign nationals should plan to initiate the visa process farther in advance.

Noncompliance will mean rejection of the E-7 Visa application.

Background

This additional restriction imposed on the E-7 Visa is consistent with existing government efforts to protect local workers and ensure that they are given preference in hiring decisions.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].