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Information on the Criminal Background Check

Update: As of August 1st, 2010 criminal background checks must be no more than 3 months old when submitted.
Update: As of April 10th, some consulates request another photocopy of the background check. Be sure to keep a photocopy of the background check.

Canadian Citizens:

You must request a regular criminal background check and then have it notarized by the Korean Consulate assigned to your area. Here is a step-by-step of the process:

1. Visit your local police department and request a Criminal Background Check. Note: As of June 2009 they are no longer requesting the Vulnerable Sector Search. Just a regular background check is acceptable.
2. Once you receive the check, you must have it notarized by a Notary Public or a lawyer.  Example of a company that provides the service: http://www.redsealnotary.com Inexpensive service in Toronto: http://www.toronto-notary-public.com/index.htm
3. Once your police check is notarized, you must bring it or mail it to your closest Korean consulate for their stamp of approval.  The cost for this is $2.20-$4.40 (cash or money order)  If you live too far, you can mail it, including the fee and the criminal background check along with a copy of your passport. If going in person, be sure to bring your passport as well. Here is the information depending on where you are:

Montreal Consulate

Toronto Consulate

Vancouver Consulate

Ottawa Consulate

U.S. Citizens:

Major Update as of August 1st, 2010:

US Citizens must now provide an FBI level check in order to obtain their Alien Registration Card upon arrival in Korea. There is a grace period until January 1st, 2011 where to start the visa process, a state-level check may be submitted to obtain the visa confirmation number. Since the FBI check takes up to 12 weeks, applicants before January 1st, 2011 should first obtain the state-level check and then obtain the FBI-level check.

FBI Check Application: Click Here (will open in new window)

IMPORTANT: When sending in the application for FBI check, make sure to include a separate note stating: "Please provide an FBI seal and signature from a Division Officer for the purpose of obtaining a Federal Apostille."
(You will need to make sure this is done as the FBI check needs this signature on it in order for you to be able to get an Apostille, which is the next step. It must be requested specifically and can just be written on a piece of paper and included in the application.)

FBI Check Apostille: Click Here (will open in new window)

From August 1st till December 31st 2010:

You must receive a criminal background check from your State police and then receive an Apostille from the state verifying the authenticity of the document. Important: The background check must be issued by the state and mailed or handed to you as opposed to an online search that you print off. There should be a signature from the person who did the search. If it is an online search you do yourself and print, it won't be accepted. See the list below to search for your state.

  Here is a step-by-step of the process:

1. Start with the list below. If you are unable to get the proper info there, call or visit your local police department and request a contact number for obtaining a criminal background check at the state level. Alternatively, do a Google Search on your state for a state-wide background check.
2. Once you receive the check, you must have it authenticated by the state.  To do this, you must mail or bring it into the authority (usually Office of the Secretary of State) that does this. Check our list below.
3. In most cases, it is the Office of the Secretary of State that issues the Apostille. We have a list of the latest links, contact and fees here. The links change frequently, so it is best to call before sending your documents to get the Apostille.
   
4. Note: In addition to the Apostille stamp, there is also a paper that they issue with a list you see below with the items 1-9. Please be sure that you receive that paper as well as the stamp. (Sometimes it is all on one paper)
   
   Sample at the bottom of this page. Technically each state is allowed and does have their own form but each one should have the following information on it
   
   1. Name of the country from which the document emanates;
   2. Name of person signing the document;
   3. The capacity in which the person signing the document has acted; in the case of unsigned documents, the name of the authority which has affixed the seal or the stamp;
   4. Place of certification;
   5. Date of certification;
   6. The authority issuing the certificate;
   7. Number of certificate;
   8. Seal or stamp of authority issuing the certificate;
   9. Signature of authority issuing certificate
   Immigration is unable to recognize apostilles that don't fit these guidelines.
   
   
   The list is also included at the bottom of this page for your convenience.

All other applicants:

You must receive a criminal background check from your local police department and then have it verified as per the instructions of your local Korean Embassy.  Please call the consulate or embassy in your area in order to be updated on their latest requirements for the criminal background check:

UK
http://www.koreanembassy.org.uk/

Click here for a link to a company that provides disclosures for the UK In the UK, it is called Basic Disclosure

Click here for info on how to get an Apostille

Ireland

Apostille info:

The Department of Foreign Affairs
Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs
69 - 71 Hainault House
St. Stephen’s Green
DUBLIN 2
IRELAND

Telephone: +353 1 408 2174
+353 1 408 2322
Website: www.dfa.ie

Department of Foreign Affairs-Consular Services
1a South Mall
CORK
Ireland
Telephone: +353 21 494 4777
Fax: +353 21 494 4772
E-mail:  NA
Price: € 20 for each Apostille.
Useful Links: http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=268
http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/home/index.aspx?id=268

Australia
Korean Consulate(61-2-9221-3866 or 61-2-6270-4100)

The Secretary to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
R.G. Casey Building
John McEwen Crescent
Barton, ACT 0221
Australia.

New Zealand
http://www.koreanembassy.org.nz/

Department of Internal Affairs, Authentication Unit
By Courier
Authentication Unit
Level 13
Prime Property Tower
86-90 Lambton Quay
Wellington 6011
New Zealand

By Standard post
Authentication Unit
c/o The Translation Service
PO Box 805
Wellington 6140
New Zealand 
Telephone: +64 (4) 470 2928
Fax: +64 (4) 470 2921
E-mail: authentication@egs.govt.nz
Contact person: Carlee Reid
Website - http://www.dia.govt.nz/apostille
Price: NZD $40 per Apostille certificate
NZD $15 per copy Certificate (Apostille of identical document / same issuing authority)

South Africa
(27-12)460-2508

Apostille info:

Any magistrate or additional magistrate
Any registrar or assistant registrar of the Supreme Court of South Africa
Any person designated by the Director-General: Justice
Any person designated by the Director-General: Foreign Affairs
Address: Any registrar or assistant registrar of the Supreme Court of South Africa:

Physical Address :
Constitutional Court
Constitution Hill
(cnr Queen- and Sam Hancock/Hospital Streets)
BRAAMFONTEIN

Postal Address:
Constitutional Court
Constitution Hill
Private Bag X1
BRAAMFONTEIN 2017
South Africa
Telephone: +27 (11) 403-8032
+27 (11) 359-7460
Fax: +27 (11) 403-6524
website: http://www.concourt.gov.za

Department of Justice
Postal address
Private Bag X81
PRETORIA, 0001

Street address
Momentum Centre
329 Pretorius Street (c/o Pretorius and Prinsloo Streets) PRETORIA
South Africa
Telephone: +27 (12) 315 1111
Fax: +27 (12) 357 1112
General website: http://www.doj.gov.za

Here is a partial list of where to get a state-level Criminal Background Check in the US. Note: links can change often. If a particular link doesn't work, please try a Google search and then consult with us if having difficulty locating the source you are looking for. In most states, it is the Department of Public Safety that issues state-wide checks.

State Authentication Authorities (From http://travel.state.gov) Note: We update our list regularly, but links and fees can change. Please call to verify.

US Criminal Background Check Sample:
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US Apostille Sample:
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