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Police Clearance Certificates for Korea Immigration
Some visa categories and long-stay applications ask for a police clearance (criminal record certificate) from your country of nationality or recent residence. Requirements are specific about issuance date, apostille, and translation. Prepare early, these documents are often the slowest item in a package.
Updated 2026-09-13 8 min read
When clearance letters appear on checklists
Common contexts include certain work visas, residence categories, and embassy-specific study instructions. Not every D-2 applicant needs one, follow the checklist for your visa code and nationality on HiKorea or via the immigration contact center (1345).
How to obtain and legalize one
- Identify the issuing authority in your country (national police, FBI-style channel, local court, etc.). Korean missions usually want a national-level certificate, not a local precinct letter.
- Request a version that can be apostilled (Hague member countries) or consular-legalized at a Korean embassy if your country is not in the Apostille Convention.
- Complete apostille/legalization in the issuing country.
- Arrange certified translation if the document is not in Korean (or English when accepted).
Issuance windows
Immigration often wants certificates issued within the last 3–6 months (some family/residence checklists specify 3 months). If your embassy appointment slips, you may need a fresh copy. Build buffer time into your Study in Korea or work-visa plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a local police letter instead of a national one?
Only if your checklist accepts it. Many Korean embassies specify a national-level certificate. Confirm before paying fees.
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