Starting this month, an apostille for a disability certificate can be issued online immediately from anywhere at home or abroad.
An apostille is a certification system that verifies the authenticity of a document so that an official document issued in Korea can be recognized for its public effect overseas. Until now, online apostille issuance services were provided for a total of 42 types of official documents, including family relation certificates.
A disability certificate apostille is used to prove disability when getting a job or continuing studies overseas and when obtaining a local ID. To receive a disability certificate apostille, people had to visit the integrated civil service office of the Overseas Koreans Agency in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, in person or apply by mail. Mail applications took 7–10 days.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Overseas Koreans Agency said on the 30th that they will begin online apostille issuance services for disability certificates on the 31st.
With the two agencies linking their systems this time, the process has been streamlined. For Korean- or English-language disability certificates issued on or after Aug. 1 this year, an apostille certificate can be issued online starting on the 31st.
First, obtain a disability certificate from Bokjiro or Government24, then go to the apostille website, complete identity verification, and enter the information of the document. Even if the disability certificate was issued at a community service center, online apostille application is possible.
Park Moon-su, head of the Disability Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, "People with disabilities seeking benefits in foreign countries can now conveniently submit their disability certificates," and added, "Active cooperation among relevant ministries is needed to continue improving convenience for people with disabilities."
Guk Seung-yong, Head of Team of the information technology task force (TF) at the Overseas Koreans Agency, said, "In consultation with related agencies, we will continuously expand the types of documents eligible for online apostille issuance to improve convenience for the public in civil affairs."