Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kiwiduncan]

Firstly, to the readers and MODs, sorry for posting here rather than in the Job Discussion forum, but I need an answer as soon as possible.

I now have my British Subject Access letter (crc) in my hot little hands in New Zealand and now simply have to have it apostilled and sent to Korea.

I'm still hearing conflicting reports about whether this document needs to be notarised before I send it to the British High Commission (Embassy) in Wellington for the apostille. Even the lady at the High Commission doesn't know if it needs notarization and the New Zealand lawyers are not too sure if they can notarize it as they probably don't even know what the original British Subject Access document looks like.

For those British subjects who have had their SAs apostilled, was the notarization a requirement made by the British officials before they would notarize it, or was it demanded by the Korean Immigration Service?

From what I understand, the Korean Immigration Service just wants to see that the CRC has been apostilled, so if the British High Commission in Welington is happy to apostille my original Subject Access letter without demanding notarization, I should be ok shouldn't I?

Cheers, Duncan

[Juregen]

The notarization is for the people who will do the apostillization.

[Chambertin]

According to the official (domestic) process it needs a notary stamp.

However-

As I said "believe them over me", if those who do the apostille don�t know or don�t care about the notary requirements then let them certify it.
Those who receive the document in Korea only care about the apostille as it certifies the document per the HCCH treaty for use abroad. The notary is to certify the document locally, the Apostille Internationally.

Let them go with it if they don�t care about the notary.
Make sure you copy the original though, don�t get stuck without a backup in your hand.

After reading the "full text" pertaining to Apostille,
http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.text&cid=41

It does not state that the notary is required for the Apostille letter to be valid. The Letter which certifies the documents authenticity for foreign use is all that is needed. The notary is a requirement the certifying agency adds to ensure they don�t certify a defunct copy.

In other words, you don�t need a notary for a legal apostille. Yet the agency which gives the apostille may require a notary stamp.

From what I read if they want to give apostille without the notary stame they can do so.

[kiwiduncan]

Thanks Juregen and Chambertin. I'll relay this message on to the lady at the High Commission. Cheers