Translation Certificate

Certified Public Translation Attorney

A Certified Public Translation Attorney is a National Attorney appointed by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security to translate foreign documents, to submit those translated documents to Administrative Agencies, Immigration Authority, Courts, Embassies and to issue Certificate of Translation (Form 18 of the Public Administrative Attorney Act) or Translator Confirmation (Attached Form of the Ministry of Justice).

1. Article 2 (Duty) and Article 20 (Issuance of Certificates) of the Public Administrative Attorney Act A Public Translation Attorney is certified to translate foreign documents related to the affairs of the administrative agencies and issue a Certificate of Translation confirmation.

1. Article 5-2 of Notification 2021-253 of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (Submission of Foreign Family Relations) Foreign Family Relations Certificates translated into Korean are recognized as official foreign Certificates if a Certified Public Translation Attorney issues Certificate of Translation for the documents under Article 4 of the Public Administrative Attorney Act.

Certification of Translation

1. Certificate of Translation is only issued by a Certified Public Translation Attorney under Form 18 of Article 13 (2) 2 of the Enforcement Rules of Article 20 (2) of the Public Administrative Attorney Act, and has legal effect for the foreign documents translated into Korean. Certificate of Translation VS. Notarization of Translation

1. Any person shall be sentenced to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to KRW10 million under Article 36 (1) of the Public Administrative Attorney Act if the person who is not a Certified Public Translation Attorney translates any immigration documents for a fee in violation on the Public Administrative Attorney Act.

Certificate of Translation VS. Notarization of Translation

Notarization of Translation

1. If an applicant presents to a notary office to submit foreign language documents with Korean translations or Korean documents with foreign language translations by vowing that the translation is the same as the original documents text, a notary sign and seal Notarization of Translation.

The Question on Notarization of Translation

1. A notary only checks the translation ability and identity of the translator, not verifying the original text is correctly translated. Therefore, the notary is not responsible for any errors in the translation and Notarization of Translation. This is why Embassies including the USA Embassy request certified translations for foreign documents, not Notarization of Translation.

Priorities of Certificate of Translation and Notarization of Translation

1. There are no priorities between the Public Administrative Attorney Act and the Notary Act. Certificate of Translation under the Public Administrative Attorney Act proves that a Certified Translation Attorney correctly translate the original texts, and Notarization of Translation under the Notary Act verifies that a notary checks a translator’s qualifications and personal information. Therefore, Certificate of Translation guarantees accurate translation of the original text.

Advantages of Certificate of Translation

1. The Embassies require the Certificate of Translation because of the reliability of translation.

1. The Certificate of Translation is highly reliable because they are directly translated and issued by a Certified Public Translation Attorney authorized by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. Therefore, The Embassies including USA, Canada, Australia require the Certificate of Translation.

2. The Certificate of Translation is globally recognized as an official Certificate.

1. Since the Certificate of Translation includes a name, a license number, a seal, contact information and an Affidavit, it is recognized as an official translation certificate by the Governments such as the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, the Immigration under the Ministry of Justice and the Embassies and has a legal authorization.

3. Promptly issued without unnecessary waiting.

1. While the person must present to a Notary Office for a notarization, the Certificate of Translation can be issued quickly without unnecessary waiting time.

Translation Requirements

Republic of Korea

1. Articles 2 (Duty) and Article 20 (Issuance of Translation Certificate) of the Public Administrative Attorney Act. A Certified Public Translation Attorney is authorized to translate the documents related to the affairs of the Central Government and administrative agencies and to issue the Certificate of Translation.

1. Article 5-2 (Submission of Foreign Family Relations) of Notification 2021-253 of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Korean version of Foreign Family Relationship Certificates are recognized as official documents if a Certified Public Translation Attorne translates them and attaches with the Certificate of Translation.

USA Embassy

1. “All documents not in English, or in the official language of the country in which application for a visa is being made, must be accompanied by certified translations. The translation must include a statement signed by the translator that states that the Translation is accurate, and, Translator is competent to translate.”[Source : Announcement of USA Embassy]

Australia Embassy

1. “A translator in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. A translator outside Australia does not need to be accredited, but they must endorse the translation with their full name, address, telephone number, and details of their qualifications and experience in the language being translated.”[Source : Announcement of Australian Embassy]

Canada Embassy

1. “All supporting documentation to be included in your application package should be in either English or French. If the document is in another language, you can have the document translated by a qualified translator, but the original document must be included along with the translation and a certification that declares that the translator was accurate in his translation.”[Source : Announcement of Canadian Embassy]

Procedure of Translation Certificate

It is a general translation certification procedure under normal condition, and additional procedures may be carried out according to the
regulations of the Governmental agencies or Embassies to which the documents will be submitted.

Q & A

I need to submit an English Family Relationship Certificate to the Health Insurance Corporation, and do I have to submit it after obtaining a translation notarization?

1. You need to get either Translation Notarization from a Notary or Translation Certificate from a Certified Public Translation Attorney for the Korean translation according to Article 5-2 (Submission of Foreign Family Relations) of Notification 2021-253 of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

I need to translate some Korean Documents in English for submitting them to the UAE Embassy. Please advise me of the translation certification procedure.

1. Korean documents must be translated into English with Certificate of Translation and Affidavit. The translation certification procedure is (1) getting Apostille from Korean MOFA (2) translating those Korean documents into English (3) attaching Certificate of Translation and Affidavit from a Certified Public Translation Attorney.

I am staying in the UAE, and I need to submit my graduation certificate, a marriage certificate, and a birth certificate after getting the Attestation of the UAE Embassy in Korea. Please let me know the Attestation Procedure of the UAE Embassy.

1. The UAE is not a member of the Apostille Treaty. Thus, you need to get the Attestation of the UAE Embassy, not Apostille, and take the following procedure for the Attestation of the UAE Embassy. (1) preparing English documents or translating Korean documents into English (2) translation Notarization for the translated documents (3) getting Confirmation of Korean MOFA (4) paying document attestation fee to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (45 submitting those documents to the UAE Embassy.

Check Points for Translation Certification

1. Check for English Document Issuance

1. You must check whether the documents you want can be issued in English since most of documents and certificates can be issued in English except for Marriage Certificates and some documents issued by the Supreme Court, which are only issued in Korean and must be translated into English.

2. Translation Notarization for Academic Documents

1. Although Graduation Certificates, Degree Certificates, Transcripts and other Academic Documents can be issued in English, they must be translated and notarized for translation because they are issued by the Government or governmental agencies.

3. Translation of non-qualified personnel

1. A Public Translation Attorney is certified to translate the Governmental documents and certificates and issue a Certificate of Translation under Article 2 (Duty) and Article 20 (Issuance of Certificates) of the Public Administrative Attorney Act. If non-qualified person translates documents by violating Article 36 of the Public Administrative Attorney Act, your documents are not accepted by the Government, and the non-qualified translator will be punished with up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.

Inquiry on Apostille / Embassy Attestation / Investment

1. DaeHan Public Administrative Attorney’s Office has specialized in the Translation Certification, Apostille, Embassy Attestation, Certification on KFDA/CE/FDA/, Foreign Invested Corporations (FIC) including Branches and Liaison Offices, Immigration on Public Bond Investment and Real Estate Investment, and has provided Immigration & Investment Solutions, Consulting on D8, D7 Visa, Tax and Marketing. We submit applications for licenses or permits on the behalf of clients.

1. Please contact us for the following issues. (1) Translation Certification, Apostille, Embassy Attestation (2) Certification on KFDA/CE/FDA (3) Establishment of FIC, Branches & Liaison Offices (4) Immigration on Public Bond Investment and Real Estate Investment (5) Visa Consulting on D8, D7, F5, F2, F1 (6) M&A & Technology Outsourcing (7) Stock Market Investment (8) Marketing & Tax Consulting.