Several Korean visa categories require a criminal background check — specifically a police clearance certificate (범죄경력증명서 또는 해외범죄경력증명서) from your home country or countries where you have lived. Getting this wrong (wrong document type, missing apostille, expired) is a common reason E-2 and E-7 applications are delayed. This guide explains which visas require it, how to get one, and how to prepare it correctly for Korean immigration.
The following visa categories require a criminal background check as a standard document:
• E-2 (English Language Instructor): Mandatory — required at both the initial application and at each renewal. Must be an apostilled national-level check (not just a local police check).
• Required for the initial application. Some occupation codes may have waivers at extension.
• E-1 (Professor): Required for initial application.
• E-3 (Research) and E-4 (Technology Transfer): Required for initial application.
• F-5 (Permanent Residency): Required — covers all countries where you have lived for 1+ year.
• Naturalization (귀화): Required.
• D-8-4 (Tech Startup): Required.
• G-1 (Humanitarian): Required in many cases.
Generally NOT required for: C-3 short-stay visas, D-2 student visas (initial application), most F-series extensions.
Korean immigration requires a national-level criminal background check — not a local or state-level check. This is important:
• USA: The FBI Identity History Summary (officially the 'FBI Criminal Background Check') is the correct document — NOT a state-level check. Available via the FBI website or an approved channeler (Identity History Summary Checks at fbi.gov). Processing via FBI directly: 2–12 weeks. Via a USDOJ-approved channeler: 2–5 business days.
• UK: The DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Basic Disclosure is used for UK residents. Non-residents must use the ACPO/National Police Chiefs' Council certificate. Apply at acro.police.uk.
• Canada: RCMP Certified Criminal Record Check (Level 2). Apply via RCMP directly or an approved fingerprint agency. Processing: 3–8 weeks.
• Australia: Australian Federal Police National Police Check. Apply online at afp.gov.au. Processing: 15 business days average.
• Philippines: NBI Clearance (National Bureau of Investigation). Apply at nbi.gov.ph or NBI offices. Quick processing (same day to 1 week for most applicants).
• India: Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the Passport Seva Kendra or the Ministry of External Affairs. Processing: 1–4 weeks.
• Other countries: Contact the Korean consulate in your country for the specific accepted document. Generally, the national police authority's certificate is required — local equivalents are not accepted.
For countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention (most countries — 125+ members), the criminal background check must be apostilled before submission to Korean immigration.
• The apostille is applied by the designated competent authority in the issuing country — typically the foreign affairs ministry, the supreme court, or a designated state/national authority.
• USA: The FBI check can be apostilled by the US Department of State (in Washington DC). Some approved channelers handle this step too.
• UK: DBS certificates can be apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office.
• Australia: The AFP check can be apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
For non-Hague countries (some Middle Eastern, African, and Southeast Asian countries), authentication through the Korean embassy in your country is required instead of apostille. This typically adds 2–4 weeks.
Always check the current apostille requirements at hcch.net for your country.
Korean immigration typically requires a criminal background check issued within 6 months of the visa application date. This means:
• Start the process well in advance — the FBI check alone can take up to 12 weeks
• For E-2 renewals: you will need a new check each time unless your immigration office accepts an earlier one
• For F-5 applications: the check must cover ALL countries where you have lived for 1 year or more, not just your home country — if you lived in Japan for 2 years, you need a Japanese police clearance as well
Note: If the issued certificate expires before your visa is approved (unlikely but possible for slow applications), you may need to get a new one.
1. Using a state-level check instead of national — Korean immigration requires national-level (FBI for USA, RCMP for Canada, AFP for Australia). State police checks are not accepted.
2. Missing apostille — Many applicants forget the apostille step. The original certificate without apostille will be rejected.
3. Expired certificate — If the check was issued more than 6 months ago, you need a new one.
4. Wrong translation — The Korean consulate or immigration officer may require a certified Korean translation of the certificate. A general translation agency is usually acceptable; confirm with the consulate.
5. Forgetting other countries — For F-5 and naturalization applications, forgetting to include checks from other countries where you lived long-term is a common omission.
For USA: use an FBI-approved channeler (like Accurate Biometrics or IdentoGo) for the fastest national check — turnaround is 2–5 business days vs. weeks via FBI directly.
Get your apostille done simultaneously with the criminal check by using a service that handles both steps together.
Order 2 original apostilled copies at once — you may need one for the visa and one for the employer's file, and getting a second copy later takes as long as the first.
For E-2 teachers: start the background check process the moment you receive a job offer — the check timeline is the longest single step in the E-2 application.
도움이 필요하신가요?
저희 전문가들은 criminal background check for korean visa — apostille, fbi check, country-by-country guide 사례를 정기적으로 처리하며 한국 출입국관리소가 요구하는 사항을 정확히 알고 있습니다.
전문가 찾기Does a criminal record automatically disqualify me from a Korean visa?
Not automatically. Minor offences (traffic violations, misdemeanors) may not bar you from a Korean visa. Serious offences — violent crimes, drug-related charges, sexual offences — typically result in refusal. Undisclosed convictions discovered by immigration can result in deportation and a long-term ban. If you have any criminal history, consult an 행정사 before applying.
I have lived in multiple countries. Do I need checks from all of them?
For F-5 (permanent residency) and naturalization applications, yes — Korean immigration requires checks from every country where you have lived for 1 year or more within the past 5–10 years (check the specific requirement for your application type). For initial work visa applications (E-2, E-7), typically only your home country check is required.
My FBI check came back blank (no record). Is that the correct document?
Yes. An FBI Identity History Summary with no criminal record shows 'No Criminal Record' or 'No Arrest' — this is the correct document to submit. A blank or 'no record' result is the normal outcome for most applicants and is what immigration wants to see.
How long does the full process take for an American (FBI + apostille)?
Via FBI directly + State Department apostille: 10–16 weeks total. Via an FBI-approved channeler + apostille service: 2–4 weeks. Plan accordingly — for E-2 applications especially, the background check is typically the longest single step.