Obtaining certificates

Life in Korea involves a lot of document requests. Knowing where to get them helps.

Commonly needed certificates

• Certificate of alien registration — for residence, contracts and banking. Immigration, Gov24 or community centre.
• Certificate of entry and exit records
• Health insurance qualification certificate — NHIS (1577-1000) or Gov24.
• Income and tax payment certificates — Hometax or a tax office.
• Family relation and marriage certificates — for Korean nationals or where a marriage exists. Community centre or the Supreme Court's family registration system.
• Employment and career certificates — request from your employer.
• Criminal record certificate — police station. Requirements differ by purpose.

Where to get them

1. Gov24 (www.gov.kr) — online, with identity verification.
2. Community service centre — the surest route. Bring your Alien Registration Card.
3. Unmanned document kiosks — in subway stations and community centres, some open 24 hours.
4. The relevant agency — immigration (HiKorea), NHIS, tax offices.

Tips

• Confirm exactly which document is needed. Similarly named documents are often different.
• Say what it is for and staff will identify the right one.
• If you need an English certificate, request it in advance. Only certain documents are available in English.
• Some documents have validity periods. Don't obtain them too far ahead.

Where to go

• Gov24 www.gov.kr · 1588-2188
• Your local community service centre
• 1345 HiKorea (residence-related certificates)
• 1577-1000 National Health Insurance Service
• 126 National Tax Service (tax certificates)
• 1577-1366 interpretation

Questions people ask

I don't know which document is needed. Ask whoever requested it for the exact name. Then give that name at the community centre.

I need it in English. Some agencies issue English versions. Ask in advance.

Can someone collect it for me? It depends on the document. A power of attorney and both parties' ID are often required.

Are there fees? It varies by document. Online is sometimes cheaper.

Take care

Forging a certificate or using someone else's is a serious crime, leading to cancellation of residence status and prosecution. If lacking a document leaves you stuck, explain your situation to 1345 or the community centre and ask what can be done.

Related

government-24 · community-center · id-verification · seal-registration

Source

Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Gov24 www.gov.kr / As of 2026-08