Short answer: IRCC's family sponsorship kit contains a Korea-specific requirements block. It names two documents — a family relation certificate issued within 6 months of the application date, and a marriage relation certificate — each submitted as a copy plus a certified translation.
Common beliefs that do not survive checking
- "IRCC requires the 기본증명서." Not confirmed. The Korea block does not list it. Being asked for it in practice is a different thing from IRCC designating it as a requirement, and this page only calls a requirement what IRCC states as one.
- The Korea-specific block exists only in the family class kit. There is no Korea-specific document page for Express Entry or provincial nominee applications; those follow the general requirements.
- "Both parents' names must appear" applies to children. IMM 5533 says: "Provide a copy of the birth certificate for each child showing the names of both parents." It is not a general rule about the principal applicant's own certificate.
- Whether the detailed form is needed is not stated. IRCC does not specify general versus detailed.
- Apostille does not appear in IRCC's requirements at all. Korea joined the Apostille Convention on 14 July 2007 and Canada on 11 January 2024, but the word "apostille" does not appear in IRCC's document requirements. What IRCC asks for is a copy and a certified translation. It is equally inaccurate to say "IRCC states apostille is not needed" — IRCC simply does not mention it.
The Korea block, quoted
Selecting "Republic of Korea" in the family sponsorship application kit produces:
If the principal applicant holds a passport from this country, they must submit
- a copy and certified translation of the "family relation certificate" issued within 6 months of the date they apply
- a copy and a certified translation of your "marriage relation certificate"
The 6-month limit attaches only to the family relation certificate. The marriage relation certificate carries no recency condition. Since it runs to the application date, certificates pulled far in advance can expire before you file — sequence the issuing against your filing date.
Official court English names differ from common translations
Mismatched document names create avoidable officer questions. The Supreme Court of Korea's electronic family register system uses:
| Korean | Official court English | Common mistranslation |
|---|---|---|
| 가족관계증명서 | Family Relations Certificate | — |
| 기본증명서 | Identification Certificate | "Basic Certificate" |
| 혼인관계증명서 | Marriage Relation Certificate | — |
| 영문증명서 | English Certificate of Family Relations | — |
Whether the court's English-language certificate can replace the original plus translation is not addressed by IRCC. Treat the original-plus-certified-translation structure as the default.
General versus detailed forms
The court states:
In principle, the general form… should be used, and the detailed form… only when there exists a special reason.
| Certificate | General form | Detailed form |
|---|---|---|
| Family relations | Living children of the current marriage | All children |
| Identification | Birth, death, loss of nationality | Plus acknowledgement, parental authority, nationality, name change, gender |
| Marriage relation | Current marriage | Marriage and divorce history |
IRCC does not say which it wants. It turns on the facts of your case. If your application declares a prior marriage, for instance, a general marriage relation certificate will not show it — and the file will look inconsistent. This is a genuine case-by-case checkpoint.
When birth documents are missing or do not match
IMM 5533 asks for "Birth certificates or baptismal certificates" for the applicant and family members. Korea has no Canadian-style birth certificate, so the family register documents carry that role.
Where a document does not exist or its contents do not match, IRCC's instruction is: "give an equivalent document that shows the relationship and include a letter of explanation." An explanation letter is the correct move, not forcing a document to fit.
Translation rules — where returns happen
From Guide 5289:
Who may translate
- A translator certified in Canada — a member in good standing of a provincial or territorial translators' association. No affidavit needed.
- A non-certified translator fluent in both languages — an affidavit is mandatory.
Who may not
Translations must not be done by the applicants themselves nor by members of the applicant's family.
That family definition is broad: parents, siblings, spouse, grandparents, children, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and cousins. A bilingual relative cannot do this for you.
Where the affidavit is sworn
- In Canada: a notary public, commissioner of oaths, or commissioner of taking affidavits
- Outside Canada: a notary public
Police certificates — Korea has its own IRCC page
- Document: Criminal (Investigation) Records Check Report (범죄·수사경력 회보서)
- Scope of reference must be set to "For permission of foreign country immigration and stay" (외국 입국 체류 허가용)
- No fee, normally issued immediately
- "Since May 31, 2022, IRCC no longer requires Korean citizens or those who have stayed in the Republic of Korea for more than 6 months to submit police certificates with lapsed records."
- With a criminal record, a non-prosecution notice or non-referral decision may also be required.
Which countries and when is covered in the police certificate guide.
Pre-submission check
- Is the family relation certificate within 6 months of your application date?
- Is the marriage relation certificate included?
- Is the translator neither you nor any relative (cousins included)?
- If non-certified, is the affidavit attached?
- Do the translated document titles match the court's official English names?
- Do the marriage and children declared in your forms actually appear in the documents? If not, you need a detailed form or an explanation letter.
Whether your checklist is IMM 5533 or IMM 5589 is covered in spouse vs common-law.
FAQ
Should I include the 기본증명서 as well? It is not in IRCC's Korea requirements block. It is a useful document when you need to show a name change or nationality history, but it is not a designated requirement. If you were told it is mandatory, ask which document says so.
Can a bilingual family member translate? No. IRCC explicitly bars translations by the applicant and by family members, and that includes cousins.
Do I need an apostille? It does not appear in IRCC's requirements. What is required is a copy plus a certified translation. Other institutions — schools, employers — may have their own rules.
Official sources
- IRCC — Sponsor your spouse or partner: application kit, country-specific requirements (select Republic of Korea)
- IRCC — IMM 5533 document checklist
- IRCC — Guide 5289 (translation requirements and affidavits)
- IRCC Help Centre — no birth certificate, or details do not match
- Supreme Court of Korea — Electronic Family Relations Registration System, certificate types and official English names
- IRCC — Police certificates: Republic of Korea
