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Business Registration Certificate in Korea: Documents Foreign Companies Need
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Last updated: October 2026
Short answer: A foreign company needs two registrations in Korea. Corporate registration at the court registry creates the company. Business registration at the National Tax Service gives you the business registration certificate (사업자등록증), which lets you trade, issue tax invoices and pay tax. Most delays come from parent company documents: missing apostilles, translations that don't match the original, and details that differ between documents.
This guide covers what you must produce, who produces it, how it must be certified, and what gets applications rejected. For the full service, see our page on Korea company registration.
Two Registrations, Two Certificates
| Corporate registration (법인등기) | Business registration (사업자등록) | |
|---|---|---|
| Filed with | District court registry | National Tax Service (local tax office) |
| What it does | Creates the legal entity | Lets you trade, invoice and pay tax |
| What you get | Certificate of corporate registration (법인등기부등본) and corporate registration number | Business registration certificate (사업자등록증) and business registration number |
| Order | First | Second, generally within 20 days of starting business |
You need both, in that order. Banks, landlords and customers will ask for the business registration certificate again and again.
Documents From the Parent Company
These come from your home country, so their timing is outside Korea's control. Start them first.
- Certificate of incorporation of the parent company
- Articles of incorporation or equivalent constitutional documents
- Board resolution approving the Korean entity and appointing its representative
- Power of attorney for the local agent who files for you
- Certificate of good standing or equivalent, where requested
Apostille or Consular Legalisation
Foreign documents must be authenticated. If your country belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille is enough. If not, you need consular legalisation through a Korean embassy or consulate, which usually takes longer.
Both routes then need a certified Korean translation. A document with a perfect apostille and a poor translation is rejected just as quickly as one with no apostille.
Documents for the Korean Entity
- Company name, cleared against the commercial register through the Internet Registry Office
- Registered office address, backed by a lease agreement
- Articles of incorporation for the Korean company, notarised
- Capital deposit certificate from the bank holding the capital account
- Representative director details, including a passport copy
- Shareholder and beneficial owner information
- Corporate seal (법인인감) and seal certificate
A Note on Virtual Offices
A registered address is mandatory. Shared and serviced offices are common and usually accepted. A purely nominal address causes trouble later, especially at the bank, where compliance teams look for a real place of business. Choose the address with the bank in mind, not just the registry.
Extra Documents for Foreign-Invested Status
If you want foreign-invested company status, which supports the D-8 visa and protects profit repatriation, you also need:
- Foreign investment notification, filed before any capital is sent
- Proof of inbound remittance from the foreign investor's own overseas account
- Foreign-invested company registration, completed after incorporation
The status requires at least KRW 100 million per foreign investor. Order matters most here. Our guide to foreign investment reporting in Korea explains why the notification must come before the money.
How Requirements Change by Structure
- Subsidiary: the full set above, including capital deposit and shareholder documents.
- Branch office: the parent's board resolution approving the branch, with no separate capital deposit in the same sense.
- Liaison office: the lightest set, but it cannot earn revenue.
Regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare and telecoms need licences on top of registration.
Seven Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
- Translation doesn't match the certified original. They must align exactly.
- Expired documents. Good standing certificates often have a short validity window.
- Name conflict. An identical registered name blocks the filing.
- Inconsistent details. A name or address spelled differently on two documents will be queried.
- Capital sent from the wrong account. Funds must come from the investor named in the notification.
- Capital sent before notification. This can cost you foreign-invested status.
- Missing seal certificate. Korea uses seals where other countries use signatures.
How Long the Process Takes
Once your documents are in hand, Pearson typically completes registration in about two weeks. Gathering apostilled documents abroad usually takes longer than the Korean filings. Our stage-by-stage timeline shows where the time goes.
After You Have the Certificate
The certificate starts your obligations. You open the permanent corporate bank account, file VAT and withholding returns, and, once you hire, enrol staff in the four social insurances.
How Pearson & Partners Korea Helps
Since 2017, Pearson & Partners Korea has helped more than 800 global businesses enter Korea. Our team includes certified public accountants, certified judicial scriveners (법무사), certified tax accountants (세무사) and certified labor attorneys (노무사). We work with you in English and Korean.
We handle document preparation, apostille coordination, certified translation and registry filing as one process, fully remotely, including the corporate bank account. You never need to travel to Korea.
Gathering documents now? Send us your list and we'll check it before you certify anything.
Contact us
Web: pearsonkorea.com/contactus
Phone: +82-2-6952-7579
Office: 30F Trade Tower, World Trade Center Seoul, 511 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06164
Official sources: the National Tax Service for business registration, the Internet Registry Office for corporate registration, and Invest KOREA for foreign investors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a business registration certificate in Korea?
The 사업자등록증 issued by the National Tax Service. It gives your company a business registration number and lets it trade, issue tax invoices and pay tax.
What documents do I need for a Korean business registration certificate?
The corporate registration certificate, articles of incorporation, a lease for the registered office, representative director details and, for foreign-invested companies, the foreign investment notification. The parent company documents behind the corporate registration need an apostille or legalisation plus a certified Korean translation.
What is the difference between corporate registration and business registration?
Corporate registration at the court registry creates the company. Business registration at the tax office lets it operate. You need both.
Do foreign documents need an apostille?
Yes, if your country is in the Hague Apostille Convention. Otherwise you need consular legalisation. A certified Korean translation is needed either way.
Can I use a virtual office address?
Shared offices are common and usually accepted. A purely nominal address tends to cause problems at the bank.
Do I need to be in Korea to get the certificate?
No. With a power of attorney, Pearson files everything for you and opens the corporate bank account remotely.
Does a branch office need the same documents?
No. A branch needs the parent's board resolution approving it, but not the capital deposit and shareholder documents a subsidiary needs.
