I am in the process of fulfilling the pre-requisities required in order to obtain a Visa for SK. 

I dicsovered that both my degree certificate and CRB certificate must be apostilled. Send to the Foreign Office. Easy. 

BUT before this can be done, the documents must be certified, either by a solicitor, or a notary public. 

So this whole procedure won't be cheap...any tips on the most cost-effective way to get this done? 

Hello Duncs, 

I did all this myself a couple of years back because I left Korea and came back in the country so had to process my application as a new one. 

The most expensive part is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office payment. However, it is only your University Degree copy that should have to be signed by a solicitor, as the CRB check should already have an official signature on it. The cost for having a socitor sign documents when I did it was not very expensive at all. I would pop in to a few solicitors local to you and ask them what they would charge. I am thinking no more than about 20 pound a time. 

Let me know if you have any more questions about this and South Korea. I have been here four years now so hopefully should have at least some answers for you ^^

Good luck! 

Steve

Hi Steve, 

So, with certificate in hand, you went from solicitor to solicitor and asked each what they would charge? And you wouldn't expect to pay more than £20?! How long ago was this? Based on information on their websites, quotes of "at least £80" are being made...!!!

Hi! I think £80 is high and £20 is low. I got mine done 2 years ago (end of 2010) and in Jersey, where things are super expensive it was £60 per document. You need both the CRB and the degree with both (it makes no sense for either btw). It will be cheaper elsewhere though. I would ring a few offices and ask how much it will cost to have it done. I, fortunately, found a lawyer in the family to do it for me. I know that's not an option for all, but it's worth asking friends to see if any of them have relatives that'll do it cheap. It litterally takes about 2 seconds. Also, do you know that it's a copy of your degree that needs to be certified, not the actual thing?

I found a local solicitor (Notary Public) that agreed to do the whole process for me for £155. That was notarising my degree and Criminal record check, sending them to the FCO, having them apostilled (he said as a business customer he'll be quicker than the usual civillian requests, whether this is true I dont know) and have them posted back. Seeing as the FCO charge £30 per document, I got the notarisations for £95, plus he's doing the faffing with postage for me. It's hardly Bargain Hunt stuff but think I did ok.