What is Super Legalization?

A reinforced, multi-step authentication process (notarization → Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication → destination country's embassy consular legalization) required for documents headed to a country that isn't a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.

Why can't I just use an apostille for a UAE filing?

The UAE never joined the Hague Apostille Convention, so it doesn't accept an apostille at all — only the full Super Legalization chain, ending at the UAE embassy's own consular legalization.

How much does UAE Super Legalization typically cost?

Roughly USD 569 for the Korea-side process (notarization, MOFA authentication, UAE embassy consular legalization) plus around USD 53 for the destination-side Ministry of Economy filing — about USD 622 total.

Do all non-Apostille countries require this two-stage cost structure?

No — splitting cost into a Korea-side stage and a destination-country-side stage isn't universal across every non-Apostille country, but it's common practice among the UAE and several other Middle Eastern countries.

How long does the full process take?

It varies by embassy processing time and destination-country schedule, but given the multi-step chain and dual-location cost structure, this should be budgeted and scheduled well ahead of a filing deadline, not treated as a same-week task.

Filing a power of attorney in a non-Apostille country?

Full 3-step Super Legalization — notarization, Ministry of Foreign Affairs authentication, and embassy consular legalization — for powers of attorney and other documents headed to countries outside the Hague Apostille Convention, such as UAE trademark filings.

Full Super Legalization, Handled End-to-End

Countries that never joined the Hague Apostille Convention — the UAE among them — don't accept an apostille at all. A document has to go through Super Legalization: a reinforced, multi-step authentication chain before it's recognized as legally valid there.

The three steps of Super Legalization

Notarization — a notary confirms the document was properly executed
MOFA authentication — Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the notary's signature is genuine
Consular legalization — the destination country's own embassy in Korea gives the final confirmation that the MOFA authentication is genuine

Case study: a UAE trademark power of attorney

Filing a trademark application in the UAE requires a power of attorney (POA) appointing a local agent. Because the UAE isn't an Apostille Convention member, that POA needs the full Super Legalization chain:

Translation — the POA needs both English and Arabic columns, each carrying the company seal, corporate seal, and a representative's signature matching the English name on their passport. A licensed 외국어번역행정사 translates it.
Notarization filing — the translated POA is filed for signature notarization along with the original POA (sealed), a corporate seal certificate (issued within 3 months), and a bilingual business registration certificate.
MOFA authentication — the notarized document is authenticated by Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
UAE embassy consular legalization — the MOFA-authenticated document then goes to the UAE embassy in Korea for final consular legalization. This step alone typically runs USD 500–570.

It doesn't end at the embassy

Once Super Legalization is complete in Korea, the POA still goes to the UAE's Ministry of Economy for an additional local processing fee before the local agent can actually file it — not every non-Apostille country splits cost into two stages like this, but the UAE and several other Middle Eastern countries commonly do.

Stage	Where	What happens	Typical cost
1	Korea	Notarization + MOFA authentication + UAE embassy consular legalization	~USD 569
2	UAE	Filed with the Ministry of Economy	~USD 53
Total		Super Legalization complete	~USD 622

Because of this layered structure and dual cost, trademark filings in the Middle East need budget and timeline planning well in advance — this isn't a same-week process.

What this office manages end-to-end

Translation, the notarization filing, the MOFA authentication step, and the destination embassy's consular legalization — coordinated as one process rather than something the client has to chase across multiple offices themselves.