Apostille Guide for Philippine Documents 2026
The Philippines became a party to the Hague Apostille Convention on 14 May 2019. This means Philippine public documents can now be authenticated with an apostille for use in over 120 member countries, replacing the old consular legalization (red ribbon) process.
What Is an Apostille?
An apostille is an international certification comparable to a notarization in domestic law. It authenticates the origin of a public document (such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or diploma) so it is recognized in another country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
The apostille is a single page attached to the document with a standardized format that verifies the signature, capacity of the signer, and the seal or stamp on the document.
Documents That Can Be Apostilled
- Civil registry documents: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates (from PSA)
- Court documents: Court orders, decrees, certifications
- Notarial acts: Affidavits, deeds, powers of attorney
- Administrative documents: Diplomas, transcripts, TESDA certificates, PRC licences
- Government certifications: NBI clearance, police clearance, CENOMAR
- Commercial documents: SEC registrations, DTI certificates (when notarized)
Where to Get an Apostille
| Issuing Authority | Documents |
|---|---|
| DFA Office of Consular Affairs | Documents issued by national government agencies, courts, notaries |
| Philippine embassies/consulates | Documents executed or notarized at the embassy |
Apostille vs Red Ribbon
| Feature | Apostille | Red Ribbon (Old System) |
|---|---|---|
| When to use | Hague Convention member countries (120+) | Non-member countries only |
| Process | Single step at DFA | Multi-step: DFA + embassy of destination country |
| Processing time | Same day to 3 days | Can take weeks (including foreign embassy step) |
| Cost | PHP 100 per document | PHP 100 + foreign embassy fees |
| Validity | No expiry (document itself may expire) | Depends on destination country |
How to Get an Apostille
- Obtain the original document — PSA birth certificate, court order, NBI clearance, etc.
- Ensure it is a public document — Private documents must first be notarized
- Visit DFA Office of Consular Affairs — Aseana, Pasay City or DFA satellite offices
- Submit the document — With completed application form
- Pay PHP 100 per document
- Receive apostilled document — Same day for walk-in, 3 days for mail-in
Getting Documents Apostilled While Abroad
If you are abroad and need a Philippine document apostilled:
- Option 1: Have someone in the Philippines bring the document to DFA for apostille, then ship it to you
- Option 2: If the document was executed at a Philippine embassy, the embassy can apostille it directly
- Option 3: Use an authorized courier service that handles DFA apostille processing
See our detailed DFA apostille guide for step-by-step instructions specific to overseas Filipinos.
Hague Convention Member Countries
The apostille is accepted in over 120 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada (some provinces), Australia, Japan, South Korea, all EU countries, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and most of Latin America and Africa. Check the Hague Conference website for the full list.
- Since: 14 May 2019
- Fee: PHP 100/document
- Processing: Same day-3 days
- Accepted in: 120+ countries