Public Advisory: Apostille Convention on Authentication of Documents
Takes Effect in PH on 14 May 2019
07 May 2019 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)—Office of
Consular Affairs wishes to inform the public that it will no longer issue
Authentication Certificates from 14 May 2019. Instead, the DFA will affix an
Apostille to documents for use abroad as proof of authentication for use in
Apostille-contracting parties.
After authentication by the DFA, there is no more need for authentication
(legalization) by the concerned Foreign Embassies or Consulates General if
the country or territory of destination of the authenticated document is
already a member of the Apostille Convention.
Public documents executed in Apostille-contracting countries and
territories (except for Austria, Finland, Germany and Greece) to be used in
the Philippines no longer have to be authenticated by the Philippine
Embassy or Consulate General once Apostillized.
However, in countries and territories which are not Apostille-contracting
parties, the previous process of authentication applies.  Documents still
have to be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General
before they can be used in the Philippines.  Also, there is still a need for
authentication (legalization) by the concerned Foreign Embassies or
Consulates General if the country of destination of the authenticated
document is not yet a member of the Apostille Convention.
Authentication fees will remain at PhP100 (regular processing) and PhP200
(expedited processing) per document.  (Legalization) by the Embassy of the country of destination.
Question-and-Answer on Authentication Through Apostille
1. What is an Apostille and when do I need one?
An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public
document. It is issued by a country that is party to the Apostille Convention
to be used in another country which is also a party to the Convention.
On 14 May 2019, the Philippines will officially become a party to the
Apostille Convention. Authentication is still required for all Philippine
documents to be used abroad, but this time with an Apostille instead of an
Authentication Certificate ("red ribbon") as proof of authentication.
After authentication (Apostillization) by the Department of Foreign Affairs -
Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA), as Competent Authority, there is no
more need for authentication (legalization) by the Foreign Embassies or
Consulates except for countries that have not acceded to the Convention
and countries that objected to the Philippine accession.
2. What is the benefit of an Apostille and how is it different from the
Authentication Certificate ("Red Ribbon")?
The Apostille streamlines the whole authentication procedure of
documents for use abroad resulting to more convenience, less cost and
processing time for the applicants. Before Apostille, a Philippine document
to be used abroad needs a Certification by the relevant government
agency or office, Authentication by the DFA and Authentication
With the Apostille, the aforementioned document will no longer require
legalization by the Foreign Embassy if the country of destination is already
a Member of the Apostille Convention (or an "Apostille Country.") Once
Apostillized, the document can be validly used in any and all Apostille
Countries.

3. In which countries does the Apostille Convention apply?
The Apostille Convention only applies if both the country where the public
document was issued and the country where the public document is to be
used are parties to the Convention. For the updated list of all "Apostille
Countries," please visit this
link: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?
cid=41
Aside from countries that have not yet acceded to the Apostille
Convention, the Philippine Apostille will not apply to Austria, Finland,
Germany and Greece. Documents from and to such countries will still
require legalization by the concerned Embassy or Consulate.
4. What do I do if the country where I need to use my public document is
not an Apostille Country?
By 14 May 2019, DFA-OCA will issue Apostille Certificates to all documents
submitted for authentication. If your public document is to be used in a
country where the Apostille Convention does not apply, you should
contact the Embassy or Consulate of the country where you intend to use
the document in order to find out what your options are. This usually
means that you need to present your documents to the said country's
Embassy or Consulate in the Philippines for its authentication/legalization.
You may also ask the intended recipient of your document whether an
Apostille is necessary in your particular case.
5. To which documents does the Apostille Convention apply?
The Philippine Apostille will apply to the same types of documents that are
subject to authentication by the DFA prior to the effectivity of the Apostille
Convention in the Philippines.
Moreover, an Apostille may never be used for the recognition of a
document in the country where that document was issued. Apostilles are
strictly for the use of public documents abroad. Thus, if your document is
to be used in the Philippines, it cannot be submitted to the DFA for
authentication/Apostillization
 
6. How is much is an Apostille?
For now, payment for the DFA-OCA's Authentication Service is the same:
Php100.00 for Regular Processing (i.e., released after four working days)
and Php200.00 for Expedited Processing (to be released the following
business day).
7. Where can I avail of the Apostille? 
The Apostille is available in all Authenticating Units of the DFA: DFA-
Aseana; DFA NCR-Northeast (Ali Mall); DFA NCR-East (SM Megamall); DFA
NCR-West (SM Manila); DFA NCR-South (Metro Gaisano Alabang); DFA San
Fernando, Pampanga; and soon, DFA Davao (SM Davao) and DFA Cebu
(Pacific Mall-Metro Mandaue).
8. I am an Overseas Filipino, how will the Apostille Convention affect me?
Just as Philippine documents for use in Apostille countries will no longer
need to pass through another authentication by the foreign embassies in
Manila after they have been authenticated (Apostillized) by the DFA-OCA,
foreign documents from Apostille countries will only need Apostillization
by the host government for them to be validly used in the Philippines or in
another Apostille country. (Note: DFA-OCA will not authenticate/Apostillize
all types of foreign documents.)
There shall be no change in the authentication process in non-Apostille
countries and in Austria, Finland. Germany and Greece.

9. What if I still want my document, executed in an Apostille country, to
be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy?
By 14 May 2019, Philippine Embassies/Consulates shall no longer
authenticate documents originating from Apostille countries. Such
documents will still need the Apostille from the host government but not
the authentication by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate.
Embassies and Consulates are not authorized to issue an Apostille.
However, Philippine Embassies/Consulates shall continue to provide
acknowledgement and jurat services to walk-in applicants regardless of
whether the origin of the document is an Apostille country or not.
 
10. What are the effects of an Apostille?
Just like the Authentication Certificate (or "red ribbon"), an Apostille only
certifies the origin of the public document to which it relates: it certifies
the authenticity of the signature or seal of the person or authority that
signed or sealed the public document and the capacity in which this was
done.
An Apostille does not certify the content of the public document to which
it relates.
An Apostille may never be used for the recognition of a document in the
country where that document was issued — Apostilles are strictly for use
of public documents abroad. Thus, DFA-OCA will not issue an Apostille for
documents that will be used in the Philippines.
 
11. If the recipient of my Apostille wants to verify my Apostille, what
should I suggest?
Each Apostille Country is required to keep a register in which it records the
date and number of every Apostille it issues, as well as information relating
to the person or authority that signed or sealed the underlying public
document. Recipients may contact the Competent Authority identified on
the Apostille and ask whether the information on the Apostille
corresponds with the information in the register.
In order to verify a particular Apostille, recipients may contact the
Competent Authority. Contact information for the Competent Authorities,
including phone numbers and website information, is available in the
Apostille Section of the Hague Conference
website: https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/authoritiesl /
?cid=41.
Issued Philippine Apostilles may be verified through this
link: www.dfa.qov.ph/verify-apostille. You may also scan the QR Code on
the Apostille, using your smartphone, for a quick access to the verification
link.
PHILIPPINES APOSTILLE – SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
Do you need to apostille a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) for the
Philippines?
On May 14, 2019, the Philippines joined the Hague Apostille Convention. 
Documents destined for the Philippines  no longer requires the red ribbon
from the Philippines Embassy or Consulate office.   The apostille issued by
the Secretary of State is sufficient for the special power of attorney to be
accepted in the Philippines.
For example, if you are in California, all you need to do is meet with a local
notary public and mail in the power of attorney with our California
apostille order forms for processing.
In order to apostille the special power of attorney, it must first be signed Philippines after complying with the simple two-step procedure below,
and notarized.  Please meet with a local notary public near you. We can without need of further submitting these documents to the Consulate for
apostille documents signed and notarized in every US state. authentication:
1. The private document can be notarized by any notary public; and
2. The document will be sent to the state government which issued
Once notarized, the next step is to mail in the original notarized document
the commission of the notary public.
with our order forms to our office for processing.  A power of attorney can
only be authenticated from the State the document was notarized in. The
Local notaries public may also be consulted regarding the Apostille
notary must be commissioned and use proper notarial wording.
process, and may offer more convenient or expedited services.
Notarization services may still be provided by the Philippine Consulate
The Secretary of State does not have the authority to authenticate General in Houston only under exceptional circumstances and on a case to
documents notarized in other States. For example, if your power of case basis.
attorney was signed and notarized in the State of California, then your
notarized document can only receive a California apostille.  Another
example is if your power of attorney was signed and notarized in the State
of New York, then your notarized document can only receive a New York
apostille.

Some States require a notarized document to also be authenticated by the

County Clerk before the state will attach the apostille (two steps).  These
States are: Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, and Tennessee.

We recommend that your power of attorney be prepared by a professional

from the Country requesting it. For example, if the Country of the
Philippines is requesting a signed and notarized special power of attorney,
we recommend that an attorney or paralegal in the Philippines prepare
your document.  Some US States will not apostille a document written in a
foreign language.  In order to avoid this, we recommend your documents
to be written in English.

PROCEDURE FOR PRIVATE DOCUMENTS

Private documents such as Special Power of Attorney (SPA), Affidavits,

private contracts, or business-related documents may be used in the