Goodbye red ribbon, hello Apostille!
Effective May 14, 2019, the DFA will no longer issue Authentication Certificates with “red ribbon“, and will instead affix an Apostille to documents for use abroad.
Countries and Territories Where Philippine Apostille is accepted as of May 2019:
Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Chile
Columbia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Eswatini
Fiji
France
Georgia
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Hongkong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Malawi
Malta
Marshal Islands
Mauritius
Mexico Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niue
Norway
Oman
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Serbia
Seychelles
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Tajikistan
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
USA
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Apostille vs. Authentication
Apostille
1. Certification – documents are certified by relevant government agencies.
2. Apostille – certified documents are apostilled by DFA.
3. End
Authentication
1. Certification – documents are certified by relevant government agency.
2. Authentication – certified documents are authenticated by DFA.
3. Legalization – authenticated documents are legalized by the relevant embassy or consulate.
4. End
10 Common Questions About Apostille
1. What is an Apostille?
The apostille will replace authentication as proof of authenticity of your documents to be used abroad.
Just like the authentication certificate (“red ribbon”), an Apostille certifies the origin of the public document to which it relates but with fewer steps.
On May 14, 2019, the Philippines will officially become a party to the Apostille convention.
2. What is the benefit of an Apostille and how is it different from the Authentication Certificate (“Red Ribbon”)?
Apostillized Philippine documents for use in Apostille countries will no longer need to pass through another authentication or legalization by the foreign embassies in the Philippines, except for Austria, Finland, Germany, Greece, and non-Apostille countries.
This means fewer steps and less hassle for you.
3. What do I do if the country where I need to use my public document is not an Apostille Country?
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, as it may differ from country to country.
Usually, it is the same process as authentication, meaning your documents will need to be legalized by the embassy or consulate of the country of destination.
4. 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
5. How is much is an Apostille?
For now, payment for the DFA Apostille service is the same as the authentication service: Php100 for regular processing (four working days), and Php200 for expedited processing (to be released the following working day).
6. 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).
7. 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.
8. What if I still want my document, executed in an Apostille country, to be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy?
The Philippine embassies and consulates shall no longer authenticate documents originating from Apostille countries.
However, they shall continue to provide acknowledgment and jurat services to applicants regardless of whether the origin of the document is an Apostille country or not.
9. 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.
10. If the recipient of my Apostille wants to verify my Apostille, what should I suggest?
Issued Philippine Apostilles may be verified through this link www.dfa.gov.ph/verify-apostille.
For Apostilles issued in other countries, recipients may contact their competent authority. Contact information is available in the Apostille section of the Hague conference website at this link: https://www.hcch.net. (source)
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