Question-And-Answer and Infographics On Authentication Through Apostille

QUESTION-AND-ANSWER AND
INFOGRAPHICS ON AUTHENTICATION
THROUGH APOSTILLE
Question-and-Answer and Infographics 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
(Legalization) by the Embassy of the country of destination.
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.

The Apostille Is In!
Red-ribbon documents are now a thing of the past.
Beginning May 14, 2019, the Philippine Government will now accept apostilled (or
apostillized) documents as a replacement for legalization or consular authentication with the
Philippine Embassy.
May 14, 2019 is the official date when the Philippines accedes to the Apostille Convention.
Beginning this date, the Philippines joins 116 other member-countries to the Convention.
These include countries in the European Union, the United States, countries in South
America and Africa, and Australia, to name a few.
This means that if a person needs to use, in another country, a public document issued in
the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will now issue an apostille, if the
foreign country is a member of the Apostille Convention.
In reverse, if a person needs to use a foreign document issued abroad, the person will only
get the document apostilled (or apostillized) by the government where the document was
issued. Automatically, the apostilled (or apostillized) document may now be used in the
Philippines.
The function of an apostille is similar to a red-ribbon consular authentication. Under the

Apostille Convention, an apostille certifies “the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in
which the person signing the document has acted and, where appropriate, the identity of the
seal or stamp which it bears”.
It is different from consular authentication because the apostille is issued by the government
of the country where the document was issued. It is the government that verifies and
certifies that the document is legitimate.
On the other hand, for legalization or consular authentication, it is the consulate or embassy
that consularizes or authenticates the document.
For example, if a document from the United States is to be used in the Philippines, prior to
May 14, 2019, the document must be consularized in the Philippine Embassy before it can
be used in the Philippines. If the same document is to be used in another country aside
from the Philippines, the same document must be authenticated by that other country’s
embassy or consulate. This means that if a document will be used in multiple countries that
do not accept apostilles, the document must be legalized in each and every country’s
embassy.
This is to be distinguished from the apostille, where only one apostille is required. The same
apostilled (or apostillized) document may be used for all 117 member-countries to the
Apostille Convention.
Those who are familiar with securing consular authentication are well-aware of its travails
and difficulties. The lead time and cost, not to mention the long queues, travel and the
limitations of the different embassies and consulates, in terms of manpower and resources,
are only some of the many issues encountered in getting a document consularized.
Therefore, the accession of the Philippines to the Apostille Convention and

the announcement of the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines that it will now
begin to issue apostilles, is a much-awaited development.

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What is an Apostille and when do I need one?

What is an Apostille and when do I need one?

What is the benefit of an Apostille and how is it different from the Authentication Certificate ("Red Ribbon")?

What is the benefit of an Apostille and how is it different from the Authentication Certificate ("Red Ribbon")?

QUESTION-AND-ANSWER AND

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

After authentication (Apostillization) by the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of

2. What is the benefit of an Apostille and how is it different from the

3. In which countries does the Apostille Convention apply?

4. What do I do if the country where I need to use my public document is not an

5. To which documents does the Apostille Convention apply?

6. How is much is an Apostille?

7. Where can I avail of the Apostille?

8. I am an Overseas Filipino, how will the Apostille Convention affect me?

There shall be no change in the authentication process in non-Apostille countries and in

9. What if I still want my document, executed in an Apostille country, to be

By 14 May 2019, Philippine Embassies/Consulates shall no longer authenticate

Embassies and Consulates are not authorized to issue an Apostille. However,

10. What are the effects of an Apostille?

11. If the recipient of my Apostille wants to verify my Apostille, what should I

Issued Philippine Apostilles may be verified through this link: www.dfa.qov.ph/verify-

Red-ribbon documents are now a thing of the past.

The function of an apostille is similar to a red-ribbon consular authentication. Under the

Therefore, the accession of the Philippines to the Apostille Convention and

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