Legalization

The Apostille Convention entered into force in the Philippines on 14 May 2019. Documents executed and Apostillized in Apostille countries, except for Austria, Finland, Germany and Greece, shall no longer be authenticated (“red ribbon”) by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate.

An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a 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. 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.

Foreign documents from the US and other Apostille countries will only need Apostillization by the host government for them to be validly used and accepted in the Philippines. Philippine Embassies/Consulates shall no longer authenticate documents originating from the US and other Apostille countries under its jurisdiction. 

Documents from non-Apostille countries under the Embassy’s jurisdiction, namely Haiti, will still need the authentication from the host government and the authentication by the Philippine Embassy.

For Apostilles issued in the US and other member countries, 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. 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/authorities1/?cid=41

Foreign Apostilles issued before 14 May 2019 shall be recognized in the Philippines on and from said date of entry into force of the Convention for the Philippines pursuant to Sections 99 and 320 of the Apostille Handbook. Embassies and Consulates are not authorized to issue an Apostille