Two countries
Apostille from Philippines to Australia
At a glance
Can a document from the Philippines be used in Australia?
| Result | Check HCCH for this specific country pair. |
|---|---|
| Philippines | Uses apostilles member since (joined with an acceptance procedure)1 |
| Australia | Uses apostilles member since 1 |
| Apostille issued by | Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of Consular Affairs, Authentication Division, and its consular offices2 |
| Fee in Philippines | ₱100 (per document, regular processing)2 ₱200 (per document, expedited processing)2 ₱200 (online fee to secure an appointment slot, non-refundable if cancelled without a valid reason, from 14 April 2025)3 |
| Processing time in Philippines | Regular processing takes 7 working days and expedited processing takes 4 working days, according to the DFA San Fernando consular office page2 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from the Philippines ready for Australia
- Choose between the walk-in facility, which has limited slots per day at each consular office, and an online appointment.2
- For an online appointment, book on the DFA appointment website and print the confirmed appointment letter, which must not be edited.2
- Prepare the documents before going to the processing window and present the printed appointment letter at the verification counter.2
- Pay the fee for regular or expedited processing.2
- For civil status certificates of the Philippine Statistics Authority and academic certifications of the Commission on Higher Education, an e-Apostille can be requested fully online without visiting a DFA office.4
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in Australia that asked for it.
Situations
When the answer changes
- Private documents.A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
- The other direction. For a document from Australia used in the Philippines, the apostille or legalisation starts in Australia. Check Australia to Philippines
- Objections. Philippines joined with an acceptance procedure. If either country objected, the Convention does not apply between them; the HCCH status table shows the objections.
Note: What the apostille confirms
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about documents from the Philippines for Australia
Is an apostille from the Philippines accepted in Australia?
Usually, but check this pair. Both are members of the Apostille Convention, but the Philippines joined with an acceptance procedure, so the Convention does not apply where another member objected. The HCCH status table lists the objections. Where it applies, the apostille is issued in the Philippines by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of Consular Affairs, Authentication Division, and its consular offices and 0 other offices. Last checked 18 October 2026 against the HCCH status table.
Who issues the apostille for a document from the Philippines?
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of Consular Affairs, Authentication Division, and its consular offices. The apostille is always issued in the country the document comes from, not in Australia.
How much does the apostille cost in the Philippines?
The published fee in the Philippines is ₱100. Fees can change, so check the office's own page before you apply.
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public in the Philippines. The apostille then goes on the notary's certificate.
Does Australia also need a translation?
The office in Australia that receives the document decides. Ask it before you start whether it needs a translation, and whether the translation needs its own certification.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Authentication
- Advisory on changes in authenticating PSA and NBI documents
- Apostille
- Notarial services in Australia
- How to get your documents legalised
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
Every fact on this page links to the source it was taken from. Read how we check facts.
Related