Two countries
Apostille from Philippines to United Arab Emirates
At a glance
Can a document from the Philippines be used in the United Arab Emirates?
| Result | Apostille does not apply between these countries. |
|---|---|
| Philippines | Uses apostilles member since (joined with an acceptance procedure)1 |
| United Arab Emirates | No apostille not in the Apostille Convention1 |
| 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 |
| Who to ask in United Arab Emirates | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Attestation service5 |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get a document from the Philippines ready for the United Arab Emirates
- Ask the office in the United Arab Emirates that will receive the document exactly what it needs.
- Documents are first legalised by the foreign ministry of the country that issued them, then attested by the UAE embassy or mission there, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs adds its own attestation; the Ministry says the route, digital attestation or an approved courier service provider, is chosen automatically from the issuing authority and document type.5
- Give the document, with its apostille or legalisation, to the office in the United Arab Emirates 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 the United Arab Emirates used in the Philippines, the apostille or legalisation starts in the United Arab Emirates. Check United Arab Emirates 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.
- Joining later. .
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 the United Arab Emirates
Is an apostille from the Philippines accepted in the United Arab Emirates?
No. The United Arab Emirates is not a member of the Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough for documents between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. A different process, usually called legalisation, applies. Check the steps with the authorities of the United Arab Emirates before you send anything. 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 the United Arab Emirates.
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 the United Arab Emirates also need a translation?
The office in the United Arab Emirates 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
- Documents Attestation
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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