Philippines
Apostille in the Philippines
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in the Philippines, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Joined later (accession), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of Consular Affairs, Authentication Division, and its consular offices, philippine public documents2 |
| Fee | ₱100 (per document, regular processing)2checked 18 October 2026 ₱200 (per document, expedited processing)2checked 18 October 2026 ₱200 (online fee to secure an appointment slot, non-refundable if cancelled without a valid reason, from 14 April 2025)3checked 18 October 2026 About €1.41 for the first fee listed, at the European Central Bank reference rate of 16 October 2026. Compare costs |
| Processing time | Regular processing takes 7 working days and expedited processing takes 4 working days, according to the DFA San Fernando consular office page2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Electronic apostille | Available4 |
| Online register to check apostilles | Available4 |
| Documents covered | 4 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in the Philippines
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
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Civil status documents of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA eCertificates, e-Apostille)4
- Academic documents verified by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED eCAVs, e-Apostille)4
- Documents of the Maritime Industry Authority through its MeCAV portal (e-Apostille from 25 June 2026)4
- All other public documents that do not come from these electronic systems (paper apostille at a DFA consular office)4
More about these documents: university degree certificate.
Contacts
Who to contact in the Philippines
- Apostille officeDepartment of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of Consular Affairs, Authentication Division, and its consular offices2Philippine public documents
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in the Philippines
A document issued in the Philippines
The apostille comes from the Philippines, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with the Philippines.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in the Philippines
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in the Philippines. The Philippines accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Caution: Not every country accepts it
When Philippines joined, other member countries could object. Between Philippines and an objecting country the Convention does not apply. Check HCCH for the specific pair of countries.1
Note: Rule
The Convention entered into force for the Philippines on 14 May 2019, but Finland, Germany and Greece objected to the accession, so an apostille is not used between them and the Philippines.2
Before the apostille
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.
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 apostilles in Philippines
Does Philippines accept apostilles?
Yes. Philippines has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 14 May 2019, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Philippines?
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of Consular Affairs, Authentication Division, and its consular offices (philippine public documents).
How much does an apostille cost in Philippines?
₱100 (per document, regular processing). ₱200 (per document, expedited processing). ₱200 (online fee to secure an appointment slot, non-refundable if cancelled without a valid reason, from 14 April 2025). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Philippines?
The office says: Regular processing takes 7 working days and expedited processing takes 4 working days, according to the DFA San Fernando consular office page.
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. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. It only works in other member countries where the Convention applies with Philippines. When Philippines joined, other members could object, so check the specific pair of countries. Countries outside the Convention use legalisation.
Sources and verification
Sources
- HCCH status table: Apostille Convention (1961)
- Authentication
- Advisory on changes in authenticating PSA and NBI documents
- Apostille
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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