Apostille Request (Philippines)
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA)
APOSTILLE REQUEST FORM
DFA Department Order No. 05-A-2019 | Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 on the Apostille
Application Date: [Application Date]
DFA Appointment Reference: [Appointment Reference]
I. APPLICANT INFORMATION
Applicant Name: [Applicant Name]
Address: [Applicant Address]
Contact: [Contact Number]
II. DOCUMENTS FOR APOSTILLE
1. Document Type: [Document Type]
Description: [Document Description]
Issuing Authority: [Issuing Authority]
[Additional Documents]
III. DESTINATION AND PROCESSING
Destination Country: [Destination Country]
Processing Type: [Processing Type]
I hereby certify that the above documents are authentic Philippine public documents intended for use in [Destination Country], a member of the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 on the Apostille, and request that the DFA attach the Apostille certificate thereto under DFA Department Order No. 05-A-2019. I understand that the Apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature and seal of the issuing authority and does not certify the truth of the content of the document.
___________________________
[Applicant Name]
Applicant
Applicant / Authorized Representative
________________
Signature
What Is a Apostille Request (Philippines)?
An Apostille Request in the Philippines sets out the particulars the recipient needs to deal with the request, in a structured and reviewable form.
Prior to May 14, 2019, Philippine documents intended for use abroad required the authentication-legalization chain: notarization by a Philippine notary public, authentication by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), authentication by the DFA Office of Consular Affairs (Red Ribbon authentication), and legalization by the foreign embassy in the Philippines. Under the Hague Apostille Convention and DFA D.O. No. 05-A-2019, the Apostille issued by the DFA is the only required authentication step for documents used in Hague Convention member countries, eliminating the embassy legalization requirement. The Philippines is bound by the Convention vis-à-vis all 124 Hague Convention member states as of 2024.
The DFA issues the Apostille as an attachment to the original Philippine public document. The Apostille contains the DFA's signature and official seal, the name of the person who signed the document (for notarized documents) or the issuing authority (for PSA documents), and the Apostille certificate number that can be verified online through the DFA Apostille Verification System. Philippine documents intended for use in non-Hague Convention countries — such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern countries that are not Hague members — still require the DFA Authentication (Red Ribbon) and legalization by the destination country's embassy, processed through the same DFA Apostille and Authentication Division.
The most common documents processed for Philippine Apostille include: PSA-authenticated birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates; NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearances; court decisions, orders, and certificates; professional licenses from the PRC; SEC-registered corporate documents; and Philippine notarized contracts and affidavits. The document must be an original or a certified true copy to be eligible for apostille.
The legal framework governing the Apostille Request (Philippines) in Philippines draws on several key statutes and regulatory bodies. Under Philippine law, the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386) governs contractual obligations. The Revised Corporation Code (Republic Act No. 11232) regulates corporate entities through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) govern employment matters. The Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) protect personal data. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) administers tax obligations under the National Internal Revenue Code. Parties executing a Apostille Request (Philippines) in Philippines should confirm the document reflects current law, including any amendments enacted since the original drafting date. The Local Government Code (RA 7160) sets the foundational requirements.
When Do You Need a Apostille Request (Philippines)?
A Philippine Apostille Request is needed whenever a Filipino individual, corporation, or government agency must present a Philippine public document in a foreign country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, and the foreign recipient institution requires proof of the document's authenticity.
A Philippine Apostille Request is required when a Filipino citizen applying for immigration or citizenship in a Hague Convention country — such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, the United States, Canada, or Japan — must submit a PSA birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other civil registry document authenticated for foreign use under the Hague Convention.
A Philippine Apostille Request is needed when a Filipino professional applying for a work visa or employment authorization in a Hague Convention country must present an apostilled PRC license, transcript of records, or educational credentials to the foreign employer or government authority.
A Philippine Apostille Request is required when a Philippine corporation submits an apostilled SEC Certificate of Registration, Articles of Incorporation, or Secretary's Certificate to a foreign bank, business partner, or government authority abroad to prove the corporation's legal existence and authority to contract.
A Philippine Apostille Request is needed when a Philippine court decision on annulment of marriage, adoption, or guardianship must be recognized in a foreign court or government authority in a Hague Convention country, requiring apostille on the certified true copy of the decision issued by the clerk of court.
A Philippine Apostille Request is required when a Filipino OFW applies for family reunification visa in a Hague Convention country and must submit apostilled PSA marriage and birth certificates of family members to the foreign immigration authority.
A Philippine Apostille Request is needed for notarized Philippine contracts — such as a deed of sale, power of attorney, or affidavit — that must be presented to a foreign authority for recognition in a Hague Convention member country.
What to Include in Your Apostille Request (Philippines)
A complete Philippine Apostille Request must contain the following information for processing by the DFA Apostille and Authentication Division under DFA Department Order No. 05-A-2019.
Document Description: The title or type of document to be apostilled (e.g., PSA Birth Certificate, NBI Clearance, PRC License, Court Decision, Notarized Special Power of Attorney), the name of the person the document pertains to, and the date of issuance of the document. Each document requires a separate apostille request, and the fee is computed per document.
Issuing Authority: The name of the Philippine government agency or court that issued the document — for example, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for civil registry documents, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for clearances, the PRC for licenses, the Regional Trial Court for court decisions, or the notary public for notarized documents. The apostille will state the name of the issuing authority.
Destination Country: The Hague Convention member country where the apostilled document will be used. The DFA uses this to verify that the destination country is a Hague Convention member. For non-Hague countries (e.g., Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar), the applicant must request DFA Authentication (Red Ribbon) instead of, or in addition to, the apostille.
Applicant Information: The full name and contact information of the person filing the apostille request — which may be the person named in the document, their representative, or a processing agency. A Special Power of Attorney (SPA) is required for representatives filing on behalf of the document owner.
DFA Appointment Reference: The appointment number from the DFA Online Appointment System at passport.gov.ph, which is required for in-person submission at DFA offices. Apostille requests can also be submitted through accredited passport processing agencies (travel agencies and courier firms accredited by DFA) which handle the appointment and submission on behalf of clients.
Fee Payment: The DFA apostille fee per document, payable at the DFA Cashier. The standard fee for apostille on non-PSA documents is PHP 100 per document for regular processing; PSA documents processed at the DFA have a slightly different fee schedule. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee. The DFA posts the current fee schedule on the DFA website.
Additional compliance elements for a Apostille Request (Philippines) used in Philippines include: Under Philippine law, the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386) governs contractual obligations. The Revised Corporation Code (Republic Act No. 11232) regulates corporate entities through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) govern employment matters. The Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) protect personal data. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) administers tax obligations under the National Internal Revenue Code. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Philippines-compliant documentation.
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Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:
Forms Legal. (2026). Apostille Request (Philippines) (Philippines) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/philippines/government/declarations/apostille-request-philippines
"Apostille Request (Philippines) (Philippines)." Forms Legal, 2026, https://forms-legal.com/philippines/government/declarations/apostille-request-philippines.
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author = {{Forms Legal}},
title = {Apostille Request (Philippines) (Philippines)},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/philippines/government/declarations/apostille-request-philippines}},
note = {Free legal document template. Based on Local Government Code (RA 7160)}
}Frequently Asked Questions
The DFA Apostille and the DFA Red Ribbon (Authentication) in the Philippines serve different purposes based on the destination country. The DFA Apostille, introduced under DFA Department Order No. 05-A-2019 following the Philippines' accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on September 14, 2018, is a single-step authentication accepted by all 124+ Hague Convention member countries without any further legalization by the destination country's embassy. The DFA Red Ribbon (Authentication) is the prior authentication method — a red ribbon and DFA seal attached to the document — which is now required only for countries that are NOT members of the Hague Convention, such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and other Middle Eastern countries. For documents destined for Hague Convention countries (Germany, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Italy, etc.), the Apostille alone is sufficient. For documents destined for non-Hague countries, the DFA Authentication (Red Ribbon) plus the destination country's embassy legalization is still required. The DFA processes both apostille and authentication requests at its Apostille and Authentication Division.
To get an apostille on a PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) document — such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or death certificate — in the Philippines, follow these steps: (1) Obtain a PSA-authenticated document printed on PSA security paper from a PSA Serbilis outlet, PSA Online (psa.gov.ph), or SM Business Center PSA outlets; (2) Book a DFA apostille appointment at passport.gov.ph, selecting the DFA Apostille and Authentication Division at the DFA Main Office in Aseana, Paranaque or a DFA Regional Office; (3) Appear at the DFA office on the appointment date with the original PSA document; (4) Pay the apostille fee at the DFA cashier; (5) The DFA attaches the apostille certificate to the PSA document; (6) The apostilled document is released on the same day or within 3-5 working days depending on processing type. Processing agencies accredited by DFA can handle the appointment, submission, and collection on behalf of clients for an agency fee. The apostille can be verified online using the apostille number at the DFA verification portal.
Philippine apostilled documents are accepted by all member states of the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 on the Apostille. As of 2024, over 124 countries are Hague Convention members, including the major destinations for Philippine apostilled documents: United States, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR (as part of China's accession), the United Kingdom, Ireland, and many others. The complete current list of Hague Convention member states is maintained by the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) at hcch.net. Countries that are NOT Hague Convention members and require DFA Authentication (Red Ribbon) plus embassy legalization instead of apostille include: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, China (mainland), Taiwan, and a number of African and Southeast Asian countries. Filipinos should verify the destination country's Hague Convention membership before choosing between apostille and authentication.
A Philippine apostille issued by the DFA under the Hague Apostille Convention does not have a fixed expiration date on the apostille certificate itself — the apostille is valid as long as the underlying document it authenticates is valid and accepted by the foreign recipient authority. However, many foreign government agencies, employers, banks, and educational institutions impose their own freshness requirements for the underlying document — typically requiring that the PSA certificate was issued within 6 months to 1 year of the date of submission abroad. For example, German immigration authorities (Ausländerbehörde) and Spanish civil registry offices generally require PSA documents issued within 6 months. Therefore, a Filipino applicant should obtain fresh PSA documents and apostille them shortly before submission abroad rather than using old documents even if they have a valid apostille. The apostille certificate number remains verifiable indefinitely through the DFA Apostille Verification System regardless of when the apostille was issued.
Yes, notarized Philippine documents — such as Special Powers of Attorney, Affidavits, Deeds of Sale, Contracts, Board Resolutions with Secretary's Certificates, and other documents notarized before a Philippine notary public — can be apostilled by the DFA for use in Hague Convention member countries. Under DFA Department Order No. 05-A-2019, the DFA apostilles notarized documents by verifying the notary public's commission through the notarial records maintained by the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The DFA will not apostille a notarized document if the notary public's commission cannot be verified — therefore, the notary public must be currently commissioned and the document must have been notarized during the notary's active commission period. For corporate documents (Secretary's Certificates, Board Resolutions), the DFA also requires verification of the corporation's SEC registration. The apostille on a notarized document certifies the notary public's authority and signature, not the truth of the statements in the document.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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