Great news for Filipinos who regularly deal with documents for the United States! As of May 14, 2019, the Philippines officially became a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. This simplifies the process of getting your Philippine documents accepted in the US.
What is the Hague Apostille Convention?
This international treaty eliminates the need for the “red ribbon” (certificate of authentication) previously issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for documents going to other member countries, including the US (a member since 1981).
How Does it Help You?
Instead of the red ribbon, your documents will now require an Apostille certificate issued by the DFA. This Apostille acts as official recognition of the document’s authenticity, eliminating the need for further legalization at the US Embassy in Manila.
What Documents Need an Apostille?
This applies to various documents commonly used for US transactions, such as:
- California Quitclaim Deeds
- Deeds of Sale
- Grant Deeds
- Specific/Durable or Special Power of Attorney documents
- Mortgage documents
- Divorce Documents
The Process:
- Get your documents notarized by a qualified notary public.
- Submit the notarized documents to the DFA for Apostille processing. (Note: The DFA may require a Certificate of Authority for a Notarial Act (CANA) from the Regional Trial Court.)
- Once the DFA issues the Apostille certificate, your documents are ready for use in the United States.
Benefits:
- Simpler and faster process compared to the red ribbon method.
- Reduced costs associated with embassy legalization.
- Increased efficiency for Filipinos dealing with US documentation.
While the U.S. Embassy in Manila is offering notary services and legalization of documents for use in the US, the Philippines’ membership in the Hague Apostille Convention (since May 14, 2019) provides a simpler alternative.