A DFA certificate confirming that the signature and seal on your Philippine public document are genuine. It works in all Apostille countries, with no embassy stamp needed. It does not certify that the contents are correct (DFA FAQ).
The old DFA Authentication Certificate. The Philippines replaced it with the apostille on May 14, 2019.
Used for non-Apostille countries such as the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. The DFA issues a paper Certificate of Authentication, and that country’s embassy in Manila then legalises it. Going to the UAE? Follow the 3 steps in our UAE guide. Germany also still needs legalisation, because it objected to the Philippines joining. Finland withdrew its objection on Aug 22, 2025, so a Philippine apostille now works there (HCCH).
A digitally signed apostille sent to your email. Don’t print it to submit. The DFA says it loses its validity on paper, so forward the email or PDF instead. Anyone can verify it through the QR code or the DFA e-Apostille verification page.
Hanapin ang dokumento mo, then follow the two steps: get it from the issuing office first, then get the DFA apostille. Requirements are from the DFA Authentication Division, checked Oct 25, 2026.
| Document | Who usually needs it | Step 1: get it from | Step 2: DFA apostille | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA birth certificate | Babies to adults: passports, visas, family visa, school abroad | PSA eCertificate ordered through PSA Helpline apostille | e-Apostille Ordered fully online. ₱300 eCertificate plus ₱200 e-Apostille, per DFA. | For non-Apostille countries, order the paper SECPA copy to get a Certificate of Authentication instead. PSA QR details must match the document. |
| PSA marriage certificate | Spouse for a family or visit visa, Report of Birth | PSA eCertificate through PSA Helpline apostille | e-Apostille | The name must match your passport. If it doesn’t, fix the record first. |
| CENOMAR / Advisory on Marriage | Getting married abroad, some work visas | PSA eCertificate through PSA Helpline apostille | e-Apostille | Some offices only accept a recently issued CENOMAR. Ask the receiving office how recent it must be. |
| PSA death certificate | Benefits, estate, remarriage abroad | PSA eCertificate through PSA Helpline apostille | e-Apostille | A representative needs proof of relationship to the person who died. |
| Newly registered or late-registered birth | Late registration, newborns | LCR copy certified by PSA | Electronic or appointment, depending on what PSA issues | Bring the LCR copy (Form 1A, 2A or 3A) if entries are unclear or have erasures. |
| Form 137 / report card / HS diploma | Kids transferring schools, students | Certified true copy from the school plus DepEd Regional Office CAV | DFA appointment | Ask DepEd about any CAV fee and processing time. |
| TESDA certificate / NC | Skilled workers | Certified true copy plus TESDA Regional Office CAV | DFA appointment | |
| College TOR and diploma (private or local college) | Work visas, licensing, Saudi profession on the iqama | Certified true copy plus CHED CAV through CHED OneTouch | e-Apostille The CHED eCAV apostille goes through PARS. ₱80 eCAV plus ₱200, per DFA. | Scan every page cleanly to PDF, with no fingers in the frame. For state universities (SUCs), the CAV comes from the school itself. |
| Maritime degree | Seafarers | CTC plus MARINA CAV through MARINA MeCAV | Electronic (MARINA eCAV) | |
| NBI clearance | Work visas, residency, immigration | NBI eClearance in the eGovPH app (from Oct 23, 2026, for Apostille countries) | e-Apostille Requested inside eGovPH. ₱200 on top of the NBI fee, emailed with no hard copy (BusinessMirror, PNA). | For non-Apostille countries such as the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar: the original paper NBI clearance with dry seal, at a DFA appointment. |
| PRC license, board certificate or rating | Nurses, engineers, teachers abroad | Original or certified true copy from PRC | DFA appointment | Saudi licensing bodies may have their own verification steps. Ask your employer. |
| Medical certificate | Work or residency | For employment: a DOH stamp on each document | DFA appointment | For other purposes: a DOH certification with the medical certificate attached. |
| SPA, affidavit of consent, joint affidavit | Parent abroad, minor traveling, family member processing for you | Notarized, plus a CANA from the Regional Trial Court | DFA appointment | If you sign it abroad, have it notarized at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate instead. |
| Certificate of employment, baptismal, training certificates | Private documents | A notarized affidavit with the document attached, plus a CANA from the RTC | DFA appointment | The name of the person who signed the affidavit appears on the apostille. |
| Police, barangay, court, driver’s license | Various | PNP original · Mayor’s certification for barangay documents · court CTC (all pages) · LTO certification | DFA appointment |
Swipe the table sideways on your phone. e-Apostille = ordered online and emailed. DFA appointment = bring the paper document to a DFA office (online appointment only). Every document must show the visible signature of the issuing official.
For PSA eCertificates, CHED eCAVs and NBI eClearances going to Apostille countries:
Where: DFA Aseana (Parañaque) and the DFA consular offices at SM Manila, Ali Mall, Alabang Town Center, SM Megamall, Robinsons StarMills Pampanga, CSi Mall La Union, Pacific Mall Mandaue (Cebu), Robinsons Place Iloilo, SM Davao and SM CDO Downtown Premier. When we checked on Oct 25, 2026, the DFA FAQ showed several offices as “temporarily unavailable” for appointments, so check the DFA list before booking.
Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention, and it took effect on Dec 7, 2022 (HCCH). The DFA says that after the apostille, documents no longer need legalisation by the embassies of Apostille countries (DFA FAQ). A 2023 Saudi Central Bank circular quoting Saudi MOFA says apostilled foreign documents need no further authentication by MOFA or embassies (SAMA circular, Apr 6, 2023).
Some OFWs and visa agents say VFS TasHeel or the Saudi Embassy in Manila still asked for Saudi Embassy legalisation on PSA marriage and birth certificates, especially for family residence (dependent) visas. Some offices or employers in Saudi Arabia have also asked for an extra MOFA stamp. We couldn’t confirm a current official checklist that requires this.
What we suggest before you pay anyone:
Bringing your wife and kids to Saudi Arabia? See the full process in our Saudi family residence visa guide (Absher, MOFA, VFS TasHeel, iqama).
We’ll update this box as soon as we can confirm an official checklist. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.
Example: the Saudi birth certificate of a baby born in KSA, a Saudi marriage contract, a Saudi police clearance or school records.
Filing a Report of Birth in Riyadh? Check the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh for its current checklist and appointment process.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Canada, the USA, the UK, Australia and most of Europe (except Germany, see below). Finland is included since Aug 22, 2025, when it withdrew its objection to the Philippines (HCCH).
The UAE, Kuwait and Qatar (Qatar joined the Hague Conference in 2026 but is not part of the Apostille Convention as of Oct 25, 2026). For these, the DFA issues a paper Certificate of Authentication, which that country’s embassy then legalises. UAE step by step: UAE guide for OFWs.
Germany objected to the Philippines joining, and the objection still stands. Philippine apostilles have no effect in Germany without legalisation by the German Embassy in Manila. Since Oct 15, 2025, the embassy accepts documents for legalisation through VFS Global, by appointment and with a service fee. The embassy says e-Apostilles and electronic documents cannot be legalised, so ask the DFA for the physical Certificate of Authentication. Some German offices may accept documents without legalisation, so ask them first (German Embassy Manila).
Taiwan is not a party to the Apostille Convention. Reports say the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Manila accepts a paper DFA apostille plus its own authentication, but not e-Apostilles. Because PSA documents now only get e-Apostilles, confirm with TECO Manila which version it needs before you order.
Always check the official HCCH Apostille country list before you process. Countries join every year. Last checked Oct 25, 2026.
Legally, hindi na. Saudi Arabia joined the Apostille Convention on Dec 7, 2022, and the DFA says documents with an apostille no longer need embassy legalisation in Apostille countries. Saudi MOFA’s 2023 instruction, quoted by Saudi Arabia’s central bank, says the same. But some OFWs report that VFS TasHeel or the Saudi Embassy in Manila still asked for legalisation for family visa papers. Before you pay anyone, ask VFS TasHeel or the Saudi office receiving your documents which one they need.
No. The DFA says an e-Apostille loses its validity if it’s printed and submitted as a hard copy. Forward the email or PDF to whoever needs it, and they can check the QR code online. If an office insists on paper, ask them how they accept e-Apostilles before you travel.
From Oct 23, 2026, for Apostille countries like Saudi Arabia, the DFA uses the NBI eClearance from the eGovPH app. You request the e-Apostille inside the same app. It costs ₱200 on top of the NBI fee and is sent to your email, with no paper copy. Per the DFA, it’s usually done about a day after NBI sends it over. Whether you can complete the NBI part from abroad depends on your eGovPH account and NBI’s renewal rules, so check the app.
Per the DFA’s FAQ (checked Oct 25, 2026): ₱100 for regular processing, released after 5 working days, or ₱200 for expedited processing, released after 2 working days. An e-Apostille is ₱200, plus ₱300 for a PSA eCertificate or ₱80 for a CHED eCAV. Courier and agency fees are extra.
Yes. A representative brings a signed authorization letter, a copy of your valid ID with your signature, and their own valid ID (original and photocopy). For a minor’s documents, the DFA asks for an original SPA from the parent. If the parent is abroad, the SPA must be notarized at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate, like the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.
The DFA processes PSA-issued certificates. For newly registered records, the LCR copy must be certified by PSA first. Bring the LCR copy (Form 1A for birth) as a supporting document if the PSA copy has unclear entries or erasures.
The Philippines and Saudi Arabia are both Apostille countries, so the Saudi birth certificate gets an apostille from Saudi MOFA, which has an online request portal. The DFA says Philippine embassies no longer authenticate documents from Apostille countries. For the Report of Birth, the DFA also asks for an English translation if the certificate isn’t in English.
Same purpose, different form. The red ribbon was the old DFA Authentication Certificate. Since May 14, 2019, the Philippines issues apostilles instead. For non-Apostille countries such as the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, and for Germany, the DFA issues a Certificate of Authentication, and that country’s embassy in Manila then legalises it.
Flypinas is an independent travel information website. We’re not the DFA, PSA, NBI, CHED, Saudi MOFA, VFS or any embassy or agency, and we can’t process documents for you. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules, fees and processing times change often, so always confirm with the official office before you apply or pay. Salamat at ingat, kabayan!
