HCCH ASIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE

INTRODUCTION TO THE
APOSTILLE CONVENTION AND
THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE
THE APOSTILLE CONVENTION

The full title of the Convention is

the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961
Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation
for Foreign Public Documents.
LEGALISATION
APOSTILLE
PURPOSE OF THE CONVENTION

1. Abolish the requirement of

Legalisation
2. Facilitate the use of public
documents abroad
THE ELECTRONIC APOSTILLE PROGRAM

e-Apostille e-Register
 HCCH ASIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE

THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE

ACCESSION TO THE CONVENTION

03 APRIL 2018: PRRD SIGNED THE INSTRUMENT OF PH ACCESSION.

12 SEPTEMBER 2018: PH DEPOSITED THE INSTRUMENT OF ACCESSION.

14 MAY 2019: ENTRY INTO FORCE OF APOSTILLE CONVENTION FOR PH.

 THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR
THE PHILIPPINES
The Competent Authority
for the Apostille Convention
in the Philippines is the
DFA OCA Authentication
Division
 BEFORE THE CONVENTION
The Department of Foreign Affairs - Office
of Consular Affairs issued Authentication
Certificate ("red ribbon") for Philippine
public documents to be used abroad.
1. DFA Authentication Certificate is valid
only for five (5) years.
2. The signature of the Authentication
Officer was original.
 AFTER ENTRY INTO FORCE

DFA Apostille is issued for Philippine

public documents for use abroad.
There is no expiration for DFA
Apostille.
The signature of the Authentication
Officer is digitized.
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Highlights and
Key Updates
Apostille Application and Appointment
System

We transitioned to an online appointment system

for Apostille services in March 2021.
 500,000

Apostille 400,000

Services 300,000
Per year

Services in 2020 dipped by more than 38%, 200,000

but has recovered in 2022.

The data shows the impact of Covid-19 pandemic 100,000
to Apostille services in 2020, slightly increasing in
2021. There is also a sharp increase in services
for 2022 which shows data as of the 3rd quarter. 0
2019 2020 2021 2022
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Number of Apostille
Issuances 1,356,056
Since 2019 to present
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Highlights and
Key Updates
Strengthening of the e-Register

The Philippines is one of three ASEAN countries

which has implemented the e-Register, one of
the key components of the e-Apostille Program.
QUICK RESPONSE (QR) CODE

DFA Apostilles are also verifiable through a QR Code embbeded in the

certificate.

1. Open any QR scanner application.

2. Scan the QR code.
3. Basic information of the DFA Apostille will prompt once verified.
DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Transition to
the e-Apostille
3rd Quarter of 2022

The Philippines is working on its full

transition to the e-Apostille program
DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Digital Certificates
for all signatories of PH public documents

The Philippines , through the DFA OCA is

working with all government agencies on
the transition including their application for
digital signatures which is required in the
issuance of the e-Apostille
DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Government Portal
for submission and transmission of PH
public documents

Submission and transmission of PH public

documents through one portal dedicated to
e-Apostille.
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Use of Official Emails

for submission and transmission of PH
public documents

In addition to submission and transmission

via a government portal, all agencies will
also be required to verify and
communicate via official email.
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Verifiable
Documents
for all PH public documents

All agencies issuing public

documents were encouraged to
issue verifiable documents
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Capacity Building for

Authentication personnel
In coordination with experts in the field

Beginning this year, DFA OCA has created a

certification program for all Authentication
personnel and has conducted 14 training
sessions all over the Philippines on the
Apostille Convention.
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Capacity Building and

Public Info Campaigns
In coordination with HCCH Secretariat

DFA OCA is working with the HCCH

Secretariat and PH government agencies in
spreading information about the
implementation of the Apostille Convention.
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Capacity Building and

Public Info Campaigns
In coordination with government agencies

DFA OCA conducted two webinars for

government agencies this year (PRC and
PAG-IBIG).
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Coordination meetings
with GAs issuing public
documents
In preparation for e-APP transition

In 2022, DFA OCA has conducted more than

15 coordination meetings with PH
government agencies including state
universities and colleges.
 DEPARTMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Close Coordination
with Law Enforcement
Agencies
PNP Anti-Cybercrime, NPC and NBI

DFA OCA is closely coordinating with law

enforcement agencies in preventing and
curtailing fraud and cybercrime involving
Apostille issuances.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
THE END