LEGALISATION SERVICES

(ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, AUTHENTICATION, CERTIFICATION)

Any legal document issued in the U.S. must be Apostillized by the issuing State / Competent Authority to give it legal effect for use in foreign countries. Once Apostillized, the document already has legal effect and can be sent to the Philippines for use. A document with an Apostille Certificate no longer needs additional authentication by the Philippine Consulate General.

Effective 14 May 2019, Authentication (the process of verifying the authenticity of the signature of issuing officer and his/her designation/position and the issuance of a certificate with gold seal and signature of Consular Officer) by the Philippine Consulate General in Houston is no longer needed for documents Apostillized in the States under its jurisdiction namely, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, in view of the entry into force in the Philippines of The Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 “Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents” (commonly known as the Apostille Convention) to which the United States is a contracting party. Further, the practice of Embassies and Consulates of attaching “red ribbons” to authenticated documents has officially been discontinued.

In line with the Convention, the Consulate will no longer authenticate the signatures on the following public documents:

1. documents notarized by any notary public; and

2. documents signed/issued/certified by a Federal, State, County, City, University or School Official.

To use these types of public documents in the Philippines, these will only require an Apostille Certificate issued by competent authorities.

The State Departments of the State Governments of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas may Apostillize documents.

PROCEDURE FOR PRIVATE DOCUMENTS

Private documents such as Special Power of Attorney (SPA), Affidavits, private contracts, or business-related documents may be used in the Philippines after complying with either one of the following procedures:

THROUGH APOSTILLE

Follow the simple two-step procedure below, without need of further submitting these documents to the Consulate for authentication:

1. The private document can be notarized by any notary public; and
2. The document will be sent to the state government which issued the commission of the notary public for apostillization.

Local notaries public may also be consulted regarding the Apostille process, and may offer more convenient or expedited services.

THROUGH ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL (also known as consular notarization/consularization)

Applicants wishing to have their private documents, such as special power of attorney (SPA), affidavits, private contracts, or business-related documents, acknowledged by the Consulate General for use in the Philippines must personally appear before the Philippine Consulate General in Houston on a walk-in basis, without need of any prior appointment, and submit the following requirements:

1. Original and photocopy of the private document to be signed at the Philippine Consulate General

2. Photocopy of any valid ID issued by the Philippine government or US government (original must be presented)

                   3. Fees:  $ 25.00 per acknowledged document non-refundable and payable in CASH at Philippine Consulate General

RELEASING of DOCUMENT

By Pick-up: 9:00am to 3:00pm after three (3) working days, submit the official receipt when pick-up or (In case you will not be available to receive it personally, a representative must submit the official receipt, an authorization letter with your signature, and valid IDs of both you and your representative)

By Mail: Processed documents to be mailed back after three (3) working days upon acceptance, provided that the applicant submits a Self-addressed stamped envelope with prepaid postage and tracking number such as the USPS Priority Mail/Express Mail. This will enable you to track your document when mailed.  (Write legibly your name and mailing address on the Sender/”To” portion.

Samples of commonly used legal forms (i.e. General Power of Attorney/Special Power of Attorney ( click here )