Notarials / Legalization and Other Services

Phone No. +61.262732535 Ext. 107
Fax No. +61.262733984

The entry into force of the Apostille Convention in the Philippines is on 14 May 2019.

In lieu of Authentication certificates, the Government of the Philippines will start issuing Apostilles on Philippine documents that need to be presented abroad.

Since Australia is also a signatory to the Apostille Convention, all Philippine documents intended for Australia with an affixed Apostille shall no longer be authenticated by the Australian Embassy. In the same manner, all Australian documents intended for the Philippines with an Apostille affixed shall no longer be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulates in Australia.

Philippine Government-issued Apostilles may be verified through the following link: www.dfa.gov.ph/verify-apostille

LEGALIZATION OF DOCUMENTS

Documents that will be used in the Philippines that are executed, signed, or issued in Australia must either bear a consular notarization from the Philippine Embassy/Consulates or an Apostille Certificate from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in order for the documents to have legal effect in the Philippines.

I. PHILIPPINE EMBASSY/CONSULATE NOTARIZATION / CONSULARIZATION / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of a Private Document (affidavits, special powers of attorney, deeds, sworn statements, etc.)

Documents that need to be executed and signed in the presence of a consular official may be notarized/consularized by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate. The notarized document will have a covering page, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or JURAT, and Embassy seal.

Please note that Australian public documents, or documents issued by Australian government agencies, for use in the Philippines do not need to be legalized at the Philippine Embassies/Consulates anymore. They need to be submitted to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to be “apostillized” by DFAT, it can be sent to the Philippines directly.

For more information on this, please click here.

Requirements for notarization at the Philippine Embassy in Canberra:

1. PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE SIGNATORY OR SIGNATORIES IS A REQUIREMENT FOR NOTARIZATION.
2. Original and photocopy of the document/s to be acknowledged.
3. Original and photocopy of valid identification with photograph and signature of the holder (e.g. passport, driver’s license or any other government-issued identification card). The identification must bear the name that appears on the document to be acknowledged.
4. A non-refundable fee of A$45.00 per document to be paid in cash or card (with 1.5% surcharge) or postal money order made payable to the “Philippine Embassy”.

PROCESSING TIME:

• Regular processing is three (3) business days upon receipt of complete requirements.

• Expedite processing is one (1) business day upon receipt of complete requirements. Expedite fee of A$18.00 will apply.

II. LEGALIZATION OF DOCUMENTS THROUGH APOSTILLE

A. Private Documents such as affidavits, special powers of attorney, deeds, sworn statements, etc., for use in the Philippines that cannot be executed and signed in the presence of a consular official Procedure:

1. The original document should be notarized by an Australian Notary Public.

You will find a list of notary publics on Supreme Court or Law Society listings for each state or territory. You can also search ‘Notary Public’ in telephone directories using your post code.

Please note that a notary public lawyer is not the same as a Justice of the Peace (JP). Only documents notarized by a notary public will be accepted by DFAT for issuance of an Apostille Certificate.

2. The duly notarized document should then be submitted to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), for issuance of an Apostille Certificate. Please click here for information.

For further enquiries, Email: authentications@dfat.gov.au or call Telephone: 1300 935 260 during hours of operation, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, Eastern Standard Time.

3. After the document has been “Apostillized” by the DFAT, it can be sent to the Philippines directly. There is no need for the document/s to be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulates. This equates to less processing time and less cost.

B. Documents issued by the Australian government, and for use in the Philippines such as school records, marriage/ birth/ death certificates, etc.

Procedure:

1. The original document should be submitted to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), for issuance of an Apostille Certificate. Please click here for information.

For further enquiries, Email: authentications@dfat.gov.au or call Telephone: 1300 935 260
during hours of operation, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, Eastern Standard Time.

2. Once the document has been “Apostillized” by DFAT, it can be sent to the Philippines directly. There is no need for the document/s to be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy or Consulates. This equates to less processing time and less cost.

Related link:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)