Apostille services for Philippines

Philippines and India are both members of the Hague Apostille Convention. India became a member in 2004, while the Philippines joined in 2019. Since both countries are part of this international treaty, documents exchanged between them do not require the costly and time-consuming process of Embassy Attestation. Instead, they only need to be legalized through an Apostille for Philippines, also known as MEA Attestation in India . This process is simple, faster, and globally recognized under the Hague Convention, making it the official method for certify educational, personal, and commercial documents for use in the Philippines.

You may travel to different countries for business visas, tourism, or attending events like a graduation ceremony. For such short visits, Apostille is usually not required. However, when you are planning to stay in the Philippines for more than 6 months to a year, Apostille becomes mandatory.

For example, if you are applying for a student visa (many Indian students go to the Philippines for MBBS and other higher studies), or if you are moving on an employment visa, your documents must be Apostilled for the Philippines. Similarly, if your family is accompanying you while you work abroad, or if your children are seeking school admission in the Philippines, you will need to get your educational, personal, or supporting documents Apostilled and legalized for official acceptance in the Philippines.

If you are pursuing higher studies in the Philippines, such as MBBS or other courses, your educational documents must be Apostilled for the Philippines. This typically includes:

• Degree certificates
• Diplomas
• Secondary (10th) and Higher Secondary (12th) certificates

If you are applying for a work visa in the Philippines, both your employer and the Philippine authorities require certain documents to be Apostilled for legal validity. The key documents include:

• Higher Education Certificates – Degree, Diploma, or relevant professional qualifications.
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) – To prove your criminal record status and good conduct.

For a pre-arranged work visa to the Philippines, the interview is conducted at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your country. In India, this is usually at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi or at Philippine Consulate offices in major cities, depending on your location.

During the interview, you may be required to submit the following Apostilled documents:

• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) – Apostilled to verify your criminal record status.
• Medical Certificates – Medical Certificate: Must be issued by diagnostic centers accredited by the Indian National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH).

For a Temporary Visitor's Visa for dependents:

• A copy of the Marriage Certificate must be Apostilled for a spouse.
• For minor unmarried children, a copy of the Birth Certificate must be Apostilled.

The Apostille process is the same for all types of documents and visa categories, including student, work, or family visas. The steps are simple:

• Notary Attestation – Get your documents notarized by a licensed notary.
• State Authentication – Attestation by SDM, Home Department, or HRD depending on the document type. (For personal documents like Birth and Marriage Certificates, attestation is done by SDM; educational documents are attested by HRD.)
• MEA Apostille – Ministry of External Affairs applies the official Apostille stamp.

The processing time for Apostille depends on the type of document and the issuing state. For example:

• Documents issued from Maharashtra can typically be Apostilled in 3–5 working days.
• Documents from other states usually take around 7 working days.

To get your documents Apostilled, you always need the original certificates along with supporting documents, such as a passport copy or any valid Indian government-issued ID.

To begin the Apostille process:

• Check the required documents – Obtain a checklist from your Embassy, University, or Employer specifying which certificates need Apostille.
• Prepare your documents – Collect all original certificates and make a printout of your passport copy.
• Prepare your documents –
  1. Email scanned copies of your documents to us, or
  2. Fill out our online query form.
• Receive confirmation – We will respond via email with the cost and details of document pickup and delivery.
• Doorstep service – We provide pickup and drop-off services anywhere in India for your convenience.

This process ensures a smooth, fast, and hassle-free Apostille service for the Philippines.