For Philippine documents going to India, obtain civil records on PSA security paper or have private documents notarised, then get a DFA apostille. For Indian documents going to the Philippines, the document is first verified by the state government or other designated authority and then apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs. Since 14 May 2019 neither side needs embassy legalisation for countries party to the Convention. We handle the Indian end and guide you through the DFA steps.
- Document route
- Philippine notary public, then DFA apostille
- Time difference
- IST is 2h30 behind Philippine time all year (no daylight saving)
- Treaty
- Hague Apostille Convention 1961
- Indian authority
- Ministry of External Affairs
Apostille & Attestation from the Philippines: how it works
In the Philippines the DFA Office of Consular Affairs issues apostilles, generally by appointment, at its main office and selected consular offices. Birth, marriage and death certificates and the CENOMAR come from the Philippine Statistics Authority; school records need certification by the institution and sometimes by the Commission on Higher Education or the Department of Education before the DFA accepts them; court decisions need a certified true copy from the clerk of court. Once apostilled, a Philippine document is accepted by Indian authorities without further attestation, though an English translation may be needed for any part not in English.
For Indian documents headed to the Philippines, we arrange the preliminary verification. Educational documents go through the state education department or the university, personal documents through the state home department or general administration department, and commercial documents through the relevant chamber of commerce, before the Ministry of External Affairs or its outsourced centres affix the apostille. Philippine employers, schools and immigration typically accept the MEA apostille. Indian police clearance certificates for Philippine visas are issued through the Embassy or passport offices and have their own process.
What clients in the Philippines should know
- Indian students graduating from Philippine medical schools should obtain DFA apostilles on their diploma and transcript before leaving, as arranging them later from India is slower.
- A Philippine document notarised for use in India must carry a full notarial certificate; the DFA rejects documents where the notary's commission details are missing.
- Apostille confirms only the signature and seal, so an Indian court or office can still question the contents of a Philippine document.
Step by step from the Philippines
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits the Philippines, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in the Philippines
Philippine notary public, then DFA apostille
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in the Philippines where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in the Philippines. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Apostille & Attestation, or see all services for clients in the Philippines and the Inheritance & Documents practice area.
Questions from clients in the Philippines
Do Indian documents still need Philippine Embassy legalisation?
Not for the Philippines since May 2019. An MEA apostille is generally accepted, although specific Philippine agencies occasionally ask for additional certification.
Can ProudLegal get my PSA certificate apostilled from India?
We can coordinate it through a representative in the Philippines with your authorisation, but it is usually faster for you or a relative there to book the DFA appointment.
How long does an MEA apostille take for Indian documents?
State verification is the slow step and can take one to four weeks depending on the state; the MEA apostille itself is usually quick once verification is done.