Apostille for Philippines · California Documents
Apostille for Philippines from California
The Philippines entered the Hague Apostille Convention on May 14, 2019 — a California apostille now replaces the former consular authentication (red ribbon).
Documents we apostille for Philippines
Birth certificate
Required for PSA civil registration and RA 9225 citizenship reacquisition at the Philippine Consulate.
Marriage certificate
Apostilled for recording with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and spousal immigration filings.
FBI background check
Federal route via U.S. Dept of State — not California SOS. Required for Philippine immigrant visa and residency applications.
Diploma & transcripts
For PRC professional licensing and academic credential recognition in the Philippines.
Power of attorney
Notarized in California, apostilled for property transactions and legal representation before Philippine authorities.
Divorce decree
Apostilled for civil status documentation — note that divorce is not recognized in the Philippines; consult legal counsel on applicable use.
How the Philippines apostille works
- Document check ($45, credited). We verify your document is California-issued, correctly certified, and Philippines-ready before any Secretary of State fee is paid.
- Sacramento filing. Couriered to the California Secretary of State — mail-in or same-day in person depending on your timeline.
- Philippines routing. The Philippines joined the Hague Convention in 2019 — a California apostille replaces the former red-ribbon authentication.
- Returned tracked. Apostilled document returned by tracked carrier with status updates throughout.
Philippines apostille — FAQ
Yes, since May 14, 2019. Before then, California documents required Philippine consular authentication (red ribbon). After that date, the California Secretary of State apostille is accepted.
If you are a Filipino citizen who married in California, you can record the marriage with PSA through the Philippine Consulate or directly with PSA. The supporting California marriage certificate typically requires a California apostille.
RA 9225 allows former natural-born Filipinos who became U.S. citizens to reacquire Philippine citizenship. Processed at the Philippine Consulate — may require apostilled California vital records.
No. Since May 14, 2019, the California apostille replaces consular authentication. The apostille route is correct.
Status and requirements for Philippines verified against the HCCH Apostille Section status table (hcch.net) as of 2026-06-19. Not legal advice.