Starting Tuesday next week, May 14, say goodbye to red ribbons.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said they will no longer issue Authentication Certificates for documents issued by the Philippine government that will be submitted to or have originated from 117 countries starting Tuesday, May 14. (See the complete list here)
Top destination countries for OFWs which are also members of the Apostille Convention include the United States, the United Kingdom, Oman, and Australia. (See the complete list here)
However, for Filipinos in countries which are not members of the Apostille Convention like the UAE, red ribbons and foreign embassy authentication are still required.
This is made possible because the Philippines signed the Hague Apostille Convention, an international law that entitles the Philippine to simplify procedures in the use of public documents abroad or from abroad here in the Philippines.
Filipinos used to undergo a tedious process of authenticating public documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, university diplomas, and professional licensure certificates required for employment or immigration.
For those in the Philippines, after getting an original or certified true copy, they need to apply the document for “red ribbon” at the DFA, and then submit it to the concerned foreign embassy or consulate where they are going to. For Filipinos overseas, a public document issued by a foreign government needs authentication by the foreign ministry and then by the Philippine embassy or nearest consulate.
This two-step authentication process is now cut to one step only — with the DFA only affix an Apostille to document being submitted. It also applies to Filipinos in countries which signed the Apostille Convention.
Authentication fees will remain at P100 for regular processing and P200 for expedited processing per document.
