authentication of public document through apostille
An Apostille is a certificate that authenticates the origin of a public document. It is issued by a country that is party to the Apostille Convention to be used in another country which is also a party to the Convention. The United States is a party to the Convention and the Philippines also acceded to the Convention on 14 May 2019.
In this regard, the Consulate will no longer authenticate the signatures of public documents notarized by any US notary public or those signed/issued/certified by a Federal, State, County, City, university or school official, starting on 15 May 2019.
To use these types of documents in the Philippines, these will only require an Apostille Certificate issued by competent authorities listed below. Check with them the requirements and process on how to obtain Apostille since the process differs from one State to another.
Also, please note that documents with Apostille Certificate require no further diplomatic or consular legalization. Hence, said documents could already be sent to and used directly in the Philippines.
Competent Authorities Permitted to Issue Apostille
For Federally-Issued Documents
Documents signed by a US federal official, a US consular officer, a military notary, judge advocate (10 USC 1044a), or a foreign consul diplomatic official registered with the US Department of State’s Office of Protocol will require an Apostille issued by the US Department of State.
Authentication Officer
United States Department of State
600 19th Street NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
United States of America
Phone: +1 (202) 485-8000
www.travel.state.gov
For Court Documents
Clerks and deputy clerks of the Federal Courts of the United States.
As an alternative, the U.S. Department of Justice may authenticate the seal of the Federal court and the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office will then place an apostille over that seal
For State-Issued Documents
A state-issued document with an Apostille does not require additional certification by the US Department of State or legalization by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate to be recognized in the Philippines. The US State Department will not issue an Apostille for state-issued documents.
Connecticut
Authentications and Apostilles
Secretary of the State
165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000
Hartford CT 06106
Phone:
(860) 509-6102(option 4)
www.portal.ct.gov
Delaware
Division of Corporations
John G. Townsend Bldg.
401 Federal Street, – Suite 4
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 739-3073 option 0
www.corp.delaware.gov
Maine
Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions
Department of Secretary of State
111 Sewall Street 4th Floor
Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 624-7736
Dover, DE 19901
www.maine.gov
Massachusetts
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Public Records Division
Commissions Section, Rm 1719
One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 727-2836
www.sec.state.ma.us/pre
New Hampshire
Secretary of State
State House, Room 204
107 North Main Street
Concord, NH 02108
Phone: (603) 271-3242
https://sos.nh.gov/administration/administration/apostilles-and-certificates/
New Jersey
Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services
NJ Department of Treasury
33 W State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
www.state.nj.us/treasury
New York
New York Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
123 William Street, 2nd floor
New York, NY 10038
Phone: (518) 474-4429
https://dos.ny.gov/apostille-or-certificate-authentication
Pennsylvania
Phone: (717)-783-3945
www.dos.pa.gov
Rhode Island
Division of Business Services
Office of the Secretary of State 148 West River Street
Providence, RI 02904
Phone: (401) 222-3040
Fax: (401) 222-1309
www.sos.ri.gov/
Vermont
Secretary of State Services
Vermont State Archives & Records Administration
1078 Route 2, Middlesex
Montpelier, VT 05633-7701
Phone: (802) 828-3700
Email: sos.statutoryfilings@vermont.gov
https://sos.vermont.gov/secretary-of-state-services/apostille-or-authentication/