Legalization of Documents for the Philippines: everything you need to know

If you plan to use documents issued in Germany in the Philippines, you will need to undergo a legalization process. This important step authenticates your documents and makes them legally valid in the Philippines.

Germany and the Philippines are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention, which greatly simplifies the legalization process. For most documents, it is sufficient to obtain an apostille - a special stamp recognized by all countries party to the convention.

Types of documents that typically require legalization for use in the Philippines include:

• Birth, marriage or death certificates
• Diplomas of education and academic certificates
• Commercial documents (contracts, company charters)
• Medical certificates and prescriptions
• Powers of attorney and legal declarations

The legalization process for German citizens usually involves the following steps:

• Obtaining an apostille from the appropriate German authority (depends on the type of document)
• Translation of the document into English (official language of the Philippines)
• Certification of translation by a sworn translator in Germany
• In some cases, additional certification at the Philippine Embassy in Germany

It is important that not all documents can be legalized by apostille. Some types of documents, especially those related to commercial activities or required for official government purposes, may need consular legalization. In this case, the document must be certified by the German Foreign Office and then by the Philippine Embassy.

Special attention should be paid to the translation of documents. The Philippines is a predominantly English-speaking country, so all documents must be translated into English. The translation should be done by a qualified translator and notarized.

Our company offers comprehensive document legalization services for the Philippines. We will help you through the entire process: from document preparation and obtaining an apostille to translation and, if necessary, consular legalization. Our specialists are always aware of the latest requirements of the Philippine authorities and will help you avoid possible mistakes and delays in the legalization process.

The benefits of working with us include:

• In-depth knowledge of German and Philippine law
• Experience in working with different types of documents
• Quick and efficient implementation of the legalization process
• Individual approach to each client
• Continuous monitoring of changes in legalization requirements

Trust your document legalization to the professionals and rest assured that your documents will be accepted in the Philippines without any problems. We strive to make the legalization process as simple and hassle-free as possible for our German clients, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your travel or business activities in the Philippines.