How Filipinos can authenticate documents in Riyadh Overview
As part of its commitment to serving its people, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh provides document authentication services, much like any other Philippine diplomatic post overseas.
As per the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the embassy provides authentication and notarial services to Filipinos. The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has the authority to “authenticate an act, deed, document, etc. done or sourced with the Philippine legal jurisdiction by way of certifying said act” through its consular employees.
This may look like this
- done in front of a notary public in the area who is qualified to handle such matters
- sealed under the public’s authority
- rendered public by a capable magistrate’s authority
- verified as a replica of a public record
- Department of Foreign Affairs verification
The following conditions must be met in order to authenticate a certain document or documents:
- Request for Notarial Services Form (available at the Consular Section of the Embassy).
- A copy of the authenticated original document.
- The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticates the officer’s seal and signature.
- A passport photocopy.
To authenticate your document or documents, follow these steps:
- Deliver the paperwork as mentioned earlier to the Consular Section (Window 3) for processing.
- Make the necessary payment at the cashier. SR 100 is the service charge per document.
- The next working day from 2 pm to 5 pm, pick up the verified document from the same counter. Bring the machine-validated invoice that the cashier gave you.
- To prevent issues, ensure the papers you’ve supplied are authenticated and the correct document.
Be aware that you must present in person to get your documents authenticated. Your papers won’t be authenticated if you don’t, even if you have a letter of authority for an authorized representative.
When would I require an apostille and what is it?
A certificate that verifies the source of a public document is known as an apostille. It is authorized by a nation that has ratified the Apostille Convention to be used in another nation that has ratified the Convention.
The Philippines was engrafted into the Apostille Convention on May 14, 2019. All Philippine papers must still be authenticated before they can be used overseas, however, this time around an Apostille will serve as proof of authenticity rather than an Authentication Certificate (“red ribbon”).
Except for non-Apostille nations and those that are opposed to the admission of the Philippines, there is no longer a requirement for authentication (legalization) by Embassies or Consulates after authentication (Apostillization) by DFA-OCA, as Competent Authority.
Authentication of papers can be done where?
Every DFA Authentication Unit, including DFA-Aseana, DFA Consular Office (CO) Northeast (Ali Mall, Cubao), CO East (SM Megamall), CO West (SM Manila), CO South (Metro Gaisano, Alabang), CO San Fernando, Pampanga, CO Davao (SM Davao), CO Iloilo, and CO Cebu, offers the Apostille (Pacific Mall-Metro Mandaue).
What is the processing charge? How long does the Apostille processing take?
The cost of the DFA-document OCA’s authentication service is P100.00 for standard processing (released after three working days), and P200.00 for expedited processing (to be released the next working day). *IMPORTANT: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, expedited processing of documents for authentication is currently suspended.
How will the Apostille Convention affect me as an overseas Filipino?
Foreign documents from Apostille countries will only require Apostillization by the host government to be validly used in the Philippines or another Apostille country, just as Philippine documents for use in Apostille countries will no longer require passing through a second authentication by the Foreign Embassies in Manila after they have been authenticated (Apostilled) by the DFA-OCA. (Note: DFA-OCA does not apostille or authenticate papers from other countries.)
The authentication procedure between the Philippines and the non-Apostille nations, as well as Austria, Finland, Germany, and Greece, won’t alter.
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Authentication of Philippine-Issued Documents
Documents issued in the Philippines are neither authenticated nor apostilled by the Philippine Embassy. Only the Department of Foreign Affairs may validate personal, business, and legal papers issued in the Philippines for use abroad (DFA). The following places provide DFA authentication services:
- Office of Consular Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Main Office: Authentication Division
- Address: Macapagal Avenue and Bradco Avenue, Paranaque City, ASEANA Business Park
- Authentication Concerns Hotline: 0966-410-8465 (Globe); 0908-208-6313; email: oca.authentication@dfa.gov.ph (Smart)
Consular offices and satellite offices:
- Address for DFA NCR Northeast is Level 2 Ali Mall Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
- Hours and days of business operations: Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
- NCR Northeast So Email: dfa.gov.ph
- Address for DFA NCR East: SM Megamall Building C, 7th Floor, EDSA and Julia Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong City
- Hours and days of business operations: Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Send an email to ncreast.so@dfa.gov.ph.
- The following address for DFA NCR South is located in Muntinlupa City: 4th Floor Metro Alabang Town Center, Alabang Zapote Road.
- Hours and days of business operations: Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Email address: dfancrsout@gmail.com
- Address for DFA NCR West: SM City Manila, 5th floor, Conception St., Manila
- Hours and days of business operations: Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
- NCR West So Email: dfa.gov.ph
- Address for DFA Cebu: Brgy. Estancia, Mandaue City, Brgy. Pacific Mall-Metro Mandaue, 4th Floor, UN Avenue and MC Briones Street
- Hours and days of business Operations: Monday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Email addresses: rco-cebu@oca.dfa.gov.ph, dfacebu@yahoo.com, cebu.rco@dfa.gov.ph
- Address for DFA Davao is in SM City Davao’s 3rd Floor, Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland Subdivision, Brgy. Matina, Davao City.
- Operating Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Send an email to davao.rco@dfa.gov.ph.
- DFA Pampanga is located in San Fernando City, Pampanga, on the second floor of Robinsons StarMills.
- Operating Times: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays
- Email addresses: rcopampanga@yahoo.com and pampanga.rco@dfa.gov.ph
- The applicant is encouraged to submit at the Authentication Division, OCA ASEANA, ASEANA Business Park, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. cor. Bradco Ave., Brgy. Tambo, Paranaque City 1700 PHL if the document requires additional verification.
The following records might be verified:
- clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation
- Police Verification
- Certification of the Barangay with Mayor’s Certification
- Documents printed on secure paper and issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) (e.g. Certificate of Birth, Certificate of Marriage, Certificate of No Marriage ie Divorce, Death Certificate)
- Affidavits certified by a regional trial court
- Documents notarized with certification from a regional trial court
- Documents that have been medically certified and have been verified by the Department of Health Professional Regulation Commission
- License Certification for the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is only provided by the LTO headquarters office.
- Foreign papers that have been verified by the Philippine Consulate General or Embassy
- Documents from another country that have been endorsed by a foreign embassy, consulate general, or consulate in the Philippines
- School Records, such as transcripts of records, diplomas, Form 137, etc., with a Certificate of Authentication and Verification (CAV) from the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (DepEd)
- School Records with a State College or State University-issued Certificate of Authentication and Verification (CAV)
- Presentation made by a Representative
A legitimate representative in the Philippines may submit documents for validation. A legitimate form of identity and the following documents must be presented by the authorized representative:
- Photocopy of the applicant’s identity card showing the applicant’s signature Special Power of Attorney (SPA) signed by the applicant; If the applicant is residing overseas, the SPA should be consularized by the Philippine Embassy or Consulate-General
- a photocopy of the identity card for the authorized representative.
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