New Procedure for Diplomatic Authentication - Entry into Force of the Apostille Convention for the Philippines
On May 14, 2019 the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) entered into force for the Philippines. From this day, the requirement to obtain diplomatic authentication of the document at the Hungarian Consulate is abolished and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines (DFA) no longer issues Authentication Certificates („red ribbon”). Instead, the DFA affix an Apostille to documents to be used abroad. In the same vein, public documents executed in Hungary to be used in the Philippines no longer have to be authenticated by the Philippine Embassy in Budapest, provided the client obtains the Apostille stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.
Authentication of most documents are hassle free, nevertheless there are some instances when the Hungarian authorities ask to redo the process:
- delayed registration of births/marriages/deaths allow for alteration, therefore Hungarian authorities often request a thorough investigation which will prolong the procedures in Hungary;
- old or handwritten birth/marriage/death certificates are often illegible – if you have such certificate, please request a certified clear/typewritten copy before the Apostillization.
Further information can be found here: www.dfa.gov.ph/dfa-news/dfa-releasesupdate/22280-question-and-answer-and-infographics-on-authentication-through-apostille
