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DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A SPECIFIC CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE APPROPRIATE FOREIGN AUTHORITIES OR FOREIGN COUNSEL.
1201 Roxas Boulevard
Manila, Philippines 1000
Telephone: + (63) (2) 5301-2000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (63) (2) 5301-2000
Fax: + (63) (2) 5301-2017
Email: ACSInfoManila@state.gov
U.S. Consular Agency - Cebu City
Ground Level, Waterfront Hotel
Salinas Drive
Lahug, Cebu City
Philippines 6000
Telephone: + (63) (32) 231-1261
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Manila: + (63) (2) 301-2000
Fax: +(63) (32) 231-0174
Email: ACSInfoCebu@state.gov
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On October 1, 2020, the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters (Hague Service Convention) entered into force for the Philippines, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on March 4, 2020. The Office of the Court Administrator of the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) is designated as the Central Authority. Please refer to Guidelines on the Implementation in the Philippines of the Hague Service Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters for more information.
Prosecution Requests: U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance.
Defense Requests in Criminal Matters: Criminal defendants or their defense counsel seeking judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters may do so via the letters rogatory process.
Article VIII (1)(A) of the U.S.-Philippine Consular Convention provides that U.S. consular officers may take voluntary depositions in the Philippines of U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States regardless of the nature of the proceedings, provided no compulsion is used. The Philippines is not a party to the Hague Evidence Convention. Oral depositions or depositions on written questions may be taken by U.S. consular officers or by private attorneys from the United States or the Philippines at the U.S. Embassy or at another location such as a hotel or office, either on notice or pursuant to a commission. If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. embassy directly.
The Philippines is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Hague Apostille Convention). Under the Convention, the Philippines’ competent authority for the Hague Apostille Convention authenticates Philippine public documents to be used abroad with an Apostille instead of an Authentication Certificate (“red ribbon”). After the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA), as Competent Authority, completes the Apostille process, there is no need for additional authentication/legalization, unless the document will be used in a country that is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention.
See our authentication and apostille page for information about authentication of U.S. public documents for use in Philippines. To obtain an Apostille for a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, contact the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Vital Records Office.
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