July 11, 19

NEWS / DFA replaces 'red ribbons' to authenticate documents

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced on Monday, June 17, that it will no longer be issuing "red ribbons" to authenticate documents following the "Apostille Convention," which took effect in the Philippines in May 2019. In an advisory, the DFA said the Apostille certificates replaced authentication certificates, commonly known as "red ribbons," as proof of authenticity of public documents to be used by Filipinos abroad. The DFA said Philippine embassies and consulates had already stopped affixing red satin ribbons to certificates of authentication and acknowledgment as of Saturday, June 15. It added the move was part of the agency's effort to streamline authentication processes. What is the 'Apostille Convention?' It is the international treaty specifying that a document issued in one of the signatory countries can be certified for legal purposes in all the other signatory states. This is helpful for citizens of signatory countries as it would ease the burdensome requirements for legalizing documents. Overseas employers have been requiring their Filipino workers to secure authentication of their documents from the DFA. The DFA said the Apostille Convention aids in facilitating cross-border trade, investment, and personal relations. The Apostille Convention entered into force for the Philippines on May 14, 2019

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