Having your school records apostilled is a crucial process that ensures the authenticity and validity of educational documents for international use. For instance, one of the requirements for you to be able to work or study abroad is your school transcripts and diplomas. Since the Philippines is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the authentication process of school records involves obtaining an Apostille certification. However, be mindful that the apostille is only valid and accepted by countries who are also part and that are signatories of the same.
School records such as academic transcripts, diplomas, certificates, and other educational documents. These apostilled documents are often needed for purposes such as applying for higher education abroad, seeking employment overseas, or obtaining a professional license in another country.
This article aims to provide valuable insights and guidance on how to successfully apostille your school records in the Philippines and to understand the requirements set forth by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the necessary steps to ensure that your documents are properly authenticated.
Quick Guide to Apostille and Document Authentication of School Records this 2024
Getting an Apostille certification for your Philippine school records requires an extra step. In addition to the original documents, you also need to secure a Certification, Authentication, and Verification (CAV) from DepEd Regional Office, TESDA, state university/college, or CHED, whichever is applicable.
Requirements for Apostille of School Records
In this article, we will discuss how to get a CAV. But first, let us go through the requirements needed to Apostille various school documents:
For Elementary and High School Level (Form-137 and Diploma)
- Certified True Copies from the school; and
- Certification, Authentication and Verification (CAV) from DepEd Regional Office
For Technical and Vocational Courses (TOR and Diploma/National Certificate)
- Certified True Copies from the school; and
- Certification, Authentication and Verification (CAV) from TESDA
For State Colleges and Universities (TOR and Diploma)
- Certified True Copies; and
- Certification, Authentication and Verification (CAV) from the school
For Private/Local Colleges and Universities (TOR and Diploma)
- Certified True Copies from the school; and
- Certification, Authentication and Verification (CAV) from Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
Basic Facts When Getting Your School Records Apostilled
To help you further, provided below are the basic facts when getting your school records apostilled:
- You must make sure you have prepared at least three (3) photocopied sets of your original Transcript of Record (TOR) and Diploma from the College or University you attended.
- Your TOR and Diploma need to be notarized/certified by the school registrar as well. In this way, your document would be eligible for the Apostille.
- For countries not included in the Hague Convention, like Dubai or Canada for example, an attestation of documents is further required. Countries who are not part of this treaty will not accept apostilled documents (i.e., TOR and Diploma) unless you provide them further with a certificate of authentication from their Consular Office/Foreign Embassy. Take note that for the attestation of your documents, it is best to set a budget for it as it is a different process altogether.
- Apostille seals executed for authentication only apply to legal documents that are intended to be submitted abroad. If your document is for local submission, apostille certificates will not be issued as there is no need for it.
- Since Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) red ribbons are no longer issued and is replaced by apostille certificates using a seal, it is important to understand that once your document is authenticated by the DFA, you no longer need to visit the consular or embassy of the apostille-contracting country you are in.
- It is understood that apostille certificates only verifies the origin of the legal document to be submitted – such as the person or authorized representative whose signature appears in that said document. It does not attest to the content of the document – so bear this in mind when apostilling your school records.
Securing Certification, Authentication, and Verification (CAV)
The CAV is a certification that provides the authenticity of an academic record. It is issued either by the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), or the state university/college.
The general procedure for the issuance of CAV is as follows:
- Get the Certified True Copies of your school records from your school. You must inform them that you will use the school records for a CAV application.
- Your school can either (1) send your school records to DepEd, CHED, or TESDA; or (2) give you the certified copies if you opted to submit the documents yourself to DepEd, CHED, or TESDA for the CAV certification.
- After getting the CAV, you may submit the CAV along with the Certified True Copies of your school documents to the DFA to obtain your Apostille certification.
Note that the process may vary, so it would be best to contact DepEd, CHED, TESDA, or your school first to know the requirements and necessary procedures.
If the CAV will be used abroad, the CAV may have to be apostilled. Available schedules for apostille are usually so far ahead you need to plan ahead of time if you want to meet your deadline.
Sounds Overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be!
FileDocsPhil is a trusted & leading partner for all your document authentication needs in the Philippines. Our team has extensive experience handling the apostille process, ensuring that your documents are authenticated and legalized. Whether you’re planning to work, study, or settle abroad, we streamline the process of legalizing your documents for use in foreign countries.
Since the entire process involves multiple steps, the apostille should be approached diligently. Apostille services will vary depending on where you will use the document. We offer comprehensive apostille services to ensure your documents are processed quickly and efficiently.
Let FileDocsPhil Do the Work!
Need further information and assistance in the Apostille Process of School Records? Talk to our team at FILEDOCSPHIL to know more about the requirements and process. Call us today at (+63) 917 149 2337 or send an email to info@filedocsphil.com for more information or simply message us through the live chat for more information.