Step by Step Apostille for Filipino immigrants living in the USA
What is an apostille service?
An Apostille is a method to authenticate a legal document for use in another country.
How do apostille services work?
For example, A Filipino issuing an SPA to the Philippines (to buy or sell a property) or a school transcript that needs to be authenticated—but the person lives in the USA.
He can go to the Philippine Embassy to authenticate the SPA (Consularized SPA) or have the document authenticated (through mail) at apostille services.
IMPORTANT: Non-government apostille services charge hefty amounts. We recommend using local government apostille services. Every office of the State Secretary can issue apostilles.
Consularized document instead of apostilling: You have an option to go to the embassy to consularize your document. Click here for more information.
What are the requirements for apostille?
- Apostille application form.
- Document to be notarized.
- Processing fee. ($2/document in Illinois, pay to: Secretary of State)
- Self-stamped envelope.
Pros and Cons of Apostille
- Pros: You can mail your documents instead of visiting the nearest Philippine embassy. The apostille office (usually called the Index Department) sends them directly to your recipient in the Philippines.
- Cons: The Index office can take 2 to 4 weeks to complete and submit the document directly to your recipient.
Step by Step Apostille:
1. Download and fill out the apostille application form.
To authenticate a vital record (For example, Death certificates, etc.): Obtain a certified copy from the local county clerk’s office where the person was born or died—no need to notarize.
To authenticate a transcript or diploma for international use: Request the school to certify and sign the document and notarize it in the presence of a Notary Public. Or have it issued with a statement of acknowledgment (school letterhead) and notarized.
Request a copy at the local county office: To authenticate divorce papers, legal name changes, etc. The certificate must have an official seal and the circuit clerk’s or a judge’s signature.
For other documents such as SPA, Deeds, Adoption, etc.: Go to Step 2.
2. Print your document(s) and do not sign yet.
Bring documents to the nearest Notary services to be notarized (UPS Store, etc.). The issuer will sign the document in front of the notary public.
You can also ask your bank. Chase, PNC, BOA, etc. have FREE notary services for their clients.
3. Buy a self-stamped envelope.
OPTION 1: Go to a United States Postal Services (USPS) and purchase a PRIORITY MAIL Envelope (self-addressed stamp) either to the applicant or third party.
OPTION 2: Buy a prepaid “pre-addressed airbill” (DHL, FedEx, etc., about US$120) for faster door-to-door delivery either to the applicant or third party.
* The document can be mailed back to the applicant or to the third party (recipient in the Philippines).
4. Send all documents to apostille services
- Collate all documents and include self-addressed envelope and check payment.
- In Illinois, each document is approximately US$2 per document, payable to the “Secretary of State” (total amount).
FOR ILLINOIS RESIDENTS ONLY:
| Submit by Mail | Submit in-person |
| Secretary of State Index Department 17 N. State St., Ste, 1010 Chicago, IL 60602 | Secretary of State Index Department 17 N. State Street Chicago, IL 60602 Telephone 312-814-8218 |
- Processing is 7 to 14 business days plus days for the document to reach another country.
- For more information, you can call 312-814-8218 • 312-793-3959 (Illinois State Secretary) or visit this link.
HOW TO CONSULARIZE DOCUMENT STEP BY STEP.
