An apostille is the DFA’s certificate that makes your NBI clearance recognized in another country. You need one only if the office abroad asks for it. Since April 2025, the DFA has a separate online service for NBI clearances: you upload a copy of your clearance on the DFA’s apostille website, get a schedule, and go straight to claiming the apostilled clearance.
It costs ₱200 per document, paid online when you book. If the clearance is for a country that isn’t part of the Apostille Convention, such as the UAE, the apostille is only the first step. That country’s embassy in Manila also has to legalize it.
| What it does | Certifies your NBI clearance for use in Apostille Convention countries |
| Do you need it? | Only if the office abroad asks for it |
| Where | The DFA, booked through its apostille website (apostille.gov.ph) |
| Fee | ₱200 per document, paid online when you book |
| NBI clearance service | Upload a copy online, then claim the apostilled clearance on your schedule |
| Non-member countries | Apostille plus legalization by that country’s embassy, for example the UAE, Qatar or Kuwait |
We are not the NBI or the DFA. This is an independent guide. Book only through the DFA’s own apostille website. The DFA warns that nobody can sell you a faster appointment.
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Do you need an apostille at all?
Many people apostille an NBI clearance they didn’t need to. Check what the office receiving it actually asks for:
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| The employer, school or agency abroad doesn’t mention authentication | No apostille needed; send the clearance as it is |
| The office asks for an apostille, and its country is in the Apostille Convention | Get a DFA apostille |
| The country isn’t in the Apostille Convention | Get a DFA apostille, then legalization by that country’s embassy in Manila |
| It’s for Canadian immigration (IRCC) | No apostille needed for IRCC itself |
| It’s for use in the Philippines | No apostille needed |
Filipinos applying to Canadian immigration can skip this step; our guide to the NBI clearance in Canada explains what IRCC does want.
Apostille countries vs countries that need legalization
The Philippines joined the Apostille Convention in 2019. For member countries, the DFA apostille is all you need. For everyone else, the apostille is followed by the destination country’s own legalization.
| What’s needed | Examples |
|---|---|
| Apostille is enough | USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Italy, Spain |
| Apostille plus embassy legalization | UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and other countries outside the convention |
There are a few exceptions even among members. The DFA lists Finland, Germany and Greece as countries that still require embassy legalization for Philippine documents. When in doubt, ask the receiving office or that country’s embassy before you book.
The UAE has its own full chain: DFA apostille, then the UAE Embassy in Manila, then MOFA attestation in the UAE. Our guide to getting an NBI clearance for the UAE walks through each step.
How to apostille your NBI clearance
The DFA handles NBI clearances through a dedicated service on its apostille website. The steps are:
Step 1 — Get your NBI clearance first
Make sure it’s recent enough for the office abroad. Many want one issued within the last few months, even though an NBI clearance is valid for one year. Check that your name and details are correct, because the apostille certifies the clearance as it is.
Step 2 — Open the NBI clearance apostille service
Go to the DFA’s apostille website, apostille.gov.ph, and choose the apostille service for NBI clearances. Enter your details exactly as they appear on the clearance.
Step 3 — Upload a copy of your clearance and pay
Upload a clear scan or photo of the whole clearance. Pay the ₱200 fee online. The DFA’s system gives you about an hour to pay after booking, so have your payment method ready. The fee isn’t refunded if you cancel without a valid reason.
Step 4 — Claim it on your schedule
You get a schedule to claim the apostilled clearance at the DFA office you chose, without a separate submission visit. Bring your original NBI clearance, a valid ID and your booking confirmation.
If you have other documents to apostille too, such as a PSA birth certificate or a diploma, book them through the DFA’s regular apostille appointment instead. Only the documents you declare when booking are processed.
Having someone else do it for you
If you’re abroad or busy, a relative or friend can handle the apostille for you. They need your written authority and IDs. Posts in some countries, such as the UAE, recommend a special power of attorney that covers the NBI, the DFA and embassy steps in one document. For simpler cases, an authorization letter with copies of both people’s IDs is usually enough.
If you sign the authority while abroad, have it notarized at the Philippine embassy or consulate there. Our guide to getting an NBI clearance from abroad covers the rest of that route.
After the apostille: legalization for non-member countries
For countries outside the Apostille Convention, bring the apostilled clearance to that country’s embassy in Manila for legalization. Each embassy sets its own requirements, fees and schedule, so check with it first. Some countries also require a final step once the document arrives, such as the UAE’s MOFA attestation.
Apostille mistakes to avoid
- Apostilling a clearance the office didn’t ask to be apostilled.
- Apostilling an old clearance the receiving office will reject as too old. Renew first if needed.
- Laminating the clearance. Keep it flat and clean, with no lamination or staples.
- Stopping at the apostille for a country that also needs embassy legalization.
- Paying someone to “rush” your DFA appointment. The DFA says there are no expedited appointments for sale.
- A name on the clearance that doesn’t match your passport. Fix the NBI record before you apostille.
FAQs: NBI clearance apostille
₱200 per document, paid online when you book with the DFA. Courier or legalization fees, if you need them, are separate.
No. The red ribbon was replaced by the apostille when the Philippines joined the Apostille Convention in 2019. Countries outside the convention use embassy legalization after the apostille instead.
Plan on booking online. The DFA processes apostilles by appointment, and only documents declared in your booking are processed.
No. Minors can’t book, so a parent or guardian books for them.
Partly. For NBI clearances you upload a copy online and then claim the apostilled clearance in person or through a representative. The DFA’s fully electronic e-Apostille currently covers PSA electronic certificates and some academic documents, not NBI clearances.
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