Apostille Processing Time for an Affidavit of Single Status in the Philippines
A 2025 practical guide for Filipinos who need to prove they are free to marry or enter a civil partnership abroad
1. What is an Affidavit of Single Status?
An Affidavit of Single Status (also called a “Certificate of No Marriage” affidavit, or CENOMAR‑based affidavit) is a sworn statement—executed before a Philippine notary public or, in some cases, a Philippine consular officer abroad—declaring that the affiant has never been married, or that any previous marriage has been legally dissolved. Foreign marriage registries often demand it as part of their anti‑bigamy screening.
2. Why Must It Be Apostilled?
Because the affidavit is a “public document” once notarised, most foreign authorities will not accept it at face value. Under the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the “Apostille Convention”), which the Philippines acceded to on 12 September 2018 and implemented on 14 May 2019, an Apostille from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs–Office of Consular Affairs (DFA‑OCA) replaces the old “red‑ribbon” consular authentication. The Apostille certifies the authenticity of:
- the notary’s signature
- the notary’s authority to act, and
- the notary’s seal
Foreign authorities in 125+ Hague‑member states then accept the document without further embassy legalisation.
Tip: Countries that are not Hague members (e.g., Canada, UAE, Qatar) still require embassy legalisation after Apostille.
3. Legal and Administrative Basis
| Instrument / Rule | Key Points for Apostille Processing |
|---|---|
| Hague Convention (PH in force 14 May 2019) | DFA is the Philippine Competent Authority for issuing Apostilles. |
| DFA Department Order # 05‑2019 | Sets fees (₱100 regular / ₱200 express per document) and release schedules. |
| Rules on Notarial Practice (2004, as amended) | Proper notarisation is a prerequisite; DFA rejects improperly notarised affidavits. |
| DFA Advisory Series (2023‑2025) | Introduced eApostille portal, mandatory online appointment, and optional courier return. |
4. Standard Processing Times (2025)
| Service Type | Filing Location | Calendar Days* | Working Days Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express / Same‑Day | DFA‑OCA Aseana (Pasay) | 1 day (release at 2–4 pm) | 0–1 | Limited slots; cut‑off is usually 10:00 am. |
| Regular | DFA‑OCA Aseana | 3 calendar days | ~2–3 | Example: File Monday → Release Thursday. |
| Express | DFA Consular Offices (CO) outside NCR | 2–3 calendar days | 1–2 | Only selected COs offer express. |
| Regular | DFA COs outside NCR | 4–5 calendar days | 3–4 | Courier delivery may add 2–3 days. |
| eApostille (pilot) | Fully online for notarised PDFs with qualified digital certs | Issued in 24 h | — | Still limited to documents notarised with digital signatures. |
*Excluding Philippine & local holidays. Walk‑in filing is no longer permitted; online appointments open 2–3 weeks ahead and fill within minutes in peak season (March–June wedding rush, October–December holiday travel).
5. Factors That May Extend the Timeline
- Appointment lead time – securing a slot can itself take 1–2 weeks.
- Documentation issues – erasures, mismatched signatures, missing notarial seal, unregistered notary. Document is put on verification hold (adds 5–15 days).
- Peak periods – Holy Week, year‑end holidays: processing windows may shorten, but queues lengthen.
- Regional routing – COs in distant islands batch‑ship to Manila for the physical Apostille imprimatur.
- Courier return – LBC, DHL, and PHLPost add transit time (1 day Metro Manila; 2–5 days provincial; 5–10 days overseas).
- Non‑Hague destination – embassy legalisation after Apostille can add 2–10 days depending on mission hours.
6. Step‑by‑Step: Getting an Apostilled Affidavit of Single Status
| Step | Action | Time Budget |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Draft affidavit (or use lawyer’s template) & gather IDs, PSA CENOMAR. | 1 day |
| 2 | Have it notarised. Check notary’s complete name, commission number, expiry date, and seal. | < 1 h |
| 3 | Book DFA Apostille appointment (https://apostille.dfa.gov.ph). Pay via e‑Payment (₱100 regular / ₱200 express). | 15 min (slot availability varies) |
| 4 | Appear at DFA‑OCA/CO with: (a) printed application form & receipt, (b) notarised affidavit, (c) photocopy of gov’t ID. | 30–60 min on site |
| 5 | Processing – DFA checks notary database, issues Apostille sticker & heavy embossed seal. | See § 4 |
| 6 | Claim or receive by courier. Verify that Apostille bears QR code linking to DFA verification page. | Same day to +10 days |
Heads‑up: DFA rejects scans or photocopies of notarised affidavits; only wet‑ink originals are apostillised (unless using the eApostille pilot with end‑to‑end digital signatures).
7. Costs (2025 Schedule)
Notarisation: ₱200–₱1,000 (Metro Manila; provincial rates often lower).
Apostille fee (per document):
- Regular – ₱100
- Express – ₱200
Courier (optional): ₱190 Metro Manila / ₱220–₱250 provincial / international rates vary.
Embassy legalisation (if required afterwards): US$25–US$60 typical.
8. Validity & Re‑Use
- The Apostille itself never expires, but foreign registrars usually accept an Affidavit of Single Status that is ≤6 months old.
- If you plan multiple overseas transactions, you may request duplicate Apostilles on additional originals; processing time and fees apply per copy.
9. Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
| Pitfall | Prevention |
|---|---|
| Appointment booked under wrong document type (e.g., “Birth Certificate”). | Choose “Affidavit / SPA / Other Notarised” in DFA portal. |
| Using a jurat but signing prior to notary’s presence. | Sign in front of the notary to avoid “null affidavit” flag. |
| Notary commission expired. | Check the stamp: “Commission expires ___”. |
| Ink erasures / correction fluid. | Re‑execute; DFA will refuse. |
| Mis‑spelling in names versus passport. | Re‑notarise; DFA cannot annotate. |
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can I authorise someone else to submit and claim? Yes. Provide an SPA or DFA “Authorisation Letter,” photocopies of your ID and the representative’s ID. Processing times remain the same.
Q2. Do I need a PSA‑issued CENOMAR for the Apostille? DFA does not require the CENOMAR, but most foreign marriage bureaus do. Bring both to avoid re‑filing abroad.
Q3. I live abroad—can a relative handle everything? Yes, if (1) the affidavit is notarised in the Philippines, or (2) you sign before a Philippine consular officer abroad (which produces a document already deemed a “Philippine public document,” still requiring DFA Apostille via courier filing). A Special Power of Attorney may be needed for your representative.
Q4. Is the eApostille accepted everywhere? It is legally equivalent, but some civil registrars still prefer a “wet‑ink” Apostille sticker. Verify with the receiving authority.
Q5. What if my destination country withdrew from the Hague Convention? You must follow the pre‑2019 route: Apostille plus embassy/consulate legalisation. Processing time extends according to the mission’s schedule.
11. Practical Time‑Saving Tips (2025)
- Book early: DFA opens new slots at 12:00 pm every weekday.
- Aim for express same‑day if travelling within two weeks.
- Batch documents: Each additional affidavit submitted in the same appointment saves queue time.
- Use Regional Consular Offices (RCOs): Cebu, Davao, and Pampanga often have lighter loads.
- Courier both ways: End‑to‑end courier filing (LBC service desks inside selected RCOs) avoids personal appearance, adding only ~2 days.
12. Key Takeaways
- Standard timeline: 3 calendar days at DFA Aseana; 4–5 days in most RCOs.
- Express: Same‑day (Aseana) or 2‑day (RCO express lanes).
- Bottlenecks are usually appointment slots and document defects, not the Apostille stamping itself.
- Plan backwards from your foreign marriage or visa filing date, factoring in local holidays, courier legs, and any embassy legalisation.
This article is for general guidance as of 22 July 2025. Apostille rules can change; always confirm with the DFA and the foreign authority where the affidavit will be used. Seek qualified Philippine counsel for case‑specific advice.