Certified Philippine Document Translation Services

DoVisa translates all types of Philippine documents including PSA birth certificates (Sertipiko ng Kapanganakan), PSA marriage certificates (Sertipiko ng Kasal), PSA death certificates, CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage Record), NBI clearances, PRC professional licenses, TESDA certificates, Form 137 school records, Transcripts of Records (TOR), Overseas Employment Certificates (OEC), barangay clearances, police clearances, court documents, and corporate filings. We handle both Filipino-language and English-language Philippine documents for translation into any target language.

Yes. Every translation includes a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy in which the translator attests to the completeness and accuracy of the translation and their competency in both languages. This certification format is accepted by USCIS, UK Visas and Immigration, IRCC (Canada), the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Japanese and Korean immigration authorities, and credential evaluation agencies worldwide. The Philippines does not use a sworn translator system — instead, translations are authenticated through notarization under the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, followed by CANA from the Regional Trial Court and DFA apostille when required for international use.

Standard delivery is 4-6 business days for most Philippine document types. Single-page PSA certificates and NBI clearances typically complete in 3-4 business days. Express processing is available for 2-3 business day delivery, and rush service within 24 hours is available for select single-page documents. Multi-page academic transcripts and corporate document sets may require the full standard timeline. If you also need DFA apostille coordination, add 5-10 business days for the notarization, CANA, and DFA processing chain.

DoVisa translates Philippine documents into over 100 languages. Since Philippine documents are primarily issued in English, the most common translation direction is English into the destination country's language. Our highest-demand language pairs for Philippine documents include English to Japanese, English to Korean, English to Arabic, English to German, English to Spanish, English to French, English to Chinese, and English to Italian. We also translate Filipino-language documents into English and other languages. Contact us for any language pair not listed — we can source qualified translators for virtually any world language.

Yes. Our certified translations of Philippine documents are accepted by immigration authorities in all major destination countries for Filipino migrants, including USCIS in the United States, IRCC in Canada, the Australian Department of Home Affairs, UK Visas and Immigration, Japan's Immigration Services Agency, and South Korea's immigration offices. Our current acceptance rate for Philippine document translations is 98.7% across all filing jurisdictions. Each translation is formatted to meet the specific certification standards that these authorities expect.

Notarization requirements depend on where the translated document will be used. For USCIS filings, notarization is not required — a certified translation with the translator's affidavit is sufficient. For use in Hague Convention member countries, translations typically need to be notarized as the first step in the apostille authentication chain. Under the Philippine 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, a commissioned notary public authenticates the translator's signature and certification. The notarized translation then requires a CANA from the Regional Trial Court before the DFA can issue an apostille. DoVisa can arrange the complete notarization and apostille process upon request.

A DFA apostille is an authentication certificate issued by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs under the Hague Apostille Convention, which the Philippines joined on May 14, 2019. The apostille authenticates the notary's seal on a notarized document, enabling its recognition in all Convention member countries without further legalization. You need a DFA apostille if your Philippine document or its translation will be used in another Hague Convention member country (over 120 countries). The process requires: (1) notarization, (2) CANA from the Regional Trial Court, and (3) DFA apostille issuance. Important exception: Germany objected to the Philippines' accession, so documents for Germany require traditional consular legalization instead of an apostille.

DoVisa uses a per-page pricing structure with volume discounts for larger orders. Pricing varies based on the language pair, document complexity, and processing speed selected. Express and rush services are available at additional rates for urgent deadlines. Notarization and DFA apostille coordination are quoted as separate add-on services. Upload your Philippine documents on our order page to receive an instant, detailed quote before translation begins — there are no hidden fees or surprise charges.

Yes. DoVisa translates handwritten Philippine documents including older civil registry records, church baptismal certificates, barangay certifications, and historical school records. Handwritten Filipino documents present unique challenges due to regional script variations and the use of both Filipino and Spanish terminology in older records (Philippine civil registration was conducted in Spanish through the early 20th century). Our translators experienced with Philippine documents can decipher these handwriting styles. For best results, upload the clearest possible scan at 300 DPI or higher so all handwritten text is legible.

You will receive your certified translation as a high-resolution PDF delivered digitally via email. The PDF includes the complete translation, the signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy, and a copy of the original document for reference. For filings that require physical documents — such as court submissions, embassy appointments, or apostille processing — we ship hard copies with original wet-ink signatures via tracked international courier to any address worldwide. Standard shipping to Philippine addresses takes 5-7 business days; express options are available.

Yes. Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article XIV, both Filipino and English are official languages. Most Philippine government documents — including PSA certificates, NBI clearances, court records, academic transcripts, and professional licenses — are issued in English or in a bilingual English-Filipino format. This means Philippine documents are often accepted internationally without translation for English-speaking countries. However, when submitting to non-English-speaking jurisdictions such as Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, or Arab countries, certified translation into the destination country's language is required.

Not yet. The DFA launched the e-Apostille system in March 2024, but it is currently limited to PSA-issued documents — birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and CENOMAR. The e-Apostille can be verified electronically at e-app1.apostille.gov.ph, providing a faster and more secure authentication process for these civil registry documents. Other document types, including NBI clearances, court orders, academic records, and notarized translations, still require the traditional paper-based apostille process at DFA offices. DoVisa monitors the expansion of the e-Apostille program and will update our services as additional document types become eligible.