Fees and steps checked on
Philippines marriage certificate attestation is how a Filipino couple in the UAE gets their marriage recognised for a spouse visa. The certificate is printed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), attested by the UAE Embassy in Manila and finished with MOFA attestation. Nobody has to fly to Manila.
Price: The Philippines is quoted per document. Send a copy on WhatsApp and you get the total price, all official fees included, before any work starts. See attestation fees.
PSA copy first: why it matters
The DFA apostilles civil registry documents in the PSA format. Many couples hold a copy from the local civil registrar where they married, which is a different document. Before anything else, we look at what you have and tell you if a fresh PSA copy is needed. The DFA's fully online service can deliver the PSA copy with the apostille already attached, which saves a step.
Who needs the attested marriage certificate
The spouse visa. GDRFA in Dubai asks for a certified marriage contract, ICP for an attested one, and both expect the full UAE chain on a Philippine certificate. The rest of the file is listed in documents to attest for a UAE family visa. Health insurance for a spouse and some housing applications in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah also ask for proof of marriage.
From PSA to MOFA
- PSA marriage certificate on security paper, ordered fresh if needed.
- DFA apostille. Regular service takes about 4 working days; expedited is next business day. Or the online PSA plus apostille bundle.
- UAE Embassy, Manila. Since about May 2024 the embassy processes attestation through its partner VFS Global, with fees paid on the MOFA portal.
- MOFA. On the digital route the Manila and MOFA stamps come back together.
- Spouse visa. The certificate goes into the GDRFA or ICP application.
Options and times for a Philippine marriage certificate
| Option | Office | Time |
|---|---|---|
| PSA copy with apostille, online | PSA and DFA | plus delivery |
| Apostille on a PSA copy you hold | DFA, regular | about 4 working days |
| Apostille, urgent | DFA, expedited | next business day |
| Embassy attestation | UAE Embassy Manila, via VFS Global | in your quote |
| Final attestation | MOFA, UAE | in your quote |
Our single price already contains the government charges you need and the courier.
The old red ribbon
Before 14 May 2019 the DFA authenticated documents with a red ribbon. The Philippines then joined the Apostille Convention and the apostille replaced it. If your certificate carries an old red ribbon, send a photo and we confirm whether it needs a fresh PSA copy and apostille. Either way, the UAE still needs the embassy and MOFA steps after the DFA: see attestation vs apostille.
What to send
- A photo of the PSA marriage certificate (or tell us if you need a new one)
- Both passports, copies
- Your visa deadline
Typical problems with Philippine marriage files
- A civil registrar copy instead of PSA.
- Spelling differences between the PSA certificate and the passports, including middle names.
- Stopping after the DFA, thinking the apostille is enough.
See why attestation gets rejected for more.
Other Philippine documents
Children's PSA birth certificates: Philippines birth certificate attestation. Diplomas: Philippines degree attestation. All documents: Philippines certificate attestation.
