For a Report of Birth or Report of Marriage, the Philippine Embassy in Wellington needs original New Zealand certificates and notarised forms and affidavits, and it does not accept a JP. For a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) signed here, the alternative to visiting the Embassy is a NZ Notary Public plus an apostille. We order the certificates as an approved BDM Online organisation, book the notary, handle the apostille and courier everything. Apostille all in from NZ$116.
What we prepare for the Philippines
| Your situation | NZ documents | What we take care of |
|---|---|---|
| Report of Birth for a NZ-born child | Child's NZ birth certificate, parents' marriage certificate (if married in NZ) | Order the original certificates, book a Notary Public for the forms and affidavits, courier the set |
| Report of Marriage (married in NZ) | NZ marriage certificate | Order the BDM certificate (not the wedding-day one) and prepare it for the Embassy |
| Late registration, or unmarried parents | Affidavits of delayed registration, acknowledgement of paternity, use of surname | Notary appointment so each affidavit is signed correctly |
| Property, bank or family matter in the Philippines | Special Power of Attorney (SPA) | Notary Public, then apostille, then courier straight to the Philippines. No trip to Wellington |
| Work, study or licensing in the Philippines | Degree, transcript, NZ police certificate | Request the criminal record, check whether a notary is needed, apostille and send |
The Philippine Embassy confirms its current list for each report. We check it before ordering anything.
How it works with us
- Tell us the report or taskBirth, marriage, SPA or work.
- We list the documentsFrom the Embassy's current checklist.
- We order NZ certificatesOriginals, as an approved BDM Online organisation.
- Notary appointmentFor forms, affidavits or the SPA.
- Apostille if neededFor documents going to the Philippines.
- CourieredTo you, the Embassy or the Philippines.
What it costs
| Service | All in |
|---|---|
| NZ birth or marriage certificate ordered and posted in NZ | NZ$79 |
| Apostille on a NZ document | From NZ$116 |
| NZ certificate ordered and apostilled, returned in NZ | From NZ$198 |
| SPA or affidavits: notary appointment (+ apostille for the SPA) | Quoted all in, including the notary |
| Courier to the Embassy or the Philippines | Quoted with your order |
Prices include government fees and GST. Embassy fees for the report itself are paid to the Embassy. See pricing.
Why a JP signature gets your report sent back
The Report of Birth form and its affidavits must be notarised. The Embassy accepts its own consular officers, the Honorary Consulates in Auckland and Christchurch, or a New Zealand Notary Public. A Justice of the Peace is not accepted, and a form witnessed by a JP is returned, often after weeks in the post.
We book a Notary Public, check the forms are typed and complete before you sign, and courier the whole set with tracking.
Special Power of Attorney without the trip to Wellington
If family in the Philippines needs to act for you, selling land, managing a bank account or processing papers, you can sign the SPA in front of a New Zealand Notary Public and have it apostilled. It then goes straight to the Philippines, with no Embassy appointment. We arrange the notary, the apostille and the courier.
Mistakes that cost weeks
- Having forms or affidavits witnessed by a JP
- Sending photocopies where the Embassy asks for original certificates
- Using the wedding-day certificate instead of a BDM marriage certificate
- Handwritten Report of Birth forms. They must be typed
- Posting originals without tracking
We prepare New Zealand documents. Registration decisions are made by the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Frequently asked questions
Does a NZ birth certificate need an apostille for a Report of Birth?
The Embassy's Report of Birth list asks for the original NZ birth certificate and does not mention an apostille. We confirm the current list and order the right certificate for you.
Can a JP sign the Report of Birth affidavits?
No. The Philippine Embassy does not accept JP notarisation. Use the Embassy, an Honorary Consulate, or a NZ Notary Public, which we book for you.
Can I sign a Special Power of Attorney in New Zealand?
Yes. Sign it before a NZ Notary Public, then have it apostilled. It can then be sent straight to the Philippines. We arrange all of it.
Can you order my child's NZ birth certificate?
Yes. We are an approved BDM Online organisation and order official NZ certificates for you, posted in NZ for NZ$79 all in.
Does the Philippines accept an apostille from New Zealand?
Yes. The Philippines joined the Apostille Convention in 2019, so NZ documents take an apostille instead of embassy legalisation.
Can you send the documents to the Embassy for me?
Yes. We courier the completed set with tracking, to you, to the Embassy in Wellington or to the Philippines.
Sources
NZ Document Assist Limited is an independent company, not a government agency. We are not a law firm, Notary Public or licensed immigration adviser and do not give legal or immigration advice.