Government of Canada services and information in Manila, Philippines

Refer to International adoption.

Refer to Children born outside of Canada.

If your child is born outside of Canada, you do not need to register the birth in Canada.

Online application

As of November 5, 2021, applications for proof of Canadian citizenship and search of citizenship may be submitted online. Visit these pages to find out if you can submit your application online:

• Apply for a Canadian citizenship certificate: How to apply
• Search of citizenship records: How to apply

Paper application

• Applying for a Citizenship Certificate - First time applicant
• Applying for a Citizenship Certificate - Replacement
• Give up (renounce) Canadian Citizenship
• Citizenship Photo Specifications
• Frequently Asked Questions

Important reminders:

• Please ensure your contact information and your application details are up to date.
• Clear colour copies of supporting documents are acceptable. Original documents are not required for the application.
• If submitting an application for a child who does not have 2 pieces of valid government-issued identification, kindly include a brief letter explaining why this is the case. Note that the birth certificate is not considered a valid ID.
  • Further, please enclose coloured copies of 2 pieces of valid government-issued IDs of the applicant-parent with the application.
• For specific questions related to an application and updates on your information, contact IRCC directly using the IRCC webform.

Paper applications must be submitted via any commercial courier to:

Consular Section
Embassy of Canada
Level 8, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City 1200

We are not in a position to provide any status update on applications that are being processed in Canada. You may check current processing times and your application status through the IRCC website.

Note: Add 3 to 4 months to the processing time to account for mailing time from and to the Embassy of Canada in Manila.

Once available, the citizenship certificate will be sent directly to your local mailing address via courier-collect. If a Canadian mailing address was provided on the application form, IRCC will send the citizenship certificate directly to the Canadian mailing address via Canada Post.

Refer to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Criminal record checks.

Refer to Death abroad.

Consular mortuary certificate

In the case of a death of a Canadian citizen in the Philippines, the embassy may issue a consular mortuary certificate to facilitate the shipment of remains to Canada. This service is provided via courier and a fee of CAD$50 will be charged. Processing time may take up to 10 business days excluding courier/mailing time. The certificate is issued in the English language only.

The next of kin/authorized representative in the Philippines or funeral home must prepare the following documents and information for the issuance of the consular mortuary certificate:

• original and signed credit card authorization form;
• original death certificate issued or authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority;
• original Canadian passport of the deceased for cancellation. If the deceased is not a Canadian citizen, any government-issued ID of the deceased must be submitted;
• original certificate from the Philippines Bureau of Quarantine confirming that the remains are placed in a hermetically sealed container and has met the standards prescribed by Philippines Department of Health;
• original certificate from the funeral home, including contact details of the funeral home;
• Contact details of the funeral home or consignee in Canada. Include the complete name of the contact person and/or funeral home, address, phone number, fax number and email address;
• Original or certified true copy of a valid government-issued ID of the Canadian next of kin requesting for the certificate and the authorized representative, where applicable; and,
• Airwaybill / flight details / consignee information for the shipment.

The required documentation and information must be sent to the embassy via commercial courier:

Consular Section
Embassy of Canada
Level 8, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City 1200

If you require the certificate urgently, contact manila-consular@international.gc.ca.

The entry of human remains to Canada is governed by the Quarantine Act (2005). The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) assists the Public Health Agency of Canada to administer the Act. Some provincial/territorial governments may have other legislation governing the circumstances of the entry of remains into that province. Next of kin or consignee in Canada should verify directly with the province/territory where the remains will be shipped for other requirements.

Communicable diseases including COVID-19: In case of death due to a communicable disease, the remains must either be embalmed or cremated in order to be repatriated to Canada. A certificate from the local Medical Officer of Health must be affixed to the exterior of the container. Any articles accompanying the remains must be certified by health authorities as having been disinfected.

Canadian government officials abroad cannot provide legal advice and intervene in private legal matters.

Canadian travelers requiring legal services in the Philippines may visit Ask Travel under General Consular Services for a list of lawyers and law firms in Manila and Cebu areas. For a complete list of local law firms, contact manila-consular@international.gc.ca.

The following local institutions may also be of assistance:

• Integrated Bar of the Philippines
• Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)

Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad

Any foreign national who wishes to marry in the Philippines is required by the Philippine Government to get a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage from their Embassy or Consulate in the Philippines before filing an application for a marriage license. This certification affirms that there are no legal impediments to the proposed marriage.

However, unlike the Philippines, the Government of Canada does not keep a central statistical registry of marriages. Therefore, the Embassy of Canada does not issue certificates of non-impediment to contract marriage, certificates of legal capacity to contract marriage, certificates of singleness/no marriage, or any form of certification that a Canadian citizen is legally capable of entering a marriage.

Instead, we can prepare a Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad.

How to apply

1. Complete the Request for Notary Service form.
   • Note that all sections must be completed, including subsection “Mailing Address in the Philippines for return of documents.” A local phone number is also required for courier transmittal.
   • Since you are requesting for a Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad, you can choose “No” for items 3.1 and 3.2 in Section 3, and then proceed to Section 4.
2. Fill out the appropriate sections on the Statutory Declaration Form and have your signature witnessed by a local notary public.
   
   • A Statutory Declaration Form notarized by a public notary from any country will be accepted.
   • The notarized Statutory Declaration Form you submit will be bound to the Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad.
3. Enclose supporting documents*, depending on your situation(s):
   • born in Canada: a certified copy of your birth certificate or passport
   • widowed: a certified copy of the death certificate of your deceased spouse
   • divorced: a certified copy of the divorce certificate
   • born abroad: a certified copy of your Canadian citizenship certificate, permanent resident card, or passport
     *All documents presented must be in English or French, or accompanied by an official English or French translation. Note that the Philippine authorities may not accept documents written in French.
4. Complete a Credit Card Authorization Form indicating the relevant Consular Fee for Specialized Service (CAD 50) for the issuance of a Statement in lieu of Certificate of Non Impediment to Marriage Abroad;
   • We only accept credit card (Visa or Mastercard) payments via the Credit Card Authorization Form. If you do not have a credit card, you may use the credit card of a third party and have them sign the authorization form.
   • The Consular Section does not accept digital copies of the Credit Card Authorization Form. We will only accept an original copy of the Credit Card Authorization Form signed in ink by the cardholder.
5. Send your complete request via commercial courier. Applicants from Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon may send their complete requests to the Consular Section of the Embassy of Canada while applicants from Visayas and Mindanao areas may send complete requests to the Consulate of Canada in Cebu:

Consular Section
Embassy of Canada
Level 8, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City 1200

Consulate of Canada
RD Corporate Center
96 Governor M.C. Cuenco Avenue
Banilad, Cebu City 6000

Additional information

• Although there is no validity period indicated on the Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad, the Local Civil Registrar may not accept a Statement issued more than six (6) months prior to the date of marriage.
• It should be noted that some Local Civil Registrars may not accept the Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad issued at the Embassy or Consulate. It is the responsibility of the requesting couple to verify with the Local Civil Registrar’s Office (LCRO) where the application for a marriage license is being filed if the LCRO will accept a Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad.
• Permanent residents of Canada who do not hold Canadian citizenship may need to obtain a certificate or declaration from the Embassy or Consulate of their nationality within the Philippines.
• Divorce decrees may not be automatically recognized in the Philippines. Canadian citizens who were previously married in the Philippines and are intending to re-marry in the Philippines after obtaining a divorce in Canada (or elsewhere) are advised to seek legal advice or contact the Philippine Statistics Authority to confirm procedures on how the foreign divorce decree can be recognized and enforced in the Philippines to assure that their succeeding marriage will be recognized as valid.
• The Philippine government may require an official English translation of a divorce decree or death certificate.
• If both parties to the proposed marriage are Canadian citizens, each one must obtain a Statement.
• The processing time may take up to 10 business days, excluding mailing/delivery times. Make sure to submit your request well in advance of your intended travel dates.
• Once the Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad is issued, it will be sent directly to your local mailing address via courier-collect (WWWExpress).

Note: Documents must be in English or French or accompanied by an official translation in English or French. The Consular Section does not offer translation services. For Canadian citizens who wish to marry in the Philippines, refer to information on Marriage abroad.

The Consular Section provides the following notarial services to Canadian citizens and, in limited cases, to non-Canadian citizens if the documents are intended for use in Canada.

Authentication/Apostille (certify the document signature, the position of an official and the seal are genuine):

The Apostille Convention came into effect in Canada on January 11, 2024, and Canadian documents are now authenticated with an apostille. Visit Changes to authentications services in Canada for more information.

The Embassy of Canada in Manila continues to authenticate documents issued by the Government of Canada or notarized in specific provinces and territories. Service fee of $50 applies per apostille. You may send the following documents to the Embassy of Canada in Manila for authentication/apostille.

• documents issued by the Government of Canada
• vital statistics documents issued by all provinces and territories
• all documents issued or notarized in the following provinces and territories:
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• the Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon

If your document was notarized in the provinces and territories listed above, you may send it to the Embassy of Canada in Manila no matter where it was originally issued.

However, competent authorities in the following provinces will be responsible for authenticating all other documents issued or notarized in their respective provinces. These documents must be submitted to the competent authorities and will not be authenticated at Canadian embassies or consulates.

• Alberta: Ministry of Justice of Alberta
• British Columbia: Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia
• Ontario: Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario
• Québec: Ministère de la Justice du Québec
• Saskatchewan: Ministry of Justice and Attorney General of Saskatchewan

The Consular Section cannot authenticate Philippine-issued documents. If your documents were issued in Philippines, they must be sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs for authentication/issuance of apostilles.

Certified copy (certify the document is a true copy of the original):

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply)
• Government-issued identification requiring a certified true copy (fees apply)
• Original documents to be certified must be submitted to our office

Consular officers will not certify a true copy if:

• the document is a religious document (certificate of baptism, funeral, confirmation, etc.)
• the originating document is printed off from a website
• the content is such that it is expected to mislead as to purpose or may be used for fraudulent purposes

Witness a signature (consular officer witnesses a signature):

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply)
• Government-issued identification requiring a witnessed signature (fees apply)

Note: Complete all documents before booking an appointment. Sign all documents in front of the consular officer.

How to apply

Limited in-person notarial services are available by booking an appointment online. You may also submit your request by courier.

Notary service requests submitted either in person or by courier must include:

1. relevant original documents, if requesting for authentication/apostille or a certified true copy
2. a completed Request for Notary Service Form
3. a certified copy of your proof of Canadian citizenship
4. a certified copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
5. a completed Credit Card Authorization Form indicating the relevant Consular Fee for Specialized Service signed by the cardholder in ink. For more information, refer to Payment Method below

The notary service request package should be sent via courier to:

Consular Section

Embassy of Canada in Manila

Levels 6-8, Tower 2

RCBC Plaza

6819 Ayala Avenue

Makati City 1200

Notary service requests submitted by courier will be returned to you via courier-collect. A local Philippine mailing address and contact number for the purpose of returning documents is required.

If you opt to have your original documents returned to your mailing address outside of the Philippines, a pre-paid shipping waybill is required. Please coordinate with your nominated commercial courier if you wish to arrange the return of your documents via courier. In addition to the pre-paid shipping waybill, you may also need to enclose a self-addressed waybill, signed letter of authorization for the courier and a return courier envelope, where applicable.

Otherwise, the documents will be returned via untraceable postal mail. The Embassy is not responsible for any loss of items.

If you do not receive your documents back after 25 business days, you can check on the status of your request by contacting the Consular Section by email at manila-consular@international.gc.ca.

Refer to Find a passport or travel document form.

Where applicable, see relevant information on replacing or reporting a lost, stolen, inaccessible, damaged or found passport.

Submit applications by commercial courier to:

Embassy of Canada
Consular Section
Level 8, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City 1200

We do not recommend a specific courier company. Personal and transport service (Grab, Lalamove, etc.) drop-offs are not acceptable.

Incomplete applications will be returned unprocessed via courier-collect. Reasons for the return of the application will be included.

We recommend you fully complete the application and prepare your supporting documentation prior to sending your application as incomplete applications cannot be accepted.

Those requiring urgent passport services to meet imminent travel plans must send an email to the Consular Section at manila-consular@international.gc.ca to book an appointment and provide the following information in the email:

• online payment receipt
• proof of travel
• declaration concerning the lost, stolen or damaged passport (if applicable)

Passport applications will not be accepted at the Consulate in Cebu.

Newly issued passports are not available for pick-up at the Embassy of Canada in Manila. Your new passport will be sent directly to your local mailing address via courier at no additional cost.

Important: Please ensure that you provide your complete mailing address and current contact details when submitting an application. Any change of address or telephone number should be advised immediately by email at manila-consular@international.gc.ca.

Child passport application

Government-issued photo identification of both parents are required for child applications. If applying by mail, enclose original or copies of identification to avoid delays in processing. Copies are only acceptable if your guarantor has signed and dated each document (both sides) confirming that the original document has been seen. Original documents, they will be returned to you.

Documents to support your identity must:

• be valid
• be issued by a federal, provincial, territorial or municipal authority in Canada or local equivalent
• include your name and signature

Parental consent

If one parent resides outside the Philippines, they must report to the nearest passport office or a Canadian mission abroad to complete the “Acknowledgement/Consent to Provision of Passport Facilities for a Minor Child” form (PPTC028) and present valid government-issued photo identification.

The details of both parents should be written in Section 2 (Information on Applicant) of the Child Passport Application, but the declaration/signature block for the parent residing outside the Philippines must be left empty.

Prior to submitting the passport application, the parent in the Philippines must contact the Consular Section by email to get a file number. Please provide the following information in your email request to the Consular Section:

• the child’s complete name
• the child’s date of birth
• name/location of the Passport Office where the parent intends to submit the required consent form for the child’s passport application

The other parent will then present this to the nearest Passport Office or Canadian mission abroad to complete the “Acknowledgement/Consent to Provision of Passport Facilities for a Minor Child” form. Otherwise, there may be a delay in processing the passport application.

Legal or de facto guardians

In cases where children reside in the Philippines with a legal or de facto guardian, and both parents reside outside the Philippines, the details of both parents should be written in Section 2 (Information on Applicant) of the Child Passport Application, but the declaration/signature block must be left empty.

The details of the guardian in the Philippines should be written in Section 5 (Declaration of Applicant). The guardian should sign the declaration in that section and write the following statement in the signature box: “I have been authorized by the parent/custodial parent/legal guardian to complete this form”

Prior to submitting the passport application, the legal or de facto guardian must contact the Consular Section by email to get a file number. Please provide the following information in your email request to the Consular Section:

• the child’s complete name
• the child’s date of birth
• name/location of the Passport Office where the parent intends to submit the required consent form for the child’s passport application

The file number must be provided to the parents who will present this to the nearest Passport Office or Canadian mission abroad to complete the “Acknowledgement/ Consent to Provision of Passport Facilities for a Minor Child” forms. Each parent must also submit a written statement confirming:

"I the undersigned, (name), as the parent, custodial parent or legal guardian, authorize (name of guardian) to apply for a passport on behalf of child (name) and the passport, when it is issued, may be released to that person."

It must also state the reason why they are themselves unable to apply.

Please see the Passport Help Centre to find answers to your questions about Canadian passports.

Frequently asked questions

1. Why do you recommend that Canadians ensure there are at least 6 or more months of validity remaining on their passports?

Holders of Canadian travel documents may enter Canada provided their travel document is still valid. The passport or travel document does not need to have 6 months’ validity.

You cannot extend the validity of your current passport.

2. My child is less than 6 months old and does not have an original birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). How do I comply with the birth certificate requirement?

For children under 6 months old, a birth certificate issued by the Local Civil Registrar is acceptable provided it has been authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

3. I am/my child is unable to present my/my child’s original proof of Canadian citizenship. How can I get a passport to travel?

Proof of Canadian citizenship is required to support each passport application, except if you are eligible for the Adult Simplified Passport Renewal Application process.

The proof of Canadian citizenship from one of the parents is required for children under 2 years’ old who have not been issued a proof of citizenship.

Refer to Benefits for Canadians living abroad.

Thousands of Canadians have decided to live their retirement years in another country, perhaps with a more moderate climate or proximity to family and friends. Many do so year-round, while others, including snowbirds, spend a few months abroad at a time.

Whatever your reason for wanting to retire outside Canada, the basic rule is to make careful preparations. Tax laws, medical care and security quickly become a preoccupation once you live in another country or wish to return home to Canada after an extended stay.

Resources:

• Canada Pension Plan
• Old Age Security pension

Same-sex marriage is not recognized in the Philippines.

Refer to Studying abroad and EduCanada.

The Consular Section does not reply to questions related to immigration or visa matters.

Refer to Travel documents – Visas.

• Apply to travel, study, work or immigrate to Canada.
• Find a visa application centre (VAC) to book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
• Submit an enquiry using the IRCC web form to contact a visa office.

Permanent residents of Canada: Find out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).

Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada.