Foreign Document Authentication

If your business is registered outside the Philippines, some of your corporate documents need to be authenticated. This ensures compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA).

There are two main ways depending on your country: Apostille or Consularization. In special cases, there is an alternative option (see below).

1. Apostille (Hague Member Countries)

If your country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention:

1. Prepare your documents

   • Original corporate documents (e.g., Certificate of Registration, Articles of Incorporation).
   • If not in English, add a certified English translation.

2. Submit to the Apostille Authority

   • Usually your Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Court/Registry.
   • Request an Apostille Certificate.

3. Get your Apostilled documents

   • Once issued, they're automatically valid for use in the Philippines.
   • No need to go to the Philippine Embassy/Consulate.

2. Consularization (Non-Hague Countries)

If your country is not part of the Apostille Convention:

1. Prepare your documents

   • Original corporate documents (+ certified English translation if needed).

2. Authenticate locally

   • Get them verified by your local authority (e.g., Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

3. Go to the Philippine Embassy/Consulate

   • Submit the authenticated documents.
   • Request for consular authentication (sometimes called a "red ribbon").

4. Get your Consularized documents

   • Once sealed/ribboned, they're valid for use in the Philippines.

3. Alternative to Apostilled / Consularized Documents

If apostilled or consularized documents are not reasonably obtainable, we may accept:

1. Publicly Available Documents

   • Must be published on an official government or corporate registry website.
   • The site must be accessible to the public without login or restriction so registration can be verified.

2. Senior Officer Authentication

   • A senior company officer (Vice President level or higher) must certify/authenticate the documents in lieu of apostille/consularization.
   • The officer must appear in the official list of company officers (e.g., board filings, company profile).
   • Must provide a signed certification or cover letter confirming the document's validity.

ℹ️

These alternatives are subject to PayMongo Risk & Compliance approval and may require additional checks.

Important Note on Secretary's Certificate

Senior officer authentication does not replace Secretary's Certificate requirements. The certificate must still:

• Authorize the person transacting on behalf of the company with PayMongo
• Confirm the official settlement account (must be a Business Bank Account — not a personal account)
• Be notarized — for Non-Philippine Entities: it should be the Notary Equivalent or Apostilled / Consularized
• Be signed by the Corporate Secretary or another board member
• Not be self-certifying — if the Corporate Secretary is the authorized representative, the certificate must be signed by another officer or a notarized Board Resolution containing the authorized representative

Quick Notes

• Translations: Non-English docs must always come with a certified translation.
• Processing times: Varies per country (average 1–4 weeks).
• Fees: Set by the local Apostille/Consulate, paid by the merchant.
• Start early: We can't activate your account until your documents are authenticated.