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Travel.State.Gov > Legal Resources > Judicial Assistance Country Information  > Philippines Judicial Assistance Information

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Judicial Assistance Country Information

Travel.State.Gov > Legal Resources > Judicial Assistance Country Information  > Philippines Judicial Assistance Information

Philippines

Philippines
Republic of the Philippines
Exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reissued after periodic review with minor edits. 

Exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.  Read the entire Travel Advisory. 

Do Not Travel to:

  • The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
  • Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest.

Reconsider Travel to:

  • Other areas of Mindanao due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.

Country Summary: Terrorists and armed groups have carried out kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting public areas like tourist sites, markets, and local government facilities in the Philippines.  Violent crimes are also common in the Philippines such as robbery, kidnappings, and physical assaults.  Protests happen in the Philippines and could turn violent and/or result in traffic jams and road closures with limited capacity of the local government to respond. 

Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in the Philippines must obtain special authorization to travel to certain areas of the country as stated below. 

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the Philippines.

If you decide to travel to the Philippines:

The Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Do not travel to these areas for any reason. 

Terrorist and armed groups in the Sulu Archipelago and the Sulu Sea have historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom on land and at sea, in addition to bombings and other attacks.  These incidents often target foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, local government entities, and security personnel. 

Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in the Philippines must obtain special authorization to travel to Sulu Archipelago and Sulu Sea.  The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these areas.   

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Marawi City in Mindanao – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Do not travel to these areas for any reason. 

Civilians face risk of death or injury from ongoing clashes between terrorist group remnants and Philippine security forces in Marawi. 

Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in the Philippines must obtain special authorization to travel to Marawi City.  The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens there.   

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Mindanao (except Davao City, Davao del Norte Province, Siargao Island, and the Dinagat Islands) – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Terrorist and armed groups in Mindanao have historically engaged in kidnappings for ransom, in addition to bombings and other attacks.  These incidents often target foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, as well as civilians, local government entities, and security forces. 

Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in the Philippines must obtain special authorization to travel to areas outside of Davao City, Davao del Norte Province, Siargao Island, and the Dinagat Islands.  The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in those areas. 

Visit the U.S. Department of State's  country reports on terrorism to learn more. 

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

... [READ MORE]

Hague/Inter-American

Party to Hague Service Convention?
Yes
Party to Hague Evidence Convention?
No
Party to Hague Apostille Convention?
Yes
Party to Inter-American Convention?
No
Service of Process by Mail?
N/A

DISCLAIMER

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A SPECIFIC CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE APPROPRIATE FOREIGN AUTHORITIES OR FOREIGN COUNSEL.

 

ALL / ALL /

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Manila

1201 Roxas Boulevard
Manila, Philippines 1000
Telephone: + (63) (2) 5301-2000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (63) (2) 5301-2000 
Fax: + (63) (2) 5301-2017
Email: 

Consulates

U.S. Consular Agency - Cebu City
Waterfront Hotel, Lower Ground Floor
Salinas Drive
Lahug, Cebu City
Philippines 6000
Telephone: + (63) (32) 231-1261
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Manila: + (63) (2) 301-2000 
Fax: +(63) (32) 231-0174
Email: ACSInfoCebu@state.gov

List of Attorneys

U.S. Embassy Manila

None

On October 1, 2020, the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters (Hague Service Convention) entered into force for the Philippines, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on March 4, 2020.  The Office of the Court Administrator of the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) is designated as the Central Authority. Please refer to Guidelines on the Implementation in the Philippines of the Hague Service Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters for more information.

Prosecution Requests:  U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance.

Defense Requests in Criminal Matters:  Criminal defendants or their defense counsel seeking judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters may do so via the letters rogatory process.

None

Article VIII (1)(A) of the U.S.-Philippine Consular Convention provides that U.S. consular officers may take voluntary depositions in the Philippines of U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States regardless of the nature of the proceedings, provided no compulsion is used.  The Philippines is not a party to the Hague Evidence Convention. Oral depositions or depositions on written questions may be taken by U.S. consular officers or by private attorneys from the United States or the Philippines at the U.S. Embassy or at another location such as a hotel or office, either on notice or pursuant to a commission. If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. embassy directly. 

The Philippines is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (Hague Apostille Convention).  Under the Convention, the Philippines’ competent authority for the Hague Apostille Convention authenticates Philippine public documents to be used abroad with an Apostille instead of an Authentication Certificate (“red ribbon”).  After the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA), as Competent Authority, completes the Apostille process, there is no need for additional authentication/legalization, unless the document will be used in a country that is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

See our authentication and apostille page for information about authentication of U.S. public documents for use in Philippines.  To obtain an Apostille for a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, contact the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Vital Records Office.  

Last Updated: September 8, 2017

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Manila
1201 Roxas Boulevard
Manila, Philippines 1000
Telephone
+(63) 2 5301-2000
Emergency
+(63) 2 5301-2000
Fax
+(63) 2 5301-2017
Email
ACSInfoManila@state.gov
Website
https://ph.usembassy.gov/

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