Philippine Embassy in Helsinki

Documents that are executed, signed or issued in Finland and intended to be used or presented in the Philippines must bear a consular notarization by acknowledgement, as the case may be, in order for such documents to be accorded legal effect in the Philippines.

Examples of these documents are Special Powers of Attorney, General Powers of Attorney, Affidavits, Deeds, Contracts, Assignments, Letters of Patent, Articles of Incorporation, Certificates of Birth, Marriage or Death and other official documents issued by authorities in Finland.

Authentication

Authentication of a document is made when the party or parties executing a legal document does not appear in person before a Consular officer at the Consular Section of the Embassy.  It is important to note that the Embassy's Consular Section only performs consular notarization or authentication of documents that are issued or executed within Finland.

Documents may be authenticated by the Consular Section of the Philippine Embassy in Helsinki only after the documents have been duly authenticated by Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Helsinki (Consular Services/Legalisations) at the following contact details:

Merikasarminkatu 5 D, 00160 Helsinki
Customer service: tel. +358-9-16005
Customer service is open from 9-12 am Mon-Fri.

Postal address: Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Consular Services Passport and Visa Unit

KPA-20, P.O.Box 423, 00023 Government,  Finland

Acknowledgement

When a Filipino national executing a document appears in person before a Consular officer at the Embassy's Consular Section, the Consular officer will notarize the document in the form of an Acknowledgment or Jurat. The Consular officer in this case performs the functions of a Notary Public. Hence, Filipino individuals personally appearing before a Consular officer are no longer required to have their documents notarized by a local Notary Public before submitting the same for notarization.

• Each document for notarization must be submitted together with one (1) photocopy for the Embassy's records;
• Proofs of identification of the applicant must be presented. Examples of these are the following: passport, driver's license, alien registration card, and other documents evidencing identity of the applicant;
• A photocopy of the proof of identification must also be submitted for the records of the Consular Section of the Embassy or the Consulate.

Processing Time and Payment

The processing time for authentication/attestation is three (3) days upon receipt of complete requirements and payment.

Fee is charged according to the number of pages authenticated by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. Thus, a four-page document with 2 pages stamped by the MFA is charged twice the authentication fee.

Fee for authentication/acknowledgement is € 25.00 per document authenticated/executed.

Submission of Documents for Authentication via Mail

Documents for authentication can be submitted via post provided that these documents were issued or executed in Finland and already duly authenticated by Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Helsinki. If so, said documents can be submitted by post to us together with the following:

1. Photocopies of documents for authentication;
2. Photocopy of a valid ID, such as data page of Finnish passport or local driver's license;
3. A self-stamped envelope (229 mm x 324 mm) with return address; and
4. Proof of payment

Payment may be made by bank transfer.  All bank fees to be incurred in the course of the transaction must be paid by the applicant. Please coordinate with the Embassy's consular section for details on the Embassy's bank account number.