Selling a lot in Cavite, transferring a title, claiming a pension, or letting a sibling deal with the bank while you live in Canada: in the Philippines, all of this runs on a Special Power of Attorney (SPA). And an SPA signed in Canada is only useful if a Philippine office accepts it.
There are exactly two ways to get there. This guide compares them, with official fees by province, so you can pick the one that fits where you live.
Why an SPA, and why it must be in writing
Philippine law is strict here. Under the Civil Code, a special power of attorney is required to buy or sell real property on someone's behalf (Article 1878), and when land is sold through an agent, the agent's authority must be in writing, or the sale is void (Article 1874). A general power of attorney or a text message to your cousin will not do.
For land registered in your name, the Registry of Deeds will want the original notarized SPA. If you signed it abroad, the Land Registration Authority's rules require that it be either consularized by a Philippine post, or apostilled when it comes from an Apostille country, which Canada now is.
Route 1: sign at a Philippine Embassy or Consulate
The Philippine posts in Canada acknowledge SPAs signed in front of their consular officers. Once acknowledged, the SPA needs nothing else on the Canadian side.
| Post | Covers | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy, Ottawa | Ottawa-Gatineau, Eastern Ontario, Québec, Atlantic provinces, Nunavut | CAD 38.75 (expedite +15.50) |
| Consulate General, Toronto | Rest of Ontario, Manitoba | CAD 38.75 |
| Consulate General, Vancouver | British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories | CAD 38.75 (expedite +15.50) |
| Consulate General, Calgary | Alberta, Saskatchewan | CAD 36.25 (published schedule, confirm) |
What every post asks for:
- An appointment, booked online.
- Personal appearance. You sign in front of the consular officer, so bring the SPA unsigned.
- The document plus a photocopy, and a valid passport or two government photo IDs with signature, with copies.
- A finished document. The posts do not draft SPAs for you.
Processing is typically 2 to 5 working days, and some posts offer same-day service for an extra fee.
Best for: people who live near Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary and can take a weekday morning off. It is the cheapest route.
The catch: there is no Philippine consulate in Montréal, Québec City, Halifax or Winnipeg. The Winnipeg honorary consulate has not offered notarial services since 2015. For a Montrealer, Route 1 means a day trip to Ottawa, or waiting for the next outreach mission.
Route 2: sign before a Canadian notary, then apostille
Here you sign the SPA before a notary near you. The notary's signature is then confirmed by the competent Canadian authority, which attaches an apostille. The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa is clear that an apostilled Canadian document does not need, and will not receive, embassy authentication.
The authority depends on the province where the notary practises:
| Notary in | Apostille by | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Québec | Chambre des notaires, then Ministère de la Justice | $77.03 + $66.50 |
| Ontario | Official Documents Services, Toronto | $16 |
| British Columbia | Ministry of Attorney General | $20 |
| Alberta | Alberta Justice | $25 |
| Saskatchewan | Authentication Services, Regina | $50 |
| Any other province or territory | Global Affairs Canada | Free |
Add the notary's own fee, which varies.
Québec has one extra step. A power of attorney signed before a Québec notary first needs an authenticity certificate from the Chambre des notaires (about 20 working days on regular service, or 3 business days on urgent service for $206.96). Only then does the Ministère de la Justice issue the apostille. Québec issues its apostilles in French only. The apostille follows the Convention's standard numbered format, so it is built to be read in any language.
Best for: anyone far from a Philippine post, anyone who cannot take time off, and Québec residents in general.
Which route should you choose?
- You live in Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary: Route 1 is usually cheaper and fast.
- You live in Montréal, elsewhere in Québec, or in the Atlantic provinces: compare a day in Ottawa with Route 2. Many people choose the notary: no travel, no time off, and the Québec authorities handle the rest.
- You are on a deadline in Québec: Route 2 with the Chambre's urgent service can get you an apostilled SPA in about one to two weeks, plus courier time to the Philippines.
- You need several SPAs (one for the bank, one for the land title): every route charges per document. Sign them all in one visit.
What the SPA should say
We do not draft legal documents, and neither do the posts. Still, these are the details we see missing most often:
- Your full name exactly as it appears on your ID. Married name or maiden name: pick the one on your passport and use it everywhere.
- The attorney-in-fact's full name, and ideally their address.
- The property itself: title number (TCT, OCT or CCT), location, and the Registry of Deeds where it is registered.
- Each power spelled out: sign the deed of sale, receive payment, pay taxes, process the BIR transfer, request the new title. Philippine offices read SPAs literally, and a missing power means a new SPA.
- The receiving body's own form, if it has one. Banks, Pag-IBIG and real estate companies often provide their own SPA forms. Use theirs; it saves a rejection.
Draft it in English. Philippine registries, banks and courts work in English, and a power of attorney written in French invites a translation request.
Five mistakes that send an SPA back
- Signing before the appointment. Consular officers and notaries must watch you sign.
- A name that does not match the ID. One missing middle name is enough for a refusal.
- Vague powers. "To manage my property" will not let anyone sell it.
- Sending a photocopy or a scan. The Registry of Deeds wants the original. Courier it, and keep a full colour scan.
- Using the wrong official. For Route 2, sign before a notary: the apostille offices confirm a notary's signature, not just anyone's.
Getting the SPA to the Philippines
Once acknowledged or apostilled, the original goes by courier to your attorney-in-fact. Track it, and send them a scan the same day, so they can book their appointment at the bank or the Registry while the original is on its way.
Where we come in
We handle Route 2 from start to finish: a notary appointment near you (in Montréal, our notary courier can come to you), filing with the right authority, follow-up, and courier delivery to the Philippines. Send us the SPA you were given and the office receiving it, and our free pre-check confirms the route, the fees and a realistic timeline before you commit to anything.
More on sending documents there: our Philippines page.
Sources: HCCH status table of the Apostille Convention; DFA public advisory on the Apostille Convention (2019); Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and Consulates General in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, notarial service pages; LRA Circular No. 09-2020; Civil Code of the Philippines, Arts. 1874 and 1878 (as quoted in Alcantara v. Nido, G.R. No. 165133); Global Affairs Canada, Québec, Ontario, B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan apostille pages; Chambre des notaires du Québec fee schedule. Fees checked October 2026. We are not a law firm and this is not legal advice.
Lire cet article en français : Procuration spéciale pour les Philippines signée au Canada