CENOMAR with DFA Apostille
Proof your Filipino fiancé(e) is legally single. USCIS requires this with a physical DFA Apostille. Valid within 6 months of submission.
K-1 · CR-1 · Canada · Australia · UK · UAE · JapanAll-Inclusive ServiceFree Consultation
Updated: April 1, 2026
Philippine Document Checklist by Visa Type
The documents you need depend on your visa type. Use this checklist to identify exactly what to order — then let us retrieve everything.
- K-1 fiancé visa: CENOMAR + PSA Birth Certificate + NBI Clearance (all with DFA Apostille)
- CR-1/IR-1 spouse visa: PSA Marriage Certificate + PSA Birth Certificate + NBI Clearance
- All documents need DFA Apostille for immigration use
- We can retrieve multiple documents simultaneously to save time
Quick Reference: Documents by Visa Type
| Document | K-1 | CR-1/IR-1 | Canada | Australia | UK | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENOMAR | ✓ | △* | △* | △* | △* | ✓† |
| PSA Birth Certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PSA Marriage Certificate | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NBI Clearance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DFA Apostille | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ = typically required · △ = may be required (case-dependent) · — = not required · * = required if previously married · † = required for pre-marriage registration
K-1 Fiancé Visa (USA) — Philippine Documents Needed
PSA Birth Certificate with DFA Apostille
Required for all Philippine-born applicants. Must be an original PSA security paper copy with DFA Apostille.
NBI Clearance with DFA Apostille
Criminal background check from the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation. Required for all K-1 applicants over 16.
CR-1 / IR-1 Spouse Visa (USA) — Philippine Documents Needed
PSA Marriage Certificate with DFA Apostille
Proof of your legal marriage registered in the Philippines. Required for NVC submission with DFA Apostille.
PSA Birth Certificate with DFA Apostille
Required for the immigrant visa application. Must be a recent PSA-issued copy with DFA Apostille.
NBI Clearance with DFA Apostille
Required for visa applicants 16 and older. Must be issued within 6 months. HIT cases require additional handling.
We retrieve all documents in one order
CENOMAR, PSA Birth Certificate, PSA Marriage Certificate, NBI Clearance — we can process everything simultaneously. One point of contact, one quote, one shipment.
Free cancellation before start · Progress updates at every stage · Pay balance only after confirming document copies
Canada, Australia, UK, UAE & Japan — Key Requirements
Canada (IRCC spousal sponsorship)
Typically requires PSA Birth Certificate, PSA Marriage Certificate, and NBI Clearance — all with DFA Apostille. CENOMAR may be needed if your partner was previously unmarried at time of sponsorship.
Australia (Department of Home Affairs partner visa)
Requires NBI Clearance, PSA Birth Certificate, and PSA Marriage Certificate with DFA Apostille. CENOMAR may be required for some partner visa categories.
UK (UKVI spouse visa)
Requires PSA Marriage Certificate, PSA Birth Certificate, and NBI Clearance with DFA Apostille. Documents must comply with UKVI requirements.
UAE (residence visa / family sponsorship)
Requires NBI Clearance with DFA Apostille for most visa categories. PSA Birth Certificate and PSA Marriage Certificate may also be required depending on your emirate and employer.
Japan (spouse visa)
Requires PSA Marriage Certificate and PSA Birth Certificate with DFA Apostille plus certified Japanese translation. CENOMAR is needed for the pre-marriage registration stage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Ordering CENOMAR instead of PSA Marriage Certificate (or vice versa)
These documents prove opposite things. K-1 needs CENOMAR; CR-1 needs PSA Marriage Certificate. Getting the wrong one means waiting another 4–6 weeks.
Forgetting DFA Apostille
PSA documents without DFA Apostille are not accepted by most immigration authorities outside the Philippines. Apostille must be the physical paper original.
Starting too late
CENOMAR and NBI Clearance both have 6-month validity windows for most immigration purposes. If you start too late and the document expires before your interview, you have to start over.
FAQ
A
For a K-1 fiancé visa, your Filipino partner typically needs: CENOMAR with DFA Apostille (proof of single status), PSA Birth Certificate with DFA Apostille, and NBI Clearance with DFA Apostille.
A
For a CR-1/IR-1 spouse visa, you typically need: PSA Marriage Certificate with DFA Apostille, PSA Birth Certificate with DFA Apostille, NBI Clearance with DFA Apostille.
A
For most immigration purposes outside the Philippines, yes. DFA Apostille authenticates Philippine-issued documents for use in Hague Convention member countries.
A
Each document takes approximately 4–6 weeks. We can process multiple documents simultaneously. Plan at least 6–8 weeks before your visa interview.
A
Yes. We can process CENOMAR, PSA Birth Certificate, PSA Marriage Certificate, and NBI Clearance simultaneously. This saves significant time compared to ordering one by one.
Related Guides
CENOMAR vs. Marriage Certificate
Still confused about which one you need? Read this first.
K-1 Visa Document GuideDetailed guide for K-1 fiancé visa Philippine document requirements.
CR-1 Visa Document GuidePhilippine documents for CR-1/IR-1 spouse visa applicants.
NBI Clearance RetrievalEverything about NBI Clearance: retrieval, HIT cases, validity.
※ This is a private document retrieval service by IGRS Inc. We are not affiliated with PSA, NBI, DFA, or any Philippine government agency.