HOW-TO

How to Get a CAV Authentication for School Records

Before your diploma or transcript can be apostilled for use overseas, it usually needs a CAV from the right education agency. Here is how.

Step by step

1. Identify the right agency for your recordsUse CHED for college, university, and postgraduate records, DepEd for elementary and high school (basic education) records, and TESDA for technical-vocational or skills training records. Sending records to the wrong agency is a common cause of delay.
2. Request certified records from your schoolAsk your school registrar for the documents you need, such as the official transcript of records and a certified true copy of your diploma. The agencies generally do not keep copies of your records, so the school is the source. If the school has closed, ask the agency how to proceed.
3. Prepare any extra requirementsA CHED regional office typically requires an endorsement letter from your school along with the records. Check the specific office's checklist, and bring valid ID and copies as instructed. If a representative will file for you, prepare an authorisation letter.
4. Submit to the agency and pay the feeLodge your documents at the correct CHED, DepEd, or TESDA office and pay the CAV fee. Fees and processing times vary by office and by document set. As of 2026, confirm the current official fee before paying and keep your receipt.
5. Claim the CAV documentCollect the authenticated CAV on the release date. Check that the records and names are correct and that the CAV certificate is properly attached before you leave.
6. Apostille the CAV for use abroadIf the records are for use overseas, take the CAV to the DFA for an apostille, which replaced the old red ribbon. Book through the official DFA apostille portal and confirm whether the receiving country accepts an apostille.

What a CAV is and why you need one

If you are applying to study, work, or migrate abroad, the receiving institution will usually not accept your Philippine school records at face value. They want proof that the transcript or diploma is genuine and was issued by a recognised school. That proof is the CAV, short for Certification, Authentication, and Verification. It is a document that the relevant Philippine education agency attaches to your records, confirming that the school is accredited and that the records are authentic. In practice, the CAV is the step that comes before the DFA apostille, and together they turn an ordinary transcript into a document a foreign university, employer, or government office will trust.

Three agencies, three kinds of records

The first thing to get right is which agency handles your records, because sending them to the wrong one is a frequent and avoidable delay. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) authenticates college, university, and postgraduate records, such as a transcript of records and a diploma from a degree program. The Department of Education (DepEd) handles basic education, meaning elementary and high school records. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) handles technical-vocational and skills training records, such as certificates from TVET programs. Match your document to the level of schooling it came from, and you are at the right counter.

Start with your school

A detail that surprises many applicants is that the education agencies do not keep your personal transcript and diploma. They verify records; they do not store them. That means your first stop is your school’s registrar, not CHED, DepEd, or TESDA. Ask the registrar for the specific certified documents you need, typically the official transcript of records and a certified true copy of your diploma, prepared for authentication. Build in time here, because schools have their own processing periods, and some require you to settle clearances first. If your school has closed down, do not assume your records are lost; contact the appropriate agency, which can advise on how records from closed institutions are handled.

Extra requirements to watch for

Requirements vary between the national office and the regional offices of an agency. A common example is that a CHED regional office typically asks for an endorsement letter from your school to accompany the records, in addition to the certified documents themselves. Each office publishes its own checklist, so confirm it before you travel. Bring valid identification and the copies the office specifies. If you cannot appear yourself, many offices allow an authorised representative to file on your behalf with a signed authorisation letter and the required IDs, but confirm that this is accepted at your specific office first.

Fees and timelines

There is no single nationwide price for a CAV, because it depends on the agency, the office, and the set of documents. Some basic education CAVs are issued free of charge, while higher education and regional processing commonly carry a modest fee per set. Processing may be same-day for a simple request at some offices, or take several working days where volume is high. Because these figures change and differ by location, do not rely on a number you read secondhand. As of 2026, confirm the current official fee and processing time with the specific CHED, DepEd, or TESDA office you will use, pay only at the official cashier, and keep your receipt.

From CAV to apostille

For records that will be used overseas, the CAV is usually not the last step. After you have the authenticated CAV, you generally take it to the Department of Foreign Affairs for an apostille. The apostille replaced the old red ribbon when the Philippines joined the Apostille Convention, and it is what makes your authenticated records recognised in other member countries without further legalisation. Plan the two steps in sequence and leave enough time, since each has its own queue. One important check before you begin: confirm that the country where you will use the documents actually accepts an apostille. If it is not an Apostille Convention member, you may instead need legalisation through that country’s embassy, which changes the plan.

Putting it together

The cleanest path is to work backwards from what the receiving institution abroad requires, then line up the steps: certified records from your school, a CAV from the correct agency, and, where needed, a DFA apostille. Keep extra certified copies, because you may need separate sets for different destinations, and note that each destination or application may want its own authenticated set rather than a shared one. Give yourself a realistic runway, since the school, the agency, and the DFA each have their own queues, and a rushed timeline is exactly what pushes people toward fixers. Deal directly with the official offices at every stage and be wary of anyone promising to compress the whole process for a premium fee. This article is general information and not legal advice; for the current requirements, rely on the official CHED, DepEd, TESDA, and DFA sources.

Gabay is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.