What You Need to Know About Certification, Authentication, and Verification (CAV) Certificates

The process of student visa applications and acquiring a student visa requires the submission of various documents, including academic records. However, with fraudulent documents becoming more common, it’s essential to ensure that these records are genuine and verifiable. One way to do this is through Certification, Authentication, and Verification (CAV). Recently, the Australian Immigration released S56 requests to offshore students to have their documents certified, authenticated, and verified. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what CAV is, how it works, and why it’s crucial for visa applicants.

Each government agency has its set of required documents for CAV, which are presented below:

(a) DepEd

The Department of Education (DepEd) issues diplomas, certificates, and transcripts of records for graduates of public and private elementary, secondary, and alternative learning system (ALS) schools. If you are applying for CAV from DepEd, you need the following documents:

Elementary/Secondary Diploma
Form 137 or the Permanent Record, which is required for students who transfer to another school or transition from elementary to secondary.
Form 138 or the Report Card, which is required for students enrolling in the next grade level.
Report of rating in the Accreditation and Equivalent Test of the Alternate Learning System (ALS) or Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT)

(b) CHED

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is responsible for regulating and supervising higher education institutions in the Philippines. If you are applying for CAV from CHED, you need the following documents:

Official Transcript of Records
Certification of Additional Units earned (if applicable)
Diploma for graduates
Diploma Supplement, if required

A Diploma Supplement is an explanatory document issued to graduates containing information about their award. It typically includes a description of the award, the awarding institution, and the relevant education system. The Diploma Supplement also contains information about the graduate’s achievements toward the award.

(c) TESDA

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is the government agency in charge of technical-vocational education and training. If you are applying for CAV from TESDA, you need the following document:

Certificate of Authentication and Verification issued by the TESDA-issuing office of the individual’s National Certificate (NC) or Certificate of Competency (COC)

The first step in requesting a CAV certificate for your academic records is to contact your educational institution’s registrar or records section. Ask them about their specific guidelines for obtaining a CAV certificate. Some institutions offer end-to-end services, while others only provide certified copies of your academic records. Understanding the process at your institution will help you prepare for the next steps.

STEP 1: Obtain Certified Copies of Your School Records

Once you know the guidelines, you must obtain certified copies of your school records from your education provider. Make sure to inform them that the purpose is to obtain a CAV certificate. You may need to pay a fee for this service.

STEP 2: Submit Your Academic Records to the Relevant Government Agency

Your institution will either send your records to the relevant government agency (DEPED, CHED, or TESDA) or issue you certified copies that you will need to bring to the agency’s regional office. This office will issue the CAV document.

STEP 3: Get Your CAV Apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)

Once you have obtained your CAV certificate, you must obtain an Apostille from the DFA. This is a process that verifies the authenticity of the CAV, making it acceptable abroad. It’s essential to note that only the DFA Apostille is acceptable, and not the Red Ribbon.

The process of obtaining a CAV certificate varies from institution to institution. Depending on the purpose of your CAV, you may need to provide additional documents or meet other requirements. Make sure to check with the relevant agencies to make sure you have everything you need.

Now that you have your CAV, you may send these documents to the PETC Global Team to help you upload these documents to your ImmiAccount. Make sure that you send us the following documents:

DFA Apostille document
The CAV issued by your school, or DepEd, CHED, or TESDA
Certified copies of your academic records (Transcript of Records, Permanent Records)
Diploma and any other certification that was part of your CAV requests (Certificate of English as Medium of Instruction)

After submitting your CAV documents, all you have to do is wait for the processing of your visa application. The duration varies depending on the Global Processing Time of the type of visa you’re applying for and the complexity of your application. You can check the status of your application through your ImmiAccount.

Submitting your CAV documents for your Australian visa application may seem daunting, but it’s a straightforward process. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can ensure that your CAV documents are uploaded correctly and that your visa application is processed as smoothly as possible. Remember to be patient and follow up if necessary, and you’ll be on your way to living your Australian dream in no time!