Exhibit 12(b)

                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Jennifer J. Bolt, Chief Executive Officer of the TEMPLETON INSTITUTIONAL
FUNDS (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

  1.  The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period ended
      12/31/2008 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the requirements of
      Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

  2.  The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
      material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
      the Registrant.

Dated:  2/25/2009

                           S\JENNIFER J. BOLT

                           Jennifer J. Bolt
                           Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration



                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Laura F. Fergerson, Chief Financial Officer of the TEMPLETON INSTITUTIONAL
FUNDS (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

  1.  The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period ended
      12/31/2008 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the requirements of
      Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

  2.  The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
      material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
      the Registrant.

Dated:  2/25/2009

                           S\LAURA F. FERGERSON

                           Laura F. Fergerson
                           Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer