Filipinos can now have electronic documents notarized through accredited online platforms, allowing them to complete the process through a live video call instead of traveling to a notary’s office.
The Supreme Court announced that electronic notarization, or e-notarization, became operational on Oct. 19. Users can access the service by registering with Supreme Court-accredited Electronic Notarization Facility providers. The rollout brings document signing, identity checks, and notarization into a digital process.
Under the Rules on Electronic Notarization, the service covers documents in PDF or PDF/A, a format designed for long-term storage. These include scanned copies of paper documents. Electronic notaries public must hold a separate commission authorizing them to perform the service.
For remote notarization, the person signing and any witnesses appear before the electronic notary through a live video session within the accredited platform. They must remain visible throughout the process. Prerecorded signing videos are prohibited.
The notary checks their identities, confirms that they are signing willingly, and explains the general nature of the document. The platform also allows the notary to check participants’ locations.
Security measures include identity verification and multifactor authentication, which uses more than one check to confirm a user’s identity. These checks may involve biometrics or one-time passwords. Electronic notarial records must be protected against tampering, while stored personal information remains covered by the Data Privacy Act.
Electronic notaries can serve people anywhere in the Philippines, widening access beyond the territorial limits of traditional notaries. The rules also allow in-person electronic notarization, where participants meet physically but use the accredited platform to complete the process.
Documents notarized under the rules carry the same legal effect as traditionally notarized documents. However, the framework excludes notarial wills, depositions, and paper documents bearing handwritten signatures or marks. Traditional notarization remains available alongside the electronic service.
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