EXPLAINER: How to get documents notarized online in the Philippines

Notarizing documents is an integral part of many business and legal processes, with the practice typically requiring parties to physically appear before the notary to prevent fraud and prove the legitimacy of the documents.

But the process can be easier now. In 2025, the Supreme Court (SC) allowed the electronic notarization of documents or “eNotarization”.

The SC explained that in traditional notarization, there is a paper document involved and a physical appearance is required. Notary publics, who are given authority by an Executive Judge, may only notarize for principals within their territorial commission.

Meanwhile, eNotarization involves an electronic document. An electronic notary public who is authorized by an SC-designated Electronic Notary Service, can notarize for anyone across the Philippines. Appearances could also be physical, virtual, or hybrid.

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐞𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)

Allowing electronic documents (in pdf or pdf/a format) to be notarized by an electronic notary public anywhere in the… pic.twitter.com/rHxTIp5miU

— Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO) July 30, 2026

Here’s how to avail of electronic notarization.

The principal must prepare the electronic document in PDF or PDF/A format. Then, the principal or witness must create an account with the Electronic Notarization Facility.

The Electronic Notary Public must also log into their account for the eNotarization session.

The principal and their witness may appear either online, in person, or a mix of both. The Electronic Notary Public must ascertain the identity of both parties.

When everything is in place, the Electronic Notary Public will notarize the document. The electronically notarized document is then automatically transmitted to the SC Central Notarial Database.

“Allowing electronic documents (in pdf or pdf/a format) to be notarized by an electronic notary public anywhere in the Philippines, eNotarization makes notarial services more readily available to the public,” the SC said in a Facebook post.

In March 2025, the SC ruled that lawyers cannot be held liable for notarial violations unless there is clear evidence that they permitted the misuse of their notarial commission.

Lawyers not liable for misuse of notarial seal without their consent — SC

In a 16-page decision, the SC's First Division dismissed the administrative complaint filed against three lawyers due to lack of proof that they allowed the unauthorized use of their notarial signatures, notarial seals, and notarial registers.

"It cannot be concluded that the respondents were negligent in safekeeping their notarial details. There is nothing preventing others from using respondents' names and requesting that notarial stamps and notarials seals be made in their names," it said.

"Notaries are not immune from identity theft," it added. —LDF, GMA News