You Can Now Get Documents Notarized Online—Here’s How

(SPOT.ph) It’s probably not every day you need a document notarized, but when you do, it often means going to a notary public’s office, waiting in line, and signing printed copies in person. Now, you can skip the trip and do it online instead.

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s implementation of the Rules on Electronic Notarization (A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC), Filipinos can have eligible electronic documents legally notarized through its first batch of accredited Electronic Notarization Facilities (ENFs): Twala, QLegal, and NotarizeIT.

Here’s your quick guide to how the system works and how to use it.

Also read: Your Guide to eGovPH: How to Access Government IDs and Services in One App

Online or electronic notarization (eNotarization) is the modern equivalent of getting your documents signed and stamped by a notary public. Instead of handling the entire transaction on paper, you can handle the process electronically through a Supreme Court-accredited platform.

Documents notarized this way have the same legal effect as those notarized traditionally.

The biggest change under this new setup is that an Electronic Notary Public (ENP) can assist signers anywhere in the Philippines, unlike traditional notaries public, who are only limited to their specific city or territorial assignment. It's even available for Filipinos abroad, as long as they are inside a Philippine embassy or consular office.

And no, eNotarization does not always mean hopping on a video call. Depending on the transaction, it can be done remotely, in person using electronic documents, or through a mix of both. Records are also kept digitally through the Supreme Court’s electronic notarial system.

Getting your legal files eNotarized is designed to be a straightforward process, but note that the exact procedures may vary depending on the platform you choose.

Save your document in PDF or PDF/A format. ENotarization applies exclusively to native digital files, which means documents created and exported directly on a computer.

Paper documents with wet-ink signatures or certain excluded instruments (such as wills and testaments) cannot be eNotarized, even when converted into a PDF or PDF/A format. These must still follow traditional notarization processes.

Create an account on any Supreme Court–accredited Electronic Notarization Facility (ENF): Twala, QLegal, and NotarizeIT.

If your transaction requires witnesses, they will need to set up their own separate accounts on the platform as well.

Log in to your account, upload your document, and pass the identity verification process. Depending on the setup, you and your witnesses will appear before the Electronic Notary Public (ENP) either virtually via video call, in person, or a combination of both. The ENP will verify your identities, confirming that everyone understands the document and is signing voluntarily.

For remote sessions, the platform may also verify your location and prevent the use of a virtual private network or other tools that could disguise where you are.

Once approved, the ENP notarizes the digital file directly within the platform by applying an electronic signature and Electronic Notarial Seal. Your newly e-notarized document will then be available for instant download.

A copy is also automatically transmitted to the Supreme Court Central Notarial Database for verification and record-keeping.

Also read: GUIDE: How to Access Your Digital National ID