How to Apply for an Electronic Notary Public (ENP) Commission

Promulgated under Supreme Court A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC, the 2025 Rules on Electronic Notarization establish a permanent framework for performing electronic notarial acts in the Philippines, including in Philippine embassies and consular offices abroad.

Under the Rules, specially commissioned Electronic Notaries Public (ENPs) may perform electronic notarial acts through secure Electronic Notarization Facilities (ENFs) equipped with identity verification, multi-factor authentication, and other security measures. The framework, administered by the Electronic Notary Authority (ENA), seeks to modernize notarial practice while maintaining safeguards for the integrity and security of electronic documents and personal data.

At the same time, traditional paper-based notarization remains governed by the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice for notarial wills, depositions, and paper documents or instruments bearing wet signatures or marks.

What is an Electronic Notary Public (ENP)?

An Electronic Notary Public (ENP) is a notary public who is commissioned to perform electronic notarial acts as prescribed by the 2025 Rules on Electronic Notarization (A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC).

Electronic notarization (eNotarization) is the performance of notarial acts on electronic documents, such as PDF or PDF/A files, through an Electronic Notarization Facility (ENF), with signatories (i.e., principals and witnesses) appearing in person, remotely, or through a combination of both.    

Who Can Be an Electronic Notary Public?

Under Rule VI, Section 1 of the 2025 Rules on Electronic Notarization, an applicant must meet the following requirements to qualify for commissioning as an Electronic Notary Public (ENP):

1. Must be a member of the Philippine Bar in good standing with clearances from the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC) of the Supreme Court and the IBP;
2. Must be compliant with the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) and Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) requirements;
3. Must be a resident in the Philippines for at least one year and maintain a regular place of work or business anywhere in the Philippines; and
4. Must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude.

What Are ENP Application Requirements?

Under Rule VI, Section 2, the following information and supporting documents must be included in the application for an electronic notarial commission:

1. A statement containing the applicant’s personal qualifications, including the applicant’s citizenship, date of birth, residential address, address of regular place of work or business, telephone and/or mobile number, professional tax receipt number, Roll of Attorneys number, IBP membership number, MCLE compliance number, ULAS compliance number, and email address;
2. An electronic or scanned copy of the certification of good moral character of the applicant from the OBC and the IBP;
3. An unretouched passport-size colored photograph with light background taken within 30 days prior to the filing of the application;
4. Proof of payment for the filing of the application as required by the Rules;
5. A written undertaking confirming that the applicant shall execute electronic notarial acts strictly in accordance with the Rules;
6. A written undertaking confirming that the applicant shall comply with the Electronic Notarization Data Sharing Guidelines; and
7. A certification issued by an ENF Provider stating that the applicant has viewed the on-demand instructional video on using the ENF.

Additionally, the application must be signed by the applicant using an electronic signature and must be transmitted to the Electronic Notary Administrator (ENA) through their dedicated email address.   

How to Apply for an Electronic Notary Public (ENP) Commission

The commissioning of an Electronic Notary Public (ENP) involves several stages, from the filing and assessment of the application to the virtual hearing, evaluation, and issuance of the electronic notarial commission.

1. Filing the Application

The process begins with the payment of the PHP 3,000 application fee through the Judicial ePayment System (JePS) Portal. The applicant then accesses the eNotarization Portal, completes the application form, and submits the required documents.

2. Initial Assessment

Following submission, the Electronic Notary Authority (ENA) conducts an initial review of the application and supporting documents. Once the application is found complete, the applicant is scheduled for a virtual summary hearing, while the period for filing an opposition is also opened.

3. Virtual Summary Hearing

Under Rule VI, Section 3, the ENA conducts a virtual summary hearing to determine whether the applicant qualifies for commissioning. The hearing covers the sufficiency of the application, the truth of its allegations, the applicant’s understanding and willingness to comply with the Rules, and the applicant’s technological proficiency in using an Electronic Notarization Facility (ENF).

4. Evaluation

The application then undergoes further evaluation to determine whether the applicant satisfies the qualifications and is capable of properly performing the duties and responsibilities of an ENP.

5. Issuance of Certificate

Upon a favorable evaluation, the qualified applicant is issued a Certificate of Electronic Notarial Commission, formally authorizing the applicant to perform electronic notarial acts in accordance with the Rules on Electronic Notarization.

Jurisdiction of Electronic Notaries Public (ENPs)

Once commissioned, an Electronic Notary Public (ENP) may perform electronic notarial acts for principals located anywhere in the Philippines and for principals abroad if the ENP is in the Philippines and the requirements under Rule IV, Section 5 are met. An ENP who is also commissioned under the 2004 Notarial Rules may likewise perform traditional notarization of paper documents, subject to those rules (Rule VI, Section 9). 

Rule IV, Section 5, provides that an ENP may perform electronic notarial acts for a principal located abroad, provided the principal is physically within a Philippine embassy, consular office, or Philippine Honorary Consul’s office. The ENP must verify the principal’s location through video, with a designated embassy or consular officer confirming the principal’s presence before the notarial act proceeds.

ENP Commission Validity and Renewal Rules

An Electronic Notary Public (ENP) commission is valid for two years, beginning January 1 of the year of commissioning, unless earlier revoked or resigned. The ENP may perform electronic notarial acts upon commission (Rule VI, Section 10).

An ENP may apply for renewal within 30 days before expiration by submitting the required electronic application and supporting documents. Failure to renew results in removal from the directory of ENPs and loss of access to accredited Electronic Notarization Facilities (ENFs); renewal applications are acted upon within 15 days (Rule VI, Sections 11 & 12). 

Our commissioned notary public lawyers at Duran & Duran-Schulze Law provide professional notarization services for affidavits, contracts, deeds, special powers of attorney (SPAs), sworn statements, and other legal documents. For document notarization inquiries, call us at (02) 8478-5826 (landline) or +639171940482 (mobile), or email info@duranschulze.com.