What Is an Electronic Notary Public (ENP)? Requirements and Role in E-Notarization
An Electronic Notary Public (ENP) is a lawyer in good standing who has been commissioned by the Electronic Notary Administrator (ENA) to perform electronic notarial acts under A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC – the Supreme Court Rules on Electronic Notarization.
Requirements to Become an ENP
To be commissioned as an Electronic Notary Public, a person must meet the following qualifications:
- Member of the Philippine Bar in good standing
- No conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude
- Completed training on electronic notarization procedures and technology
- Applied for a commission with the Electronic Notary Administrator (ENA)
- Complied with continuing legal education requirements
These requirements ensure that ENPs possess both the legal knowledge and technical competence to perform electronic notarization properly and securely.
Powers and Functions
An ENP is authorized to perform the following electronic notarial acts:
- Acknowledgment – Certifying that a person appeared and declared that the document is their voluntary act
- Jurat – Administering an oath or affirmation that the contents of a document are true
- Copy certification – Certifying that an electronic copy is a true copy of a document
- Signature witnessing – Witnessing the affixing of an electronic signature
These acts may be performed through:
- In-Person Electronic Notarization (IEN) – Parties physically present, document electronic
- Remote Electronic Notarization (REN) – Parties appear via audiovisual link
ENP vs. Traditional Notary Public
| Aspect | Traditional Notary Public | Electronic Notary Public (ENP) |
|---|---|---|
| Commissioning authority | Executive Judge of the RTC | Electronic Notary Administrator (ENA) |
| Document format | Paper only | PDF / PDF-A only |
| Physical presence | Always required | Required for IEN; virtual for REN |
| Notarial seal | Physical rubber stamp | Electronic notarial seal |
| Record-keeping | Physical notarial book | Electronic notarial book |
| Identity verification | Visual inspection of ID | Multi-factor authentication (ID + biometrics + OTP) |
| Fraud protection | Limited | Digital audit trails, tamper detection |
| Territorial scope | Limited to commission jurisdiction | Broader scope via REN, including extraterritorial |
Identity Verification Obligations
ENPs have enhanced identity verification obligations compared to traditional notaries. Before performing any electronic notarial act, the ENP must verify the principal’s identity through:
- Government-issued photo identification – At least one current, valid ID
- Facial recognition – Matching the live person to their ID photo
- One-time passwords (OTP) – Sent to the principal’s registered contact
- Knowledge-based authentication – In certain cases, additional verification questions
These layers of verification are why e-notarization is considered more secure against fraud than traditional notarization. For context on why this matters, see our article on SC rulings on fraudulent notarial seals.
The Electronic Notarial Act Process
When an ENP performs an e-notarization:
- Verify identity using multi-factor authentication
- Review the document to ensure it is complete and in proper format (PDF/PDF-A)
- Administer oath or receive acknowledgment (depending on the type of notarial act)
- Witness signing – the principal applies their electronic signature
- Apply notarial seal – the ENP applies their electronic notarial seal and signature
- Record the act in the electronic notarial book
- Upload the record to the Supreme Court’s centralized database
Who Needs an ENP?
Any individual or organization that needs to notarize electronic documents, including:
- Law firms signing and notarizing client documents electronically
- Corporate secretaries notarizing board resolutions and secretary’s certificates
- Businesses executing notarized contracts and agreements
- OFWs at Philippine missions abroad needing notarized documents
- Individuals notarizing affidavits, special powers of attorney, and other personal documents
Related Terms
- E-Notarization
- Electronic Notarization Facility (ENF)
- Electronic Notarial Seal
- A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC
- Notarial Book
NotarialOS is designed to support ENPs in performing compliant electronic notarial acts, with built-in identity verification, audit trails, and secure electronic notarial seal application.