{"id":652,"date":"2021-01-08T12:57:45","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T12:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baseline.usembassy.gov\/?page_id=652"},"modified":"2025-11-26T11:29:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T03:29:10","slug":"notarials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ph.usembassy.gov\/services\/notarials\/","title":{"rendered":"Notarials"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t
Notarials<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Services we provide<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/section>\n\n
\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Overview <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Useful Information <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Services We Provide <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Legal Capacity to Marry <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Services We Do Not Provide <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t

Operating Status During COVID-19 Crisis<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

Routine passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, and notarial services are limited as of March 18. Individuals with appointments after March 18 may be asked to reschedule their appointments for a later date.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSchedule an Appointment\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Important Reminder<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Appointments are required for all notarial services. \u00a0Walk-ins are not accepted. Please bring your appointment confirmation sheet and arrive at the Embassy or Consular Agency 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to allow time for security screening<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Appointments for Cebu cannot be honored in Manila or vice-versa<\/b>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Overview<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

U.S. notarial services are available by appointment only. Documents for notarization must generally be of U.S. origin or intended for use within the United States, with limited exceptions. Only one appointment is required for multiple documents. The fee for each notarial service (notarial signature) is $50 USD.<\/p>\n

Notarial Appointments<\/p>\n

Notary hours are between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in Manila, and between 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Cebu, Monday through Friday, except for U.S. and Philippine holidays. You can schedule an appointment via the Embassy\u2019s online appointment system:<\/p>\n

Embassy Manila<\/a><\/p>\n

Consular Agency in Cebu<\/a><\/p>\n

The online appointment system will not send an email confirmation, so please print or save the \u201cAppointment Details\u201d page displayed once the appointment is made online and bring it with you to your appointment for entry into the Embassy or Consular Agency.<\/p>\n

On the day of your appointment, you must:<\/p>\n

Arrive fully prepared with your documents printed, organized, and complete (but do not sign or initial them beforehand).\u00a0 We will not review, print, or copy documents for you, so if you are unprepared, we will ask you to reschedule.\u00a0 Please mark the places that require signatures\/notarization.<\/p>\n

Present a valid passport or other government-issued photo ID and photocopies as required.\u00a0 The name on your identification must match your name on the document(s) you need notarized.<\/p>\n

Signatories must be of sound mind and understand the documents to be notarized.\u00a0 Consular staff are not permitted to explain document contents to signatories.<\/p>\n

If your notary service requires a witness, you must arrange for your own witnesses.\u00a0 Consular staff cannot serve as witness for your documents.<\/p>\n

Bring enough money for the notary ($50 USD per notary seal).\u00a0 We accept cash (USD and PHP) or credit card (paid in USD).<\/p>\n

We reserve the right to ask you to reschedule your appointment if you arrive late or are unprepared.<\/p>\n

Do not bring electronic devices\/gadgets (i.e.: cellphone, laptop, tablets) with you as these are not allowed inside the Embassy\/Consular Agency<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUseful Information\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNotarial Services of U.S. Consular Officers Abroad\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tU.S. Birth Certificate Apostilles\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload a Blank Affidavit Form\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload a Blank Legal Capacity to Marry Affidavit (For Manila)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload a Blank Legal Capacity to Marry Affidavit (For Cebu)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tForm DS-3053 (Statement of Consent to Issue a Passport to a Minor\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Legal Capacity to Marry<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Affidavit of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The United States government does not maintain marriage records and cannot issue certificates of U.S. citizens\u2019 legal capacity to marry.\u00a0 However, we can notarize a citizen\u2019s statement of their own legal capacity as an ordinary affidavit.\u00a0 For your convenience, we offer templates for these statements\u00a0here (for Manila<\/a> \/ for Cebu<\/a>), and strongly recommend you fill a statement out fully and prepare it for signature before your appointment to avoid having to reschedule.<\/p>\n

You are not required to use these templates for your affidavit if you prefer to write your own.\u00a0 Please note that, as with all notary acts, you must have a fully completed and properly prepared affidavit (except for your signature) before arriving for your appointment to avoid being asked to reschedule.<\/p>\n

Legal and valid marriages contracted abroad generally are valid in the United States. If you get married abroad and need to know if your marriage will be recognized in the United States and what documentation may be required, contact the office of the Attorney General of your state of residence in the United States.<\/p>\n

U.S. diplomats cannot perform marriages. Marriage is a function reserved solely to local governments and is beyond the authority of U.S. diplomats, who are federal officials. There is no requirement to register your marriage in the Philippines with the U.S. Embassy or Consular Agency in the Philippines.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Services We Provide<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Affidavits\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Various Philippine government offices may request \u201ccertification\u201d or \u201cauthentication\u201d of documents,\u201d which we cannot provide (for more details, please see \u201cServices we CANNOT provide\u201d below).\u00a0 However, the Embassy\u00a0CAN\u00a0notarize an affidavit which may or may not satisfy the Philippine requirement for \u201ccertification,\u201d including affidavits of legal capacity to contract marriage.<\/p>\n

An affidavit is a sworn statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by oath or affirmation. \u00a0Please note the consular staff assume no responsibility for the veracity of the representations that appear in an affidavit.<\/p>\n

Acknowledgement of signature<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>An Acknowledgement of signature verifies a particular person signed a given document such as a deed or bill of sale. \u00a0We can only notarize signatures of those who are present to sign in front of a Notarizing Officer. \u00a0If you are signing on behalf of a corporation, LLC, etc., you are required to provide proof that you are authorized to sign on behalf of the organization.<\/p>\n

Power of Attorney<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>A power of attorney allows you to designate someone to take legal action on your behalf, such as authorizing someone to buy or sell a property in the United States in your name while you are abroad. \u00a0If you are signing on behalf of a corporation, LLC, etc., you are required to provide proof that you are authorized to sign on behalf of the organization.<\/p>\n

Certified True Copies of U.S. Passports\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

You may schedule a notarial appointment for certified true copies of original documents and foreign passports for use with Social Security applications when requested by the Manila Federal Benefits Unit (No fee required).<\/p>\n

You may schedule a notarial appointment for Form\u00a0DS-3053<\/a>: \u00a0Statement of Consent for issuance of a U.S. passport to a minor\u00a0(No fee required).<\/p>\n

You may schedule a notarial appointment for certified true copies of a foreign passport for use with Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) applications.\u00a0 More information is available on the\u00a0ITIN page at IRS.gov\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Notarization of ITIN applications:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has designated acceptance agents around the world that can assist with ITIN applications. \u00a0You can find the acceptance agent for the Philippines on the IRS\u00a0website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
\n\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Services We Do Not Provide<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Document Authentication or Apostille: <\/strong>\u00a0The Embassy cannot authenticate or apostille any U.S. civil documents<\/u><\/strong>.\u00a0 As both the United States and the Philippines are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, U.S. documents may be authenticated with an apostille issued by either the government of the state that issued the document or, for certain federal documents, by the Office of Authentications in Washington, D.C.\u00a0 Please see\u00a0https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/records-and-authentications\/authenticate-your-document\/apostille-requirements.html\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n