Have you ever been asked to notarize a document and had no idea what that meant? You are not alone; a lot of Nigerians get confused about it, too.
Notarization is the process by which a certified legal officer, called a notary public, verifies that your document is authentic and legally valid. That simple stamp and signature is what stands between your document being accepted or rejected for visa applications, foreign school admissions, and legal transactions.
In this guide, you will learn what notarization of documents means, how it works in Nigeria, and how it differs from apostille and legalisation.
Key Takeaways
- Notarization is the process in which a certified legal officer, called a Notary Public, verifies that your document is genuine, legally valid, and acceptable for official use.
- In Nigeria, only senior lawyers appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria can notarize documents, and you can do it either physically at a law firm or online through licensed platforms.
- Notarization is the first step first and most important step for anyone looking to use their Nigerian documents abroad for school, work, or immigration.
- Notarization fees in Nigeria vary by platform/legal practitioners and document type.
What is the notarization of documents?
Notarisation is the process of certifying and authenticating a document by a Notary Public to ensure it is genuine, properly executed, and legally binding. It is also a way to prevent fraud.
Notarization is important because courts, banks, embassies, and other official organizations, especially for international transactions, usually require it before they will accept a document as official.
The Notaries Public Act 2023 evolves to include two ways in which you can notarize a document in Nigeria: physically at a licensed law firm or through licensed online platforms.
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Types of documents that require notarization
Documents that require notarization include:
- Affidavits and statutory declarations.
- Powers of Attorney.
- Biodata pages of international passports.
- Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and police clearance certificates.
- Single status certificate
- Bank statement
- Driver’s licenses.
- Proof of address or identity.
- Consent letters.
- Residency permits and visa applications
- Business and Corporate Documents
- Property and Financial Documents
- Professional Licenses
- Educational certificates, degrees, and diplomas, and many other documents
Why Is Notarization Important?
Notarization is important because it prevents fraud, makes documents legally valid, protects everyone involved, is required for official transactions, and is recognized internationally.
- Prevents fraud and forgery: Notarization makes it very hard for someone to fake or forge a document. The Notary Public carefully checks the identity of the people signing the document to make sure they are who they claim to be.
- It Makes Documents Legally Valid: A notarized document is recognized by courts, banks, governments, and other official bodies as genuine and trustworthy. Without notarization, many important documents may simply be rejected.
- International Acceptance: For documents intended for use outside Nigeria, notarisation is often the first essential step in a chain of authentication. Most jurisdictions worldwide will only accept foreign documents if they have been notarized
- It Is Required for Official Transactions: Many important transactions require a notarized document, such as buying or selling property, getting a visa or travelling abroad, signing business contracts, court cases and legal proceedings, and opening certain bank accounts.
Who notarizes a document in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, documents are notarised by a Notary Public.
A notary is a public official authorized to perform legal acts, such as witnessing signatures and verifying the authenticity of documents.
In Nigeria, a Notary Public is someone who must have met these criteria:
- A Practising Lawyer: Notaries are typically senior members of the Nigerian Bar Association who have been called to the Bar for at least seven years before they are appointed as a Notary Public as required under the Notaries Public Act 2023.
- Appointed by the Government: They are appointed to this position by the government or, more specifically, by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
- Registered with the Supreme Court: The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court maintains a register (both physical and electronic) of all appointed Notaries Public in Nigeria.
What Are the Requirements for Notarization in Nigeria?
The requirements for notarization in Nigeria are:
- You must provide a valid proof of identity for verification.
- You must appear in person before the Notary or via real-time audio-visual communication for online services.
- For physical notarisation, the document must be signed only in the presence of the Notary Public.
- All documents must be filled out, with no blank spaces, before signing.
- You must demonstrate that you understand the contents of the document you are signing.
- The official must be a senior practising lawyer appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
- The Notary must affix their official stamp or seal and their signature to the document.
- The document must clearly state where and when the notarization occurred.
- You must pay the required service fee.
Notarization vs Apostille vs Legalization
Notarization, apostille, and legalization are all used to authenticate a document, but they serve different purposes and are accepted in different situations.
Here is a quick breakdown of how they differ:
|
Feature |
Notarization |
Apostille |
Legaliation |
|
What it is |
A Notary Public certifies that a document is genuine and properly signed |
A certificate that validates a notarized document for use in another country |
The full authentication process for countries that do not accept an Apostille |
|
Who does it |
A licensed Notary Public |
A government-designated authority (e.g., Ministry of Justice) |
The foreign embassy or consulate of the destination country |
|
Purpose |
To verify the authenticity of a document |
To make a document legally accepted in foreign countries |
To make a document legally accepted in countries that do not recognize an Apostille |
Notarize by Proof: What Does It Mean?
Notarization does not always require the signer to be physically present before a Notary Public. In some cases, a document can be notarized by proof, and this is where a third party steps in.
Notarization by proof is a type of notarization where a credible witness appears before the Notary Public on behalf of the person who signed the document.
The witness swears an oath confirming that the signature on the document truly belongs to the signer.
What is a Notarize letter?
A notarized letter is a letter or statement that someone has personally written, like an affidavit, a sponsor letter, or a consent letter, that a Notary Public has witnessed, stamped, and signed to confirm that the person who signed it did so willingly and is who they claim to be.
A notarized letter certifies the identity of the person making a personal statement or declaration. It can also be referred to as a notarized document.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you are required to pay a fee to the notary public.
No, notarization is when a Notary Public certifies that a document is genuine and properly signed it while legalization is the full authentication process for countries that do not accept an Apostille.
Notarized documents do not technically expire.
Conclusion
To prove the authenticity of a document, it has to be notarized by a notary public. You can notarize a document online or through physical law practitioners.
To use any document for a visa application, it must be notarized. To get all your documents notarized without stress, get professional assistance from Visa.NG.
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