Where to Notarize Passport Copies and Get Address Certification for Bank or Visa Use (Philippines)

Practical, Philippine-context guidance for individuals, banks, compliance officers, HR teams, and visa applicants.

1) When do you actually need notarization?

Banks (domestic). Some banks ask for a “notarized photocopy of passport” during onboarding, re-KYC, or high-risk transactions. Many branches accept a regular photocopy plus in-person presentation of the original; however, if the compliance memo says “notarized,” you’ll need one of the notarized routes below.
Visa applications. Application centers/embassies sometimes accept plain photocopies; others require notarized or apostilled affidavits that authenticate the copy or your address. Always match the exact wording in the document checklist.
Corporate/real-estate transactions. Often require notarized IDs and address proof to satisfy Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and customer due-diligence (CDD) rules.

Rule of thumb: If an institution specifically requires “notarized” or “apostilled,” a plain photocopy or barangay certificate alone won’t suffice.

2) What a Philippine notary can (and cannot) do to “notarize a passport copy”

Under the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice (as amended), a notary public does not simply stamp photocopies. Instead, you typically use one of these:

Affidavit of Certification/Attestation of Passport Copy (with Jurat).
- You (the affiant) swear that the attached photocopy is a true and faithful reproduction of your passport’s data page (and other relevant pages).
- You sign in the notary’s presence. The notary administers an oath (jurat) and notes your competent evidence of identity (valid gov’t ID such as passport, driver’s license, UMID, or PhilSys).
- Attach a good, legible photocopy (color, if the recipient prefers) of the passport page(s). Bring the original for the notary to visually compare.
Notarial Certification/Attestation by the Notary.
- Some notaries issue a short “Certification” stating that the photocopy was compared with the original presented by you.
- Functionally similar for many recipients, but practice varies. When in doubt, ask the bank/embassy which format they prefer: Affidavit (jurat) vs Certification by notary.

Avoid requests for “Certified True Copy” by a notary of a public document unless the rules allow it; the safer, widely accepted path is the affidavit with jurat plus attachment of the copy you’re certifying.

Must-haves in the notarized paper

Venue and date, your full name, and text clearly identifying the passport (number, name, date of issue, issuing authority).
Statement that the attached copy is a faithful reproduction of the original you presented.
Notary block containing: Notary’s name, commission number/expiry, office address, serial Doc/Page/Book/Series numbers, and the competent evidence of identity (ID type and number) used to identify you.

3) Where to get a document notarized

Law firms / solo practitioners commissioned as Notary Public in your city/municipality. A notary’s authority is territorial (usually limited to the city/municipality of commission).
Business centers (e.g., near city halls, courts, business districts) that house on-site notaries.
Inside corporate buildings (for employees/tenants) where in-house counsel holds a notarial commission.
Foreign embassies/consulates in the Philippines may offer consular notarization for documents intended for their jurisdiction. (If the paper is to be used in the Philippines, a Philippine notary is the safer default; if to be used abroad, see Apostille below.)

What to bring

Original passport + photocopies to be attached.
A second valid ID (some notaries prefer two IDs).
₱ for fees; rates vary by locale and page count; travel/out-of-office calls cost more.

4) Address certification options (for banks and visas)

A. Government-issued proofs of address (often the cleanest)

Barangay Certificate of Residency.
- Obtain from your barangay hall. Usual requirements: any valid ID, proof you reside there (lease, landlord letter, or community witnesses), and sometimes a cedula (Community Tax Certificate) from the city/municipal hall.
- Fees are modest; processing is usually same day.
- Many banks accept this as proof of address. For visas, it can be a supporting document but may still need a notarized affidavit or apostille depending on the destination.
Postal ID / Driver’s License / PhilSys National ID / Voter’s certification showing your current address.
- If the ID address is outdated, pair it with more recent proof (see below).

B. Non-government proofs commonly accepted by banks

Recent utility bill (electricity, water, internet), credit card statement, or bank statement bearing your name and current address (usually within the last 3 months).
If the utility bill is not in your name (e.g., you rent):
- Affidavit of Undertaking/Proof of Address by you plus the bill owner’s Affidavit of Consent and a copy of their ID; attach the bill and your lease or authorization from the landlord. Have the affidavits notarized.

C. Notarized address affidavits

When you cannot secure government proof or a bill in your name:

Affidavit of Residency / Affidavit of Address (jurat).
If you’re boarding or subleasing, include the landlord/host’s notarized affidavit confirming your stay, plus attachment of their valid ID and a recent bill for the same address.

For visa use abroad, consider Apostille of any notarized address affidavit (see Section 6).

5) Step-by-step: Notarizing your passport copy for bank or visa use

Confirm the exact requirement in writing (email/checklist):
- “Notarized copy only” vs “Notarized affidavit + attached copy” vs “Apostilled affidavit.”
Prepare your draft (see model texts below).
Bring original passport (and any other ID the notary may require).
Sign before the notary. The notary will record your ID details in the notarial register.
Receive the notarized document with the notary’s seal, registry numbers, and attachments firmly stapled.
For foreign use (if required): secure CANA and Apostille (Section 6).

6) Using the document abroad: Apostille & legalization

The Philippines is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. For notarized private documents (like your Affidavit of Passport Copy or Affidavit of Residency), the usual chain is:
1. Proper notarization (with jurat/acknowledgment and full notarial block).
2. CANA – Certificate of Authority for a Notarial Act, issued by the Executive Judge (or authorized officer) of the Regional Trial Court that commissioned your notary.
3. Apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA).
If the destination country is not an Apostille-party, you’ll need consular legalization at that country’s embassy/consulate after DFA authentication.
Public documents (PSA birth/marriage, NBI clearance, PRC/LTO certifications) go straight to DFA after any required issuing-agency verification; private notarized documents need CANA before DFA.

Many visa centers accept apostilled affidavits as functional equivalents of “notarized and legalized” statements.

7) Timelines, validity, and practical tips

Validity. Notarized affidavits technically don’t “expire,” but banks/embassies often require they be issued within 3–6 months. Barangay certificates commonly have a 6-month or shorter acceptance window.
Names and addresses must match. If your bank record shows a middle initial but your passport spells the middle name in full, include a One and the Same Person Affidavit (notarized) to preempt rejections.
Legibility matters. Use color photocopies of the passport data page; include the MRZ (the two machine-readable lines).
For minors or elderly applicants. A parent/guardian or authorized representative may execute an affidavit, but banks/embassies set their own rules; bring birth certificates/SPA as applicable.
Electronic copies. Many institutions still insist on wet ink notarization. If submitting electronically, ask whether scanned PDFs of the notarized paper are acceptable pending submission of originals.

8) Model wordings you can bring to a notary

Affidavit of Certification of Passport Copy (Jurat) I, [Full Name], of legal age, Filipino, with residence at [Full Address], after being duly sworn, depose and state:

I am the holder of Philippine Passport No. [_______], issued on [date] at [issuing authority];

The attached photocopy(ies) of the passport’s data page [and page nos. ___, if any] is/are a true and faithful reproduction of the original which I personally presented;

I execute this affidavit to attest to the authenticity of the attached copy(ies) for submission to [Bank/Embassy/Institution]. (Signature over printed name) SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this [date] at [city/municipality], affiant exhibiting [ID type/number] as competent evidence of identity. Notary Public (with full notarial block: Doc. No./Page No./Book No./Series of [year])

Affidavit of Residency (Jurat) I, [Full Name], of legal age, Filipino, residing at [Complete Address], state:

I have been continuously residing at the above address since [date];

Attached are supporting documents: [e.g., lease agreement dated ___; authorization from landlord; utility bill dated ___];

I execute this affidavit to certify my address for [banking/visa] purposes. (Signature) Notarial jurat block follows.

Affidavit of Consent to Use Address (Landlord/Host) I, [Landlord/Host Name], of legal age, Filipino, with address at [Property Address], state:

I own/lease the premises located at [address];

I consent to [Tenant’s Name] using the said address for banking/visa records;

Attached is my [valid ID] and a [utility bill] for the same address. (Signature) Notarial jurat block follows.

Barangay Certificate request script (at the barangay) “Magre-request po sana ako ng Certificate of Residency para sa bangko/visa. Narito po ang aking ID at lease/bill. Kailangan din po ba ng cedula?”

9) Common rejection reasons (and how to avoid them)

Affidavit lacks the notary’s register details or venue/date. Ensure the Doc/Page/Book/Series of [Year] entries appear and are legible.
No competent evidence of identity listed. Ask the notary to state your ID type and number in the jurat/acknowledgment.
Photocopy is unclear or missing the MRZ. Use a crisp scan/print; avoid cropping edges or cutting off the ID page.
Address proofs are stale. Keep bills/statements within 3 months unless the institution allows longer.
Wrong territory notarization. Use a notary commissioned in the city/municipality where the act is done.
Skipped CANA before DFA Apostille. For notarized private documents destined abroad, secure CANA first, then Apostille.

10) Costs (ballpark, for planning)

Notarization (simple affidavit): ~₱200–₱1,000+ depending on area and page count; higher in CBDs or for rush/out-calls.
Barangay Certificate: usually under ₱200 (plus cedula if needed).
CANA (RTC) & DFA Apostille: official fees are modest, but time and travel add cost; courier services charge extra. (Many choose processing services; verify legitimacy.)

11) Checklist — choose your path

For a Philippine bank that asked for “notarized passport copy”:

Draft Affidavit of Certification of Passport Copy
Bring passport (original) + color photocopy
Notarize (jurat)
Submit to bank (ask if they also want a Barangay Certificate of Residency or recent proof of billing)

For a visa file requiring address proof abroad:

Secure Barangay Certificate of Residency (or Postal/Driver’s/PhilSys ID showing address)
If asked for a notarized address proof, execute Affidavit of Residency (+ landlord’s consent if needed)
If the checklist says “apostilled,” obtain CANA then DFA Apostille

12) Final practical advice

Match the exact wording in the recipient’s checklist; if it says “apostilled affidavit,” do not substitute a plain notarized copy.
Present originals when notarizing; never sign the affidavit ahead of time.
Staples matter. Do not detach the notarized affidavit from its attached copy/bills; many processors reject loose pages.
Keep duplicates. Scan and keep a PDF of the finalized set for your records.

This article provides general legal information specific to the Philippine notarial and apostille framework. For complex cases (minors, guardianship, cross-border corporate KYC, or destination countries outside the Apostille system), consult a Philippine lawyer or the relevant embassy/consulate for precise, up-to-date procedural requirements.