The Short Answer
Bring at least one current ID from a government office that shows your photo and signature, such as a passport, Driver's License, PRC ID, UMID, SSS card, Postal ID or National ID. A cedula alone is not enough because it has no photo. If you have no ID at all, the rules let people who know you vouch for who you are under oath.
Example: A Lola in Iloilo With Only a Senior Citizen Card
Names and details in this example are made up.
Lola Remedios Tan, 78, of Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City, needs a Special Power of Attorney notarized so her son Joel can handle her bank account while she recovers from an operation. Her passport and Voter's ID are long expired. She has a cedula and a senior citizen card from the city's OSCA (Office for Senior Citizens Affairs) with her photo and signature.
The cedula. The notary explains it is not enough on its own: it has no photo.
The senior citizen card. This is an ID issued by a government office, with her photo and signature, and the 2008 rule names the senior citizen card as an example. The notary accepts it.
What if she had nothing? Her neighbour Mang Ernesto, whom the notary personally knows and who has known Lola Remedios for decades, could swear before the notary that she is who she says she is. Or two people who know her, each showing their own valid ID, could do it. The witnesses may have no part in the SPA.
For next time. Her grandson helps her register for the National ID at a PhilSys registration center, so she has an ID that does not expire. See the National ID guide.
What the Rules Say
A notary must know you personally or identify you through competent evidence of identity (accepted proof of who you are) (2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC, Rule IV, Sec. 2(b)). Rule II, Sec. 12, as amended on 19 February 2008, says this is either:
- At least one current ID from a government office, bearing your photograph and signature; or
- Credible witnesses who know you and swear to your identity (see below).
The rule lists examples "such as but not limited to": passport, Driver's License, PRC ID, NBI Clearance, Police Clearance, Postal ID, Voter's ID, barangay certification, GSIS e-card, SSS card, PhilHealth card, senior citizen card, OWWA ID, OFW ID, Seaman's Book, Alien or Immigrant Certificate of Registration, government office ID, NCWDP certification and DSWD certification. Because the list says "not limited to", other government IDs with a photo and signature, like the UMID, can also count. The notary decides whether an ID satisfies them.
The National ID and ePhilID
The Philippine Identification System Act, Republic Act No. 11055 (RA 11055), says the PhilSys ID must be honored and accepted as proof of identity, subject to authentication (checking that the ID is real and belongs to you) (Sections 12 and 13). The PSA says the printed ePhilID and the digital National ID have the same validity. So a notary will generally accept them.
In practice, a notary may want to check the QR code, or ask for a second ID if the printout is faded or the photo is hard to see. Bring a second ID if you have one. See the National ID guide.
No ID? Credible Witnesses
If you have no acceptable ID, Rule II, Sec. 12(b) allows a credible witness (someone who vouches for who you are under oath):
- One witness who is personally known to the notary and who personally knows you; or
- Two witnesses who each personally know you and each show the notary their own valid ID.
The witnesses must have no part in the document and get nothing from it. They swear to your identity before the notary and sign the notary's register (Rule VI, Sec. 3).
Common Problem IDs
| ID | Usually Accepted? |
|---|---|
| Cedula (Community Tax Certificate) | Not on its own: it has no photo. Some notaries still ask for it in addition to a photo ID. |
| Expired ID | No. The rule says "current". Renew it, use another ID, or use credible witnesses. |
| Company or school ID | Not issued by a government office, so not enough on its own, unless you work for a government office. |
| Foreign passport | Generally yes, if current: it is an official ID with photo and signature. Foreigners living here may also show their ACR I-Card. |
| Photocopy or photo on a phone | No. Show the original. |
Common Questions
Pwede ba ang Cedula lang sa Notaryo?
No. Since the 2008 amendment, the ID must show your photo and signature, and a cedula has no photo. Bring a photo ID. A notary may still ask for your cedula as well.
My Driver's License Expired Last Month. Will the Notary Accept It?
The rule asks for a "current" ID, so an expired one should not be accepted. Use another unexpired government ID, or bring credible witnesses who know you.
Is a Barangay Certificate Enough?
The 2008 rule lists "barangay certification" among the examples. A notary may still ask for another ID if it has no photo or they are not satisfied. See barangay certificates.
I Am a Foreigner. Can I Use My Passport?
Generally yes, if it is current. A passport is an official ID with your photo and signature. Ask the notary ahead. Make sure you understand the language the document is written in before you sign.
How Many IDs Do I Need?
The rule asks for at least one. Some notaries, banks or receiving offices ask for two. Bring two if you have them, and photocopies.
Not legal advice. This is general information. For advice on your own situation, consult a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) or an IBP legal aid office may help for free.
Government fees, rules and requirements change, so always check with the office concerned before you go. This page explains the general rules; it cannot tell you how they apply to your own family or case. Last reviewed October 8, 2026.