Notarisation used to mean turning up in person, document in hand. The 2023 Act opened a second route.
What the 2023 Act allows
The Notaries Public Act, 2023 allows electronic and remote notarisation. The session runs over video, not in person.
This is a second route. It sits alongside the old in-person one. It does not replace it.
How a remote session works in outline
A registered notary runs the session by video. They check your identity and the document, then apply a digital seal.
The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court issues that seal. The Act does not fix one piece of software or one app for the call, so this can vary between notaries.
Who is actually allowed to do it
Not every notary offers this. The Act limits remote work to notaries registered for it, who hold a digital seal for that purpose.
Before a remote session, check the notary's listing on notary.gov.ng. A normal registration is not the same as being cleared for remote work.
Why this matters if you live abroad
Nigerians abroad often struggle to find a notary in person. This is worse outside major cities.
Remote notarisation is meant to close that gap. You do not need a trip home just for a stamp.
It can also help someone inside Nigeria who cannot easily travel to a notary's office. The benefit is not only for people abroad.
What this could mean for an affidavit sworn abroad
A sworn affidavit and a notarised document are not the same thing, but Nigerians abroad often need both kinds of help at once.
If your real need is swearing an affidavit rather than notarising a copy, a Nigerian mission may also be able to help. Ask what your nearest one offers before assuming remote notarisation is the only option.
What to check before you rely on it
Confirm two things before you book a session. First, that the notary is registered for remote work, not just in-person work. Second, that the institution receiving your document accepts one done remotely.
Some foreign institutions still prefer an in-person notarisation. Ask them directly. Do not assume, and do not book a session until you have that answer.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every notary offers remote sessions, when only registered ones are meant to.
- Skipping the register check because the session felt professional and well run.
- Not confirming with the receiving institution first, then finding the document rejected on a technicality.
- Confusing this with swearing an affidavit, which is a different process with its own rules.
For which documents typically need notarising, see which documents need notarising in Nigeria, and for the wider law, see the Notaries Public Act 2023 explained. For the full set, see our affidavit guides.