The main difference between traditional notarisation and E-Notarisation lies in the medium and technology used for the process. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
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Medium of Documentation:
- Traditional Notarisation: Involves physical documents. The notary public signs and applies a physical seal to paper documents.
- E-Notarisation: Utilizes digital documents. The notary public employs digital tools to apply an electronic signature and digital seal to documents in an electronic format.
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Process and Technology:
- Traditional Notarisation: Requires the physical presence of the person whose signature is being notarised. The process is done in person, with ink signatures and physical notary stamps or seals.
- E-Notarisation: Can be done remotely, using secure digital platforms. This method involves advanced electronic signatures (AES) or qualified electronic signatures (QES), and digital seals, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the document.
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Convenience and Speed:
- Traditional Notarisation: The process can be more time-consuming, requiring physical meetings and the mailing of documents.
- E-Notarisation: Offers greater speed and convenience. Documents can be notarised and sent electronically anywhere in the world almost instantly.
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Legal Acceptance:
- Traditional Notarisation: Widely accepted and recognized internationally. Physical documents are the standard in many legal systems.
- E-Notarisation: While gaining acceptance, its recognition varies across different countries and jurisdictions. Some countries may still require traditional, physical documents for certain legal purposes.
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Environmental Impact:
- Traditional Notarisation: More reliant on paper, which has a higher environmental impact.
- E-Notarisation: More environmentally friendly due to its paperless nature.
Regarding E-Notarisation, it is indeed crucial to check if the recipient country accepts digital documents. This is because the legal validity of E-Notarised documents may differ from one country to another. Some jurisdictions may not recognize electronic signatures or seals as equivalent to their physical counterparts, especially for certain types of legal documents. Therefore, before opting for E-Notarisation, ensuring that the digitally notarised documents will be accepted by the authorities or parties in the recipient country is important for their intended use.