A copy of passport is one of the most requested ID documents in onboarding, banking, school, immigration packets, and cross-border processes. The challenge: many recipients ask for a “notarized copy” while policies differ on how that must be done. At Notary Public Center, we handle both accepted routes. When rules allow, we produce an attested photocopy—a notarial certificate stating the copy is a true, exact, and complete reproduction of the original presented. When the jurisdiction or platform prefers otherwise (or you need to sign online), we notarize a copy-certification-by-document-custodian affidavit, where you declare the copy is true, and we administer the jurat.
Either way, we make the process quick, clear, and compliant. And we keep expectations honest: a notarized copy of passport never guarantees the original passport is genuine, valid, or current. It only addresses the copy or the affidavit.
What “notarizing a copy of passport” really means
When people say, “Please notarize my copy of passport,” they might mean one of two legally distinct acts:
1) Attested photocopy (copy certification by the notary)
What it is: The notary personally makes or supervises the photocopy of the original passport presented by you, compares the copy to the original, and completes a notarial certificate attesting that the attached copy is a true, exact, and complete reproduction.
When we use it: In states where notaries are authorized to attest/certify copies of non-recordable, non-public-record documents. Many recipients love this because the certificate speaks directly about the copy.
Important limits: The notary does not validate the original passport’s authenticity, status, or issuance; the notary only attests to the fidelity of the copy.
2) Copy-certification-by-document-custodian (affidavit)
What it is: You—the custodian of the passport—sign a short affidavit stating: “This is a true, exact, and complete copy of my passport.” We verify your identity, administer an oath/affirmation, you sign in our presence, and we complete a jurat.
When we use it: In online notarization (RON) sessions (because the notary can’t physically make/supervise the photocopy through the camera) or in states that do not allow notaries to certify copies of certain IDs.
Important limits: The notary is not vouching for the original passport; we are notarizing your sworn statement.
Bottom line: both methods produce a notarized copy of passport, but the certificates are different. We advise you which route your recipient prefers—before you sign.
Where and How We Notarize Your Passport Copy at Notary Public Center
In Person (Miami) — Ideal for Attested Photocopies
At Notary Public Center, we handle the entire process for you, ensuring your passport copy meets the exact requirements of the receiving authority. Simply visit our Miami office with your original passport (preferably valid, but we will review legibility and guide you if an expired passport is your only option).
Our team personally makes or supervises a high-quality copy (typically color, including the biographical page and any additional pages required). We carefully compare the copy against the original, complete the official attested photocopy certificate, and securely assemble the notarized packet.
You leave our office with a fully compliant, notarized passport copy—ready for submission, with no guesswork or delays.
Online (RON) — Ideal for the Affidavit Method
If your receiving office allows Remote Online Notarization, Notary Public Center manages the process from start to finish. We first confirm acceptance with the destination authority to protect your time and investment.
You then join a secure, recorded two-way video session where we conduct full identity proofing, including credential analysis, KBA questions, and liveness verification. You will sign a brief copy-certification-by-document-custodian affidavit confirming the passport copy is true, exact, and complete.
We finalize the jurat and deliver a tamper-evident PDF, ensuring document integrity—any alteration will automatically invalidate the file in standard viewers.
If a wet-ink original is required, we seamlessly arrange an in-person appointment or coordinated shipment, depending on your needs and timeline.
What we can (and cannot) say on your certificate
We can say: “I, the notary, personally made or supervised the making of the attached copy of the passport presented by the customer. It is a true, exact, and complete copy of the document.” (attested photocopy)
Or, we can say: “Subscribed and sworn: the custodian declares the attached is a true, exact, and complete copy of their passport.” (jurat on the affidavit)
We cannot say: the passport is valid, untainted, current, genuine, government-issued without fraud, or lawful to use for a specific purpose. Notaries are not passport examiners.
We cannot certify a scan we did not make/supervise as an attested photocopy; for that situation we use the affidavit method instead.
This clarity protects you. It also prevents rejections for over-promising language some recipients don’t accept.
When Your Passport Copy Will Be Used Outside the U.S. — Apostille de la Haya Service
When your notarized passport copy will be used outside the United States—for visas, bank onboarding, corporate KYC, school enrollment, or similar purposes—Notary Public Center offers a fully integrated solution through our specialized division, Apostille de la Haya.
We determine whether the receiving country requires an apostille under the Hague Convention or evaluate a full authentication/legalization process for non-Hague countries, and we manage the entire workflow on your behalf. Your notarized certificate—whether an attested photocopy or an affidavit with jurat—is routed seamlessly for apostille over the notary’s signature, with no need for you to coordinate multiple providers.
What we handle for you:
Acceptance verification with the foreign receiving authority: attested photocopy vs. affidavit, RON vs. wet-ink notarization, and any translation requirements.
End-to-end document preparation: original notarized packet, correct certificate wording, and, when required, a properly notarized translator’s statement.
Filing with the competent authority for the apostille or legalization; processing times vary by office and season.
Secure return delivery: we ship the apostilled original directly to you and can provide a scanned copy for your records upon request.
Different authorities abroad have different standards—some require a color copy with a specific notarial statement, others demand a translator’s notarized declaration attached to the copy.
With Notary Public Center and our Apostille de la Haya division, your file is aligned correctly from the start, ensuring acceptance the first time and a truly comprehensive, one-stop service.
Step-by-step: your fastest path to a notarized copy of passport
Tell us the recipient. A consulate, bank, university, or background-check vendor may have specific wording. We confirm it before the session.
Choose the mode.
Need an attested photocopy? Book in person (Miami).
Need online? We’ll use the affidavit method via RON.
Prepare your materials.
Original passport (for in-person attestation).
Clear scan/photo of the passport (for online affidavit attachment).
Any extra pages the receiver requests (e.g., visas or entry stamps).
Verify your identity.
In person: bring a current, government-issued photo ID.
Online: pass credential analysis + KBA + biometrics in the recorded session.
Sign properly.
For jurats, you must sign during the appointment.
For attested photocopies, you may or may not sign—depends on the form; we handle the notarial certificate either way.
Receive your packet.
RON → tamper-evident PDF.
In person → wet-ink copy, secured as required.
Need an apostille? Tell us the destination country and deadline; we’ll start routing immediately after notarization.
Use cases we see every week
University enrollment abroad: admissions asks for a notarized color copy of the passport ID page, sometimes with apostille.
Bank KYC (domestic or foreign): compliance teams request a notarized copy of passport for identity verification.
Employer/HR onboarding: global teams validate identity documents for remote hires.
Visa or residency applications: consulates ask for notarized copies and sometimes translations. (Tip: If you are navigating a complex business visa process, our partners at Riveros Corp can guide your strategy).
Corporate filings: officers provide notarized passport copies for registrars or beneficial-ownership filings.
In each case, the requirement sounds simple but hides format preferences. We call the receiver so you don’t have to re-do the packet.
Quality checklist (copy/paste)
Recipient & country of use confirmed (apostille/authentication needs?).
Preferred method: attested photocopy vs. affidavit (jurat).
Mode: in person (attested copy) or online (affidavit).
Passport page(s) required (ID page only? visa pages? all?)
Exact name alignment (accents, hyphens, middle names).
Translation needed? If yes, does the receiver want the apostille over the translator’s notarized statement or the base packet?
Deadline & shipping: allow time; timeframes may vary.
Errors we prevent (and why they matter)
Asking us to “verify the original.” We can’t. We only attest to the copy or notarize your affidavit. Claiming otherwise gets forms rejected.
Using the wrong method online. An attested photocopy requires us to make/supervise the copy; online we use the affidavit route instead.
Name mismatches. If the name on the request doesn’t match the passport name (including middle names), compliance may reject it. We align names end-to-end.
Low-quality images. Blurry, cropped, or gray-scale copies get kicked back. We produce clean color copies in person and coach you for online scans.
Skipping the acceptance check. We confirm the receiver’s exact wording, staple rules, and whether they accept RON. That single call saves days.
Why choose Notary Public Center for a copy of passport
Two compliant methods: attested photocopy in person, or copy-certification affidavit (jurat) online.
Acceptance-first approach: we verify exact wording and staple/format rules with your receiver, so your copy of passport is accepted on the first try.
Security & speed: online sessions use biometrics, KBA, credential analysis, a recorded call, and tamper-evident PDFs. In person, we produce crisp color copies and secure them correctly.
Apostille ready: if your notarized copy will go abroad, we coordinate apostille/authentication and, if needed, translations.
Bilingual support: English/Spanish service for individuals and companies.
Ready to get a notarized copy of passport that your receiver will actually accept? Contact Notary Public Center. Tell us the recipient, choose in person (attested photocopy) or online (affidavit), and we’ll handle the wording, the certificate, and—if needed—the apostille. Timeframes may vary by office and destination, but the signing itself is fast once we confirm acceptance.
FAQ
1) Can you notarize my copy of passport online?
Yes—via the affidavit method: you swear the copy is true, and we notarize your jurat in a recorded RON session. For an attested photocopy, book in person so we can make/supervise the copy.
2) Does a notarized copy of passport prove my passport is real?
No. A notarized copy only confirms that the reproduction is true to the original presented (attested copy) or validates your sworn statement regarding the copy (affidavit). It does not validate the authenticity, issuance status, or validity of the original passport itself.
3) The receiver said “certified color copy of passport.” Is that the same?
Usually yes, but wording differs. Some want an attested photocopy; others accept an affidavit. We call the receiver and use their preferred certificate.
The information contained in this publication is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading or using this content does not create and is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. No reader or user should act or refrain from acting based on the information presented herein without first consulting an attorney duly licensed to practice law in their jurisdiction.
