Uzbekistan has taken a significant step toward the digitalization of legal services by introducing a formal procedure for performing notarial actions remotely through videoconferencing. The newly approved regulatory framework establishes comprehensive rules for conducting notarial acts without the physical presence of individuals or representatives of legal entities at a notary office, while maintaining legal certainty, confidentiality, and procedural safeguards.
This development reflects a broader policy objective of expanding access to justice, improving service efficiency, and integrating modern information technologies into the notarial system.
The approved procedure applies to notaries and their assistants, trainees, and secretaries, as well as all participants involved in a notarial act conducted via videoconferencing. All persons involved are required to ensure strict confidentiality of information obtained in the course of the notarial process.
Remote notarial actions may be performed in relation to those acts permitted under notarial legislation, provided that identity verification, capacity assessment, and procedural integrity can be ensured through digital means.
Remote notarization is carried out through the state electronic portal “e-notarius.uz” in conjunction with the automated information system “Notarius.” These platforms serve as the core technological infrastructure for submitting applications, verifying identities, exchanging documents, scheduling notarial sessions, and recording completed notarial acts.
Notarial actions performed via videoconference are confirmed electronically, and all relevant data is recorded in the system, ensuring traceability and legal validity.
To initiate a remote notarial action, an applicant must register on the electronic portal and verify their identity using the available authentication mechanisms. The applicant selects a notary through the system and submits an electronic application specifying the requested notarial act and providing the required information.
The notary reviews the application within a defined timeframe and informs the applicant electronically of whether the application is complete or requires correction. Notifications may be delivered through electronic channels and, where applicable, via the applicant’s registered phone number.
If deficiencies are identified, the applicant is given an opportunity to remedy them. Failure to do so within the prescribed period results in refusal of the application in accordance with notarial legislation.
Once the application is accepted, information regarding the notarial act is entered into the system, and the applicable fees are calculated automatically. Payment invoices are generated and sent electronically to the applicant.
The timeframe for performing the notarial act is determined by the notary and may not exceed the maximum period established by the procedure. Applicants are also granted limited flexibility to request an alternative time slot, subject to agreement with the notary.
A central element of the remote notarial framework is the verification of identity and legal capacity. Identification is conducted using modern information technologies, including biometric verification tools such as facial recognition, as well as checks against relevant state information resources.
During the videoconference, the notary personally communicates with the parties to assess their legal capacity, understanding of the transaction, and voluntariness of consent. Where doubts arise regarding capacity, mental condition, or external pressure, the notary may suspend or refuse the notarial action and, where required, take additional verification measures.
Strict requirements apply to the conditions under which videoconferencing is conducted. During the notarial session:
The notary may request a visual confirmation of the surrounding space to ensure compliance with these requirements.
Once the draft notarial document is ready, the notary explains to the parties their rights and obligations, as well as the content and legal consequences of the notarial act. The completed act is recorded in the system, assigned a registration number, and electronically certified.
Video recordings of the notarial session are automatically created and stored in the system for the period prescribed by law. These recordings serve as evidence of the performance and certification of the notarial act.
Certified documents are subsequently delivered to the parties either in person, through courier services, or by other legally permitted means.
The introduction of remote notarial actions represents a major modernization of Uzbekistan’s notarial system. It reduces the need for physical presence, increases accessibility for individuals and businesses, and enhances procedural efficiency, particularly for cross-regional and time-sensitive transactions.
At the same time, the framework preserves the fundamental principles of notarial activity, including personal verification, legal certainty, confidentiality, and protection of parties’ rights.