How to become a notary public in Virginia

Virginia notary public licenses

Virginia issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Virginia notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old⁸

Exam

Written examination following the notary course of instruction (from July 1, 2027)²
Not required⁵
When you can take it: After completing the 4-hour course, within the 6 months before applying.²
Time limit: Course and exam must fall within the 6 months immediately before the application is submitted.²

Background check

Anyone ever convicted of a felony (U.S., Virginia or any other state) is ineligible unless pardoned, the conviction was vacated by a writ of actual innocence, or civil rights have been restored. Falsifying the application or a later felony conviction are grounds for removal.⁹

Residency or citizenship

Must be a legal resident of the United States (citizen or permanent resident). Must live in Virginia, or be regularly employed in Virginia and perform notary services in connection with that employment. A non-resident who stops being regularly employed in Virginia must surrender the commission.⁹

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years⁴

Required topics

From July 1, 2027: 2-hour renewal course, of which 1 hour on real estate fraud and financial exploitation of elderly persons, taken within the 6 months before each recommission application.²

Approved courses

A course developed by or approved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth (from July 1, 2027).²

Renew online

notary.solutions.virginia.gov¹⁰

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Members of the U.S. armed services may be commissioned notwithstanding § 2.2-2800 (the general bar on holding more than one office).⁸

Who needs a Notary Public commission

A public official appointed by the Governor and commissioned by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The five basic notarial acts include taking acknowledgments and administering oaths and affirmations. The notary may act anywhere in Virginia, and also outside Virginia under Title 47.1 ch. 3. A notary may not give legal advice, certify vital records or perform marriages.⁷

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Virginia issues two commission types: traditional and electronic. A notary must first hold a traditional commission before applying for the electronic one.⁹

Requirements for a Notary Public commission

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

4 clock hours²
From July 1, 2027: within the 6 months before applying for a notary public commission, complete a 4-hour course developed or approved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth (notary law, best practices and procedures, identity verification; 1 hour must cover real estate fraud and financial exploitation of elderly people), then pass a written examination. Keep the written completion certificate as proof for the application.²
Who may teach it: A course developed by or approved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.²

Insurance

Optional: liability insurance is suggested but not required.⁹

Also required

Must be able to read and write English.⁸

Also required

A seal or stamp is required. It must be photographically reproducible and show the notary's name exactly as commissioned, "Notary Public" and "Commonwealth of Virginia". As best practice it should also show the commission expiry date and registration number. Since July 1, 2026 the vendor must see proof of commission, and both the notary and the vendor keep that proof for 5 years. The SOC does not sell seals.³

Also required

Every notary, including traditional (paper) notaries, must keep a journal of notarial acts (date and time, type of act, document, name and address of each principal, ID evidence, fee) and keep each record for at least 5 years. This applies to paper notarial acts performed on or after July 1, 2026.¹¹

How much a Notary Public commission costs

You pay SOC (2 fees) and Clerk of the circuit court where the applicant takes the oath (other fee).

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

What a notary public may charge the public:

• A notary may charge up to $10 per paper notarial act and up to $25 per electronic notarial act, plus agreed actual travel expenses. Charging a fee is optional.⁷

How to apply

1. Check eligibility: 18 or older, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, able to read and write English, no unpardoned or unrestored felony, and either living in Virginia or regularly employed there. From July 1, 2027, first complete the 4-hour Secretary-approved course and written exam within the 6 months before applying.²
2. Create a Notary Management account and fill in the application online, choosing the circuit court where you will take the oath.¹⁰ notary.solutions.virginia.gov¹⁰
3. Sign the application's oath before a traditional Virginia notary (an electronic notary cannot notarize it). Pay the $45 fee by card online, or mail a check or money order payable to "Treasurer of Virginia" with the notarized application.³
4. The SOC usually processes applications in 2-3 weeks, sends the commission to your chosen circuit court and notifies you (by email only if you chose email).³
5. Within 60 days, go to that circuit court clerk, show ID, take the oath and pay the $10 clerk fee. An unclaimed commission is canceled and you must reapply and pay again.⁹
6. Order a seal or stamp from a private vendor (show your commission), and start a notary journal.⁷

Apply online

notary.solutions.virginia.gov¹⁰

Processing time

Usually 2-3 weeks for the SOC to receive and process an application; then up to 60 days to claim the commission at the court.³

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Expires on the last day of the notary's birth month in the fourth calendar year after issue. Renew by filing a new application with the SOC; an expired notary must not act.⁴

Renewal fee

$45³

If it expires

Renew online through the Notary Management account if your name has not changed. If the commission expired more than 30 days ago, or your name changed, submit a new notarized application instead.¹⁰
A renewing notary in good standing (not under investigation, never removed) does not need to take the oath again at the circuit court.¹²
Acting on an expired commission may be a criminal offense.⁹

Moving to Virginia with a license from another state

These are the routes SOC publishes for the Notary Public commission. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Electronic Notary Public

Performs notarial acts on electronic documents using a digital certificate, an electronic signature and an electronic seal. This includes remote (online) notarization by live two-way audio-video, with strict identity proofing (personal knowledge, antecedent proofing, a digital certificate, or knowledge-based authentication) and a video recording kept for 5 years. Electronic acts are deemed performed in Virginia. An electronic notary may also act as a traditional notary.⁶

Requirements

Education or training

4 clock hours²
From July 1, 2027: within the 6 months before applying for a notary public or electronic notary public commission, complete a 4-hour course developed or approved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth (notary law, best practices and procedures, identity verification; 1 hour must cover real estate fraud and financial exploitation of elderly people), then pass a written examination. Keep the written completion certificate as proof for the application.²
Who may teach it: A course developed by or approved by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.²

Experience

Must already hold a traditional Virginia notary commission.⁶
License you must hold first: Va-notary-public-commission⁹

Also required

Technology: you need a digital certificate and electronic signature, and must certify compliance with the SOC Electronic Notarization Assurance Standard. The electronic seal must show your commissioned name, registration number, "Electronic Notary Public", "Commonwealth of Virginia" and the commission expiry date.⁶

Also required

Keep an electronic journal with a backup, retained at least 5 years; keep the signature, seal and journal under your exclusive control, and report loss or theft to police and the SOC.¹¹

Fees

What a notary public may charge the public:

• An electronic notary may charge up to $25 per electronic notarial act (fee optional).¹³

How to apply

1. Hold a valid traditional Virginia notary commission (collect it from the circuit court first).⁶
2. Buy an electronic seal and digital certificate from an electronic notary technology provider. The provider can describe its technology for your application.⁹
3. Complete the online Electronic Notary Application: give your full legal and commission names, commission number, email, a description of your technology, and certify compliance with the SOC electronic notarization standards. Sign it with your electronic signature, and pay $45 by card.⁶ soc-notary.azurewebsites.net⁶
4. The SOC reviews the application only once it has the application, the signature page with the electronic seal, and the payment. It emails you an approval or the reasons for refusal.⁶
5. If you change technology during the commission, notify the SOC electronically within 90 days.¹⁴

Apply online

soc-notary.azurewebsites.net⁶

Renewal

When it expires

The electronic commission expires on the same date as the traditional commission and must be renewed at the same time.⁹

Renewal fee

$45¹⁵ (Electronic recommission, renewed together with the traditional commission)

If it expires

After the commission expires you must not act as a notary until you have a new commission.⁹

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Notary Public (traditional notary public commission)No local license. Apply to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, then go to the circuit court clerk you chose on the application within 60 days to take the oath and collect the commission ($10 clerk fee).⁹

Electronic Notary PublicNo local license; apply online to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.⁶

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in Virginia, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Virginia is on the Virginia license lookup page.

Look up a license

notary.solutions.virginia.gov³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Code of Virginia § 47.1-3 (appointment by the Governor; commission by the Secretary)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-4 (qualifications)
• Code of Virginia §§ 47.1-5, 47.1-5.1 (application and recommission; versions effective until and from July 1, 2027)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-5.2 (course of instruction and examination, effective July 1, 2027)
• Code of Virginia §§ 47.1-8, 47.1-9 (commission sent to circuit court; oath before the clerk within 60 days)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-13 (statewide jurisdiction)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-14 (duty of care; journal, 5-year retention)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-19
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-21 (4-year term)
• Code of Virginia § 2.2-409 (A)(k), (A)(l), (B)
• Code of Virginia § 17.1-275(A)(15)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-6.1 (SOC electronic notarization standards)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-7 (electronic notary registration form; 90-day technology update notice)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-13(D) (electronic acts deemed performed in Virginia)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-14 (electronic journal, security, 5-year retention)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-19(B)
• Code of Virginia § 47.1-5.2 (course and exam, effective July 1, 2027)
• Code of Virginia § 2.2-409(A)(l), (B)

Rule changes since January 2024

• July 1, 2027: Enacted (2026 Acts cc. 364/365), in force July 1, 2027: a 4-hour Secretary-approved course plus a written exam within the 6 months before a new commission application, and a 2-hour course before each recommission. Each course includes 1 hour on real estate fraud and elder financial exploitation.²
• July 1, 2026: Journal now required for all notaries (paper acts on or after July 1, 2026; keep 5 years). Seal vendors must see proof of commission, and both the notary and the vendor keep it for 5 years.¹⁸

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
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• California
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• Delaware
• District of Columbia
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• Louisiana
• Maine
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• Massachusetts
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• Texas
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