Can Non-U.S. Citizens Notarize Documents Online?

A non-U.S. citizen may be able to use remote online notarization for an eligible U.S. document. Citizenship is usually not the only issue. The bigger questions are whether the signer can verify identity, whether the platform accepts the signer’s ID, whether the document is eligible, and whether the receiving party accepts remote online notarization.

This can be useful for foreign nationals, visa holders, international students, business owners, property owners, spouses, family members, investors, and travelers who need to sign U.S. documents.

iRemoteNotary's international workflow uses credential analysis and biometric facial verification. International signers present acceptable government-issued identification, complete credential analysis, and complete biometric verification before the notarization can proceed.

Biometric verification does not mean every signer, passport, or document will be approved. The identification must pass credential analysis, the signer must complete biometric verification, the document must be eligible, and the receiving party must accept the online notarized document.

Accepted ID depends on the platform, notary rules, document requirements, and identity verification process.

A non-U.S. citizen may be asked to present a valid physical government-issued ID, such as:

• A foreign passport

• A U.S. state ID or driver’s license, if available

• A U.S. permanent resident card, if accepted by the platform

• A government-issued credential accepted by the remote online notarization platform

• Other government-issued credentials that pass credential analysis

The ID must usually be current, physical, readable, and capable of passing credential analysis. Photos, scans, photocopies, screenshots, expired IDs, or damaged IDs may not be accepted.

iRemoteNotary's international biometric workflow does not use knowledge-based authentication, Social Security number verification, or U.S. credit-history questions. International signers complete credential analysis and biometric facial verification instead.

A current foreign passport may be accepted for an international signer, subject to successful credential analysis and biometric identity verification.

However, not every passport will pass credential analysis. Some passports may not scan correctly, may lack supported security features, or may not pass credential analysis. The signer should confirm ID acceptance before booking.

Read our guide to using a foreign passport for online notarization of a U.S. document.

No. iRemoteNotary's international biometric identity-verification workflow does not require a Social Security number.

See our guide for international signers without a U.S. Social Security number.

Non-U.S. citizens may request online notarization for eligible U.S. documents such as:

• Affidavits

• Powers of attorney

• Real estate-related documents

• Business documents

• Authorization forms

• Consent forms

• Corporate documents

• School or employment forms

• U.S. education documents such as college financial-support or sponsorship affidavits when the institution requires notarization — see international student financial-support affidavit notarization.

• U.S. documents needed for international use

Not every document is eligible. Some documents may require witnesses, wet-ink signatures, consular notarization, apostille, recording-office acceptance, or legal review.

A non-U.S. citizen outside the United States may still be able to complete a remote online notarization for an eligible U.S. document, depending on platform rules, identity verification, document requirements, and recipient acceptance.

International signers should confirm:

• The platform can verify their ID

• The platform supports credential analysis or biometric verification when needed

• Their internet connection supports live video

• The document is eligible

• The receiving party accepts online notarization

• Any apostille, authentication, or consular process is not required instead

• Time zone scheduling works for the session

If the document will be used outside the United States, recipient acceptance is especially important.

A non-U.S. citizen may complete a proper online notarization, but the document can still be rejected if the recipient does not accept remote online notarization.

Before booking, ask the receiving party:

“Will you accept this U.S. document if it is notarized online by a commissioned remote online notary?”

Then ask whether they require:

• Wet ink

• Witnesses

• A specific certificate

• Original paper documents

• Apostille or authentication

• Embassy or consulate notarization

• A particular platform

• A specific state notary

A notary cannot:

• Give legal advice

• Provide immigration advice

• Tell the signer whether the document is legally sufficient

• Decide whether the receiving party must accept the document

• Choose the notarial act if the document is unclear

• Guarantee identity verification approval

• Guarantee foreign passport approval

• Guarantee biometric verification approval

• Guarantee apostille or consular acceptance

• Draft or modify the document

The notary can perform the notarial act when the signer, ID, document, platform, and notary requirements are satisfied.

Before booking, the signer should have:

• The unsigned document

• A valid physical ID accepted by the platform

• A device with camera and microphone

• A stable internet connection

• The correct signer name

• Any required witnesses

• Recipient approval for online notarization

• Any apostille or international-use instructions

• A quiet location for the live session

If the signer is unsure whether their ID will work, they should ask before scheduling.

International online notary sessions start at $50: a $25 base online notary session plus a $25 International Service Fee for signers located outside the United States. Additional signers ($10 each), additional seals ($15 each), and iRemoteNotary-provided witness service ($15 per witness) are charged separately when applicable.