Eligible U.S.-connected documents can often be notarized online while the signer is abroad through a secure live video session, supported identification, and biometric identity verification.
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed July 29, 2026
Eligible U.S.-connected documents can often be notarized online while the signer is abroad. The signer joins a secure live video session, presents an accepted government ID, completes identity verification, and signs electronically before a properly commissioned remote online notary. Confirm document-specific requirements with the receiving organization before the session.
Being outside the United States does not always mean you must wait for a U.S. embassy appointment or travel to a local notary. For many eligible U.S.-connected documents, a signer abroad may be able to complete the notarization through a secure remote online notarization session.
The signer and notary meet by live audio-video communication. The signer presents an accepted government-issued identification document, completes identity verification, signs electronically, and receives the completed notarized document electronically.
Remote online notarization is not appropriate for every document or transaction. The receiving organization should confirm that it will accept the document, electronic signatures, and the notarial certificate before the session.
Online notarization may be an option when the document is connected to a U.S. transaction, property, court, agency, business, school, financial institution, family matter, or other U.S. purpose and the receiving organization accepts remote online notarization.
When the document is Form DS-3053 for a child's U.S. passport, follow the dedicated DS-3053 child passport consent guide for embassy-country rules, printed-copy submission, and 90-day timing.
A properly commissioned online notary may be able to perform an online notarization when the signer or witnesses are located elsewhere, including abroad, when the notary follows the law governing the notary's commission and the requirements of the approved platform.
The location of the signer does not remove document-specific requirements. A power of attorney, deed, court filing, estate document, real estate document, or government form may require particular witnesses, certificates, language, originals, recordability, or additional authentication.
Read our guide to witnesses joining an online notary session from different countries.
Ask the organization that will receive the document whether it accepts remote online notarization and electronic signatures. Also confirm whether witnesses, a particular notarial certificate, an original paper document, an apostille, an authentication certificate, or recording is required.
Provide the complete unsigned document for review before the session. The document should contain the correct names, dates, capacities, and transaction information before notarization. A notary cannot prepare legal language, select a notarial act for a signer, or decide whether a document is legally sufficient.
International signers commonly use a current passport. A foreign-government passport may be usable for an online notarization when the signer is outside the United States, subject to the law governing the commissioned notary, the platform's credential-analysis support, and successful identity verification.
The identification must be clear, current, and supported by the remote online notarization platform used for the session. Additional identification or eligibility checks may apply.
The signer completes the identity-verification process required by the RON platform and the law governing the commissioned notary. For iRemoteNotary's international workflow, this may include credential analysis and biometric identity verification.
Credential analysis examines the identification document for indicators of authenticity. Biometric verification may compare the signer's live image with the photograph on the identification document. The exact process depends on the approved platform, commissioned notary, signer, and identification document.
The signer joins the session from a supported device with a camera, microphone, reliable internet connection, and access to email. A laptop, desktop computer, or tablet generally provides a more reliable signing experience than a phone.
During the session, the notary confirms identity, communicates with the signer, witnesses or acknowledges the signature as required, and completes the electronic notarial certificate.
After the session, the completed electronic document is delivered securely. Review it promptly and follow the receiving organization's instructions for submission, recording, apostille, authentication, or other next steps.
Submit the unsigned document, signer information, witness needs, and preferred session time through the secure request form.
Start Your Online Notary RequestEligibility depends on the document and receiving organization, but international signers often request online notarization for:
Some documents require witnesses, special certificates, original paper delivery, recording, or legal review. Certain documents may be excluded from online execution under applicable law or the receiving organization's rules. For affidavits and sworn statements, see whether a U.S. online notary can notarize an affidavit for someone overseas. For business and corporate documents, see whether a U.S. business document can be notarized online when the signer is overseas.
A current passport is generally the most practical identification for a signer located outside the United States. A supported U.S. driver license or state identification card may also be usable when current and accepted by the platform.
A foreign-government passport may be accepted for an eligible principal located outside the United States, subject to the law governing the commissioned notary, credential analysis, platform support, and successful identity verification.
Learn when a foreign passport may be used for online notarization of a U.S. document.
The signer should provide the exact identification intended for the session when scheduling. Expired, damaged, unclear, unsupported, or inconsistent identification may prevent the notarization from proceeding.
A U.S. embassy or consulate remains an important option, but it is not the only possible path for every eligible U.S. document.
| Topic | Remote Online Notary | U.S. Embassy or Consulate |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Live online audio-video session | In-person appearance |
| Location | Signer may participate from an eligible location abroad | Signer travels to the embassy or consulate |
| Appointment | Based on online-notary availability | Embassy or consulate appointment procedures |
| Identity | Supported government ID, credential analysis, and identity verification | Identity and document verified in person |
| Delivery | Completed electronic document | Consular notarial service and seal |
| Fee | International sessions start at $50: a $25 base session plus a $25 International Service Fee; additional services may apply | U.S. Department of State states that consular notarial services generally cost $50 per consular seal |
| Remote option | Yes, for eligible documents and signers | The State Department states that embassies and consulates do not offer remote or virtual notarial services |
The best option depends on the document, receiving organization, signer's location, timing, identification, commissioned notary, and any authentication or apostille requirement.
No. Notarization and apostille or authentication are separate steps.
A notarization confirms the performance of a notarial act, such as acknowledging a signature or administering an oath. An apostille or authentication certificate verifies the authority of the official whose signature and seal appear on the document for use in another country.
The destination country and the type of document determine whether an apostille or authentication is required. The receiving organization should identify the required process before the document is notarized because document format, certificate wording, county certification, state authentication, or federal authentication requirements may affect the next steps. See also whether a U.S. online notarization will be accepted in another country.
Remote online notarization does not guarantee that a document will be accepted, recorded, filed, enforced, or recognized for every purpose.
Before the session, confirm:
iRemoteNotary cannot provide legal advice or determine whether a document is legally sufficient. Contact an attorney or the receiving organization when legal interpretation or document preparation is required. If you have not yet signed, see when remote online notarization may not be the right execution method for an international signer.
iRemoteNotary provides centralized intake and secure online-session coordination for eligible customers across the United States and for many signers located abroad.
International workflows are built around supported identification, credential analysis, biometric identity verification, live communication, clear pricing, and properly commissioned remote online notaries using approved platforms.
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.
Explore the international online notary hub, review acceptable identification for online notarization, learn about international identity verification, and read guides for power of attorney online notarization, minor travel consent online notarization, and notarizing U.S. real estate documents abroad. Learn more About iRemoteNotary and our service standards.
A properly commissioned online notary may be able to perform an online notarization when the signer is abroad if the notary follows the law governing the commission, the approved platform's requirements, and all document-specific rules. The receiving organization should confirm acceptance before the session.
Not necessarily. iRemoteNotary's international workflow may use supported identification, credential analysis, and biometric identity verification rather than relying on U.S.-based knowledge questions. Eligibility depends on the platform, commissioned notary, identification document, and successful verification.
A current foreign-government passport may be usable for an eligible signer located outside the United States, subject to the law governing the commissioned notary, credential analysis, platform support, and successful identity verification.
No single notarization method is guaranteed to be accepted for every document or purpose. Acceptance can depend on the receiving organization, document type, transaction, jurisdiction, electronic-signature rules, recording requirements, and any apostille or authentication process.
Not always. A U.S. embassy or consulate is one option, but an eligible U.S.-connected document may be completed through remote online notarization when the receiving organization accepts it. Embassy and consulate services require in-person appearance and do not offer remote notarial sessions.
Witnesses may be able to join remotely when the document, applicable law, platform, commissioned notary, and receiving organization allow it. Each witness must meet identity and participation requirements. Some documents require witnesses to be physically present or satisfy additional rules.
The notary session and an apostille are separate services and legal steps. iRemoteNotary coordinates eligible notarizations. The customer should confirm the required apostille or authentication process with the receiving organization and the appropriate state or federal authority.
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
Florida Statutes, Chapter 117, Part II — Online Notarizations
Florida Legislature
Accessed July 29, 2026
Florida Statutes § 117.265 — Online Notarization Procedures
Florida Legislature
Accessed July 29, 2026
Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations
Accessed July 29, 2026
Notarial and Authentication Services at U.S. Embassies and Consulates
U.S. Department of State
Accessed July 29, 2026
About the Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
Accessed July 29, 2026
Upload the unsigned document and provide the signer's location, identification type, witness needs, and preferred session time. iRemoteNotary will review the request and provide the next steps for an eligible session.