For Notaries · Virginia
How to Become a Notary in Virginia
To become a notary in Virginia, you must be at least 18, able to read and write English, a legal U.S. resident, and a Virginia resident or employed in the state, with no unpardoned felony. No bond, class, or exam is required. File with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, pay the $45 state fee, and serve a 4-year term.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Virginia notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the state is one of the simplest in which to qualify: there is no surety bond, no required training course, and no exam. You apply online, have your signature notarized, mail your notarized application with the $45 state fee, and then claim your commission at your local circuit court (a $10 oath fee). Commissions run four years, expiring the last day of your birth month. Virginia was also the first state in the nation to authorize remote online notarization, so once commissioned you can register as an electronic notary and notarize for signers who appear by live audio-video online.
Virginia Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old; able to read and write English; a legal resident of the United States; and a resident of Virginia or regularly employed in Virginia performing notary services in connection with that employment. Applicants convicted of a felony are disqualified unless their civil rights have been restored or they received a pardon. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | No surety bond is required. Virginia does not require notaries to post a bond; errors-and-omissions insurance is optional. |
| State filing fee | $45 non-refundable state application fee (payable to the Treasurer of Virginia), plus a $10 oath-of-office fee paid to the circuit court when you claim your commission. |
| Commission term | 4 years (expires the last day of your birth month) |
| Notary education | Not required. No training course is required to become a traditional Virginia notary at this time. Note: beginning July 1, 2027, all applicants must complete a state-approved course within the six months before applying. |
| Exam | Not required. No exam is currently required to become a Virginia notary. Note: beginning July 1, 2027, first-time applicants will be required to pass an exam. |
Virginia requires no surety bond, charges a $45 state application fee, and issues a 4-year notary commission. — National Notary Association — How to Become a Notary in Virginia
How to Become a Notary in Virginia: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Be at least 18, able to read and write English, a legal U.S. resident, and a Virginia resident or regularly employed in Virginia. You must not have an unpardoned felony conviction unless your civil rights have been restored.
- 2
Complete and notarize your application
Fill out the notary application on the Secretary of the Commonwealth's portal, then take it to a Virginia notary to have your signature on Part 3 notarized. No class or exam is required at this time.
- 3
Submit your application and pay the $45 state fee
File your notarized application with the Secretary of the Commonwealth and pay the $45 non-refundable state fee (online, or by check/money order payable to the Treasurer of Virginia). Processing usually takes two to three weeks.
- 4
Claim your commission at the circuit court
Once approved, appear at your county or city circuit court within 60 days to take your oath of office and pay the $10 court fee. Miss the 60-day window and you must reapply.
- 5
Get your seal and journal, then start notarizing
Buy your official notary seal (stamp or embosser) and a journal. As of July 1, 2026, Virginia requires a chronological record for paper-based notarial acts. You're then ready to notarize across Virginia.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Virginia
Remote online notarization is available to Virginia notaries through an electronic notary (eNotary) commission. You must first hold a traditional Virginia notary commission, purchase an electronic seal from an approved provider, select your RON technology vendor, complete the eNotary application, and pay a $45 non-refundable fee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The eNotary commission lets you notarize electronic documents for remotely located signers appearing by live audio-video and expires on the same date as your traditional commission. No additional bond is required; eNotaries may charge up to $25 per electronic notarial act.
Online / remote notary application fee: $45 eNotary application fee (no added bond)
Virginia was the first U.S. state to authorize remote online notarization (electronic notary framework under Code of Virginia § 47.1-6.1 and § 47.1-7). Effective July 1, 2027, eNotary applicants must also complete an approved course.
See how RON is authorized in Virginia — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Virginia remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Virginia instead? Notarize online with a Virginia commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Virginia
Virginia allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Virginia commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in Virginia? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in Virginia?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $45 (fixed by the state, non-refundable) |
| Circuit court oath fee | $10 (fixed) |
| Surety bond | $0 (not required in Virginia) |
| Notary seal & journal | Varies by supplier (about $30–$85) |
| Electronic notary (eNotary) registration for RON | $45 state fee + electronic seal and RON platform costs |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Virginia Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Virginia caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $10 |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $25 |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Virginia compares with every other state in the full 50-state breakdown of what a notary costs.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Virginia
Commission term in Virginia
4 years (expires the last day of your birth month)
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Virginia Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Virginia notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long is a Virginia notary commission valid?
A Virginia notary commission lasts four years. It expires on the last day of the month you were born, and you must renew before it expires to keep notarizing.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Virginia?
The state application fee is $45, plus a $10 oath fee paid to the circuit court. There is no bond cost because Virginia does not require one. Adding your seal and journal typically brings the total to roughly $125–$150.
Is a class or exam required to become a Virginia notary?
No. Virginia currently requires no training course and no exam to become a notary. However, beginning July 1, 2027, all applicants must complete a state-approved course within six months of applying, and first-time applicants must pass an exam.
Who commissions notaries in Virginia?
The Secretary of the Commonwealth, in Richmond, commissions Virginia notaries and publishes the Handbook for Virginia Notaries Public. You take your oath of office at your local circuit court.
Does Virginia allow remote online notarization?
Yes. Virginia was the first state to authorize remote online notarization. After you hold a traditional commission, you can register as an electronic notary (eNotary) for a $45 fee and notarize for remotely located signers appearing by live audio-video.
Do I have to live in Virginia to be a Virginia notary?
Not necessarily. You can be commissioned if you are regularly employed in Virginia and perform notary services in connection with that employment, even if you reside in another state.
How much can a notary charge in Virginia?
Virginia's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $10, per act or signature.
How much can a Virginia notary charge for online notarization?
Virginia's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $25, against $10 in person.
When does a Virginia notary commission expire?
The Virginia commission term is: 4 years (expires the last day of your birth month). No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Virginia cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- What a loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby South Atlantic guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Notary Commissions
- Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Become a Notary
- Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth — Electronic Notary (eNotary)
- National Notary Association — How to Become a Notary in Virginia
This guide summarizes public requirements from Virginia's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.