How to Become a Notary in Virginia

Not required.

No training is required.

No exam is required

No exam is required.

No background check is required

Virginia notaries are not required to post a bond in order to obtain their commission. All notaries may wish to consider liability insurance for their own protection. Notaries who perform notarial duties in connection with their employment should consult their employer to determine whether they are covered, or coupd be covered, by the employer’s policy

No bond is required

Answer the interview questions found on the application Print the pdf application generated at the end of the online application Pay the application fee. You can pay by credit card at the end of the application. Be sure you are able to print the pdf application before paying online. The barcode number on your printed application must match the invoice number found on your receipt to ensure proper payment on your account. If you do not pay by credit card, you may pay the application fee by check or money order. Have your signature properly notarized by a Virginia Notary on Part 3 of your printed application. This must be done prior to mailing your application to our office for processing. Mail the completed, notarized application along with application fee– payment receipt or check/money order payment of $45 (payable to Treasurer of Virginia) to the Notary Office ( P.O. Box 1795, Richmond, Virginia 23218) Contact the Circuit Court to take your oath and be sworn in. Our office will send you notification to the preferred address (home, business, email) selected by you on your application to inform you that your application has been approved. At that time, you will need to contact the Circuit Court you selected on your application to verify that they have received your commission and to make arrangements to take the oath. There is a $10 fee paid at that time to the court.

Yes, application and a fee required

Our office does not issue notary supplies (stamp/seal). Please do an internet search to locate notary a supply company to assit with ordering notary supplies.

Stamp Required

Each notary commission is sent to the city or County Circuit Court in which the applicant has elected to take the oath of office. A notice is sent to the preferred mailing address indicated by the applicant on their application. When an e-mail address is indicated on the application as the preferred mailing address, only an e-mail notice will be sent. It is the applicant’s responsibility to go to the circuit court to clain hos or her commission and take the oath of office. At that time, the applicant will be required to pay a fee of $10 to the clerk. If a notary commission is not claimed within sixty days from issuance, it becomes invalid. Failure to claim the commission within sixty days is not an excused for ANY REASON, including non-receipt of the notice. Thereafter, if the applicant wished to be a notary, a new application and a new fee must be submitted.

Yes, an Oath is required