Virginia Notary FAQs

What are the requirements to become a notary in Virginia?

Notary applicants in Virginia must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a legal United States resident
• Be able to read, write and understand English
• Be a resident of Virginia or regularly employed in the state and perform notary services in connection with their employment
• Have no felony convictions in Virginia or another state — unless they have had their civil rights restored

How do I change the name on my notary commission?

You must reapply for a new commission under your new name, because your notary stamp/seal must match your commissioned name.

In the meantime, you can continue using your commission if you sign your new name and include "I was commissioned as …" on all documents you notarize.

What should I do if I have picked up my commission but my notary status still shows “pending oath?”

A pending oath status means the court has not entered your oath date.

Give the court two to three weeks to update the record. After a month, contact the court and have them enter your notary oath date in the system.

How do I update my contact information for my notary commission?

You can update your contact information using your notary online management account.

How do I resign my notary commission?

Send an email to notary@governor.virginia.gov saying that you want to resign your commission.

How much does it cost to become a notary/renew my commission?

You must pay a $45 non-refundable application fee and a $10 oath fee. You should also budget for a stamp and necessary supplies.

The application fee may be paid online by credit card at the time the application is created, or it can be paid by check or money order and mailed to your Circuit Court's office with the notarized application. If paying by check or money order, please make payment payable to Treasurer of Virginia.

What kind of supplies will I need?

Common supplies all notaries need include a stamp with their official seal, extra ink for their stamp and a notary record-keeping journal. While a record-keeping journal is not required for notaries in Virginia, the Secretary of the Commonwealth strongly recommends one.

You can find all of those items, plus other things like gold foil labels and sworn affidavit stamps, on our supplies store page.

What is a surety bond, and do I need one?

Surety bonds are not required in Virginia. They are the notary's promise to uphold the notarial law. It protects clients who may be harmed by a notary's negligent act, whether intentional or by mistake.

Notary bonds do not protect the notary. If there is a claim against the notary, then the notary is responsible for the financial repercussions up to the bond amount (which can range from $1,000 to $25,000).

Do I need errors and omissions insurance?

Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance protects the notary from liability. If a notary commits a negligent act or makes an error, an E&O insurance policy can cover losses resulting from a claim — including legal fees. Learn more about E&O insurance here.

How long is my commission valid?

In Virginia, notary commissions are valid for four (4) years.

How do I renew a Virginia notary commission?

To renew your commission, you must submit a renewal application within the 30-day window prior to your commission's expiration date.

The renewal application process is like the initial application, except eligible applicants don't need to print and mail a notarized application. You can only use the online application with an electronic signature if:

• You are applying within 30 days of your commission's expiration date.
• Your renewal name is an exact match to the name on your current commission.
• You can pay online with a credit card at the time the application is entered and signed.

Below is a basic renewal summary. For more details, visit this page.

To renew, you must:

1. Visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth application website.
2. Complete the online renewal application.
3. Pay the $45 application fee online using a credit card.
4. After you are notified that your application is accepted, contact the Circuit Court to take your oath and be sworn in. You must pay a $10 fee at that time.
5. Email us at info@notaries.com so we can create your notary stamp.

If your commission expires or your name has changed, there is no grace period. You must file as a new applicant.