How to Become a Notary Public in Virginia
A practical path from checking eligibility to taking your oath and beginning careful, lawful notary work in Virginia. This guide points you to the Commonwealth’s own application, handbook, and local court instructions.
First, check your eligibility
Basic qualifications
- Be at least 18 years old and a legal resident of the United States.
- Be able to read and write English.
- Reside in Virginia, or be regularly employed here and perform notary services in connection with that employment.
Felony history
A felony conviction can affect eligibility. The 2026 handbook describes exceptions for a pardon, a conviction vacated through a writ of actual innocence, or restored civil rights. Check the Secretary’s eligibility guidance if this applies to you.
Nonresident notaries must surrender the commission if they cease qualifying Virginia employment.
Your application pathway
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Create a state notary account.
Use the Virginia Notary Management system, answer the application questions, and choose the circuit court where you will claim your commission.
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Print and review the generated PDF.
Print the completed application. Check that the name matches your state-issued identification. If paying online, ensure the printed application’s barcode matches the invoice on your receipt.
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Pay the $45 state application fee.
Pay by credit card through the state system, or include a check or money order payable to Treasurer of Virginia. The fee is nonrefundable.
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Notarize and mail the application.
Sign Part 3 before a traditional Virginia notary. Mail the notarized application with the online payment receipt or payment to the Notary Office, P.O. Box 1795, Richmond, VA 23218. Follow the state’s full application instructions.
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Watch for approval and contact your chosen court.
The Secretary generally estimates about three weeks to process a complete application. When notified, confirm the selected circuit court has received your commission and arrange to claim it and take the oath. The clerk’s fee is $10.
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Claim the commission within 60 days.
The deadline runs from the issuance date, even if a notice is delayed or lost. Missing it invalidates the commission and requires a new application and fee.
After you are commissioned
Read the current handbook
The 2026 Virginia Notary Handbook (PDF) explains notarial acts, identification, certificates, limits, fees, and electronic notarization. Use it as your working reference before serving clients.
Obtain the right seal
Present proof of your commission to a seal vendor. Your paper-document seal must be legible and photographically reproducible, and its name must match your commission. The Secretary does not sell seals.
Keep a journal
Under the July 2026 rules, keep and protect a record of notarial acts, including the date and time, act, document description, principal’s name and address, identification method, and fee. Retain each record for at least five years. Consult the handbook for full requirements.
Practice within your authority
Confirm the signer’s identity, use the correct certificate, and record the date and Virginia city or county of the act. A notary’s role does not authorize legal advice or choosing legal forms for a client. Review the handbook’s limits before your first appointment.
A traditional commission lasts four years and expires on the last day of the notary’s birth month. Electronic notarization requires a separate electronic notary commission after the traditional one; review the state’s electronic notary guidance before pursuing it. Renewal guidance is available separately.
Claiming your commission locally
Contact the court you selected on your application after approval. Confirm that it has the commission, what identification to bring, its current hours, and payment methods before visiting.
Fredericksburg
City Circuit Court notary instructions
701 Princess Anne Street, Suite 100
(540) 372-1066
Stafford County
Circuit Court notary instructions
1300 Courthouse Road
(540) 658-8751
Spotsylvania County
Circuit Court notary instructions
9107 Judicial Center Lane
(540) 507-7609
Official resources
- Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth: Notary Commissions — current guidance, FAQs, laws, and the latest handbook.
- Virginia Notary Handbook, July 2026 (PDF) — duties, fees, journal, identity, and certificate rules.
- Notary Application Process — the state’s mailing and oath instructions.
- Notary Management system — apply, check status, and manage your record.
- Code of Virginia, Title 47.1 — governing notary law.
Reviewed September 2026. This guide is informational; follow the Secretary of the Commonwealth and your selected circuit court for current instructions. FXBG Notary is not the commissioning authority.
REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A NOTARY PUBLIC IN COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA:
To be eligible to apply for a Virginia Notary Public Commission, you must be:
- At least eighteen years old
- A legal resident of the United States
- Able to read and write the English language
- A resident of Virginia or regularly employed in the state and perform notary services in connection with their employment.*
- No person who has ever been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or the laws of any other state, qualify to be appointed and commissioned as a notary public unless such person has had their civil rights restored.
* Non-residents of Virginia may be appointed as notaries if they are regularly employed in the state and perform notary services in connection with their employment. A non-resident notary who ceases to be regularly employed in Virginia must surrender their commission.