Obtaining A Commission
The Governor may appoint an unlimited number of notaries
Applications for your notary public appointment are available at any Clerk of the Court's office and on-line at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's website:
Download Notary Application for new & renewing commissions
The process is relatively simple:
1. Complete your application for appointment which must be notarized.
2. Mail your application with a $45 fee (payable to the Treasurer of Virginia) to:
Notary Clerk
Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
P.O. Box 1795 Richmond, VA 23218-1795
3. A notice will be sent to you when your appointment has been approved. Your Notary Commission will be sent to the Clerk of the Court where you elected to take the oath of office.
4. The notary has 60 days to claim his/her commission and take the oath of office. You will pay a $10 oath of office fee to the Clerk of the Court.
5. If the notary does not claim his/her commission within sixty days of issuance, it becomes invalid. It is the notary's responsibility for doing so within the allotted time.
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| Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |
I am confused about which county goes in the venue location when I am notarizing a document. I was told to enter my commission location but recently have heard otherwise.
All Virginia notaries are notaries at-large and have authority to perform all notarial acts anywhere within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Your VENUE which is one of the standard items required in  a notarial act refers to the place of the notarization. For example: if you are notarizing an acknowledgement in the City of Richmond, your venue is State (or Commonwealth) of Virginia; City of Richmond.
We offer an excellent class, Notary Law & Procedures, which is available in Classroom or Distance Training. We discuss Jurisdiction in detail. Remember: "Taking a Class is Your Pass to a Legal Notarization."
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| Try our COMBO package which includes our Notary Law & Procedures class, official state seal self-inking stamp and Official Notarial Record Book. View COMBO class/notary supplies |
| Notary Spotlight
Host A Notary Class At Your Home
Rachel V-T invited me to her home in Alexandria to teach a Notary Law & Procedures class to Rachel; her daughter, Victoria,; son-in-law, Collin; friend, Lisette. The small group of four applied as  new Virginia notaries at the end of class. It was fun teaching an interactive class in a home environment.
If you have a group of family/friends/neighbors who are currently notaries interested in a refresher class or who are newly commissioned or applying as notaries, then you may enjoy Hosting A Notary Law & Procedures class in the privacy of your home. Please contact Bryce Hall @ 804 240-3631 or send an email to bryce@vanotaryedu.com for dates/times/fees. Travel distance is limited to 60 miles from Colonial Beach, VA. |
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| Reminder from the Notary Division:
The current Virginia Application for Appointment As Notary Public is user friendly for new notaries as well as renewals.
- read the application thoroughly
- complete all applicable information blanks
- answer all questions;
- initial all the statements which state that you understand the information provided.
Incomplete applications will be returned. A $45 application fee (payable to the Treasurer of Virginia) must accompany the application. Please note the applicant's name on the face of the check.
The Notary Division does not send renewal notices. It is up to each notary to keep track of his/her commission renewal date and to renew prior to its expiration.
By law you must claim your commission within 60 days of its issuance. If you fail do so, you will be required to apply again and include another $45 application fee. If you have not received a notice of your commission within 4 weeks, call the Secretary of the Commonwealth at 804 692-2536 or email socmail@governor.virginia.gov. Sometimes notices are lost in the mail. Failure to receive a notice will not permit you to receive an extension after the 60 day expiration. Download Virginia Notary Application
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