How Non-U.S. Residents Can Notarize American Documents Online (Step-by-Step Guide)
If you don’t live in the United States, getting a U.S. document notarized can feel like it should be complicated — which country’s rules apply, what ID will be accepted, whether a video call even counts. In practice, it’s more straightforward than most people expect. This guide walks through exactly what happens, step by step, from the moment you send us your document to the moment you have a notarized copy in hand. If you want the bigger picture first, our guide to remote online notarization for international clients covers the general concept — this article is the practical, “what do I actually do” follow-up.
Who This Guide Is For
This is written for people living outside the U.S. who need to sign and notarize an American document — expats handling affairs back home, foreign buyers purchasing U.S. property, dual nationals managing a family member’s estate, business owners forming or running a U.S. entity from abroad, and anyone else who has run into the same wall: the document has to be notarized, but you’re not in the U.S. to do it in person.
If any of that sounds like your situation, the process below is the same one we walk international clients through every week.
Step 1 — Check Whether Your Document Is a Good Fit
Before anything else, we look at the document itself. Many of the documents international clients bring to us are a good fit for a remote session — powers of attorney, affidavits, real estate paperwork, and business documents are common examples. Some documents have specific requirements that are worth checking before you schedule anything.
Rather than guess based on a general list, the fastest path is to send us your document directly and we’ll tell you clearly whether it’s ready to go or whether something needs to happen first.
Step 2 — Prepare Your Identity Documents
This is usually the step people have the most questions about, so it’s worth walking through in a bit more detail.
Which ID you’ll need. A valid, unexpired foreign passport is commonly used as identification for a remote session. If you hold more than one form of ID, it’s worth mentioning that when you contact us, since we can tell you in advance which one will work best for your situation.
How identity verification generally works. Before your session, you’ll go through a verification step designed to confirm you are who you say you are. This typically involves photographing your ID and answering a short verification prompt. The exact process can vary depending on your document and session, which is exactly why we walk you through it in advance rather than leaving you to figure it out on the day.
What if you don’t have a U.S. credit history or Social Security number? This trips people up more than almost anything else, and it shouldn’t — it’s an extremely common situation for our international clients, and it doesn’t stop the process. It does mean the verification step may look a little different than it would for a U.S. resident, so let us know ahead of time and we’ll make sure you’re set up correctly before your session.
Step 3 — Upload and Prepare the Document
Once your document and ID are ready, you’ll typically upload the document electronically ahead of your session. If you’re working from a paper original, there are ways to bring that into the process as well — again, something to flag with us in advance rather than during the call.
If more than one person needs to sign — a spouse, a business partner, a co-owner — let us know how many signers are involved and where each of them is located. Multiple signers in different countries or time zones is something we handle regularly; it just helps to know about it ahead of time so we can schedule accordingly.
Step 4 — Join the Video Session From Any Country
On the day of your session, you’ll join a live video call with a notary, using a computer or smartphone with a working camera and a stable internet connection. The session itself is generally short and straightforward: the notary confirms your identity, witnesses you signing the document, and completes the notarization.
Because we work with clients across many countries, we schedule around your time zone rather than asking you to work around ours. If you have a tight deadline — a closing date, a filing deadline, a document that needs to move quickly — mention that when you reach out, and we’ll do what we can to accommodate it.
Step 5 — Receive Your Notarized Document
Once the session is complete, you’ll receive your notarized document electronically. From there, it’s yours to use, send, or submit as needed for whatever brought you to us in the first place.
Common Questions International Signers Ask
A few questions come up often enough that they’re worth addressing directly.
“My passport is expiring soon — is that a problem?” It can be, depending on how soon. Let us know your passport’s expiration date when you reach out, and we’ll tell you whether it’s an issue for your specific session.
“What if my internet connection isn’t great?” A stable connection matters more than a fast one. If you’re not sure your connection will hold up, mention it in advance and we can talk through options.
“The time difference is significant — will that be a problem?” Generally, no. We work with clients across a wide range of time zones and will find a session time that’s reasonable for you.
“I’m honestly not sure if my document or situation qualifies.” That’s a very normal place to start. Reach out and tell us what you’re working with, and we’ll give you a straight answer before you commit to anything.
Preguntas frecuentes
Do I need to travel to the U.S. to have a document notarized?
Generally, no — that’s the point of a remote session. In many cases, you can complete the entire process from wherever you’re currently located. Contact us to confirm this applies to your specific document.
What if I don’t have a U.S. driver’s license or Social Security number?
That’s common among our international clients and doesn’t stop the process. Identity verification is handled differently in that case — let us know in advance so we can prepare accordingly.
Can more than one person sign the same document remotely, from different countries?
Often, yes. Let us know how many signers are involved and where each is located, and we’ll help coordinate the scheduling.
How far in advance should I start this process?
As soon as you know you’ll need a document notarized, especially if there’s a deadline involved. Starting early gives us time to confirm your document is ready and to schedule around your time zone.
What do I actually receive at the end of the process?
A notarized version of your document, delivered electronically once your session is complete.
Una nota antes de continuar
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Notarization requirements, document acceptance, and the specific steps involved can vary by document, country, and individual circumstances. Nothing in this content creates an attorney-client relationship or any other professional relationship, and no guarantee is made that a document notarized through this process will be accepted by any particular third party, court, agency, or foreign authority.Before relying on this information for an actual transaction, filing, or legal matter, contáctenos directamente para revisar su documento y circunstancias específicas. Evaluaremos su caso individualmente y le confirmaremos el proceso adecuado antes de que proceda.