Virginia Notary Requirements
ACCEPTABLE IDs FOR A VIRGINIA NOTARY
Va. Code Ann. § 47.1-2
Va. Code Ann. § 47.1-2 ('Satisfactory evidence of identity' definition). Satisfactory evidence of identity means identification of an individual based on (i) examination of one or more of the following unexpired documents bearing a photographic image of the individual's face and signature: a United States Passport Book, a United States Passport Card, a certificate of United States citizenship, a certificate of naturalization, a foreign passport, an alien registration card with photograph, a state issued driver's license or a state issued identification card or a United States military card or (ii) the oath or affirmation of one credible witness unaffected by the document or transaction who is personally known to the notary and who personally knows the individual or of two credible witnesses unaffected by the document or transaction who each personally knows the individual and shows to the notary documentary identification as described in clause (i). In the case of an individual who resides in an assisted living facility, as defined in § 63.2-100, or a nursing home, licensed by the State Department of Health pursuant to Article 1 (§ 32.1-123 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 32.1 or exempt from licensure pursuant to § 32.1-124, an expired United States Passport Book, expired United States Passport Card, expired foreign passport, or expired state issued driver's license or state issued identification card may also be used for identification of such individual, provided that the expiration of such document occurred within five years of the date of use for identification purposes pursuant to this title.
STATE IDs
Virginia requires one of the specific documents listed below. Each must bear a photograph and signature.
*5-year allowance: Signer resides in an assisted living facility (Va. Code § 63.2-100) or a nursing home licensed by the State Department of Health (Va. Code Title 32.1 Ch. 5 Article 1) or exempt from licensure per § 32.1-124.
**Virginia does not issue this credential.
FEDERAL IDs
Virginia requires one of the specific documents listed below. Each must bear a photograph and signature.
*5-year allowance: Signer resides in an assisted living facility (Va. Code § 63.2-100) or a nursing home licensed by the State Department of Health (Va. Code Title 32.1 Ch. 5 Article 1) or exempt from licensure per § 32.1-124.
**With photograph
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT IDs
Virginia requires one of the specific documents listed below. Each must bear a photograph and signature.
INMATE IDs
Virginia does not accept inmate identification.
FOREIGN IDs
Virginia accepts foreign identification only as specifically listed below.
*5-year allowance: Signer resides in an assisted living facility (Va. Code § 63.2-100) or a nursing home licensed by the State Department of Health (Va. Code Title 32.1 Ch. 5 Article 1) or exempt from licensure per § 32.1-124.
CREDIBLE WITNESS(ES)
Virginia (Va. Code 47.1-2, definition of "Satisfactory evidence of identity") includes the oath or affirmation of a credible witness who personally knows the principal and is personally known to the notary or otherwise identified; the oath is the act. (Title 47.1, Virginia Notary Act).
PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE
*Personal knowledge permitted
OTHER IDs
Journal Rules
No traditional journal statute
NO TRADITIONAL JOURNAL MANDATE.
- Journal required?
- ✗
- Bound paper journal required?
- ✗
- Wet signature required in journal?
- ✗
- Wet thumbprint required?
- ✗
- Digital journal allowed?
- ✓
- Journal format
- Optional
Notary Fees
Va. Code Ann. § 47.1-19
Va. Code Ann. § 47.1-19 (FEES): A. A notary may, for taking and certifying the acknowledgment of any writing, or administering and certifying an oath, or certifying affidavits and depositions of witnesses, or certifying that a copy of a document is a true copy thereof, charge a fee up to $10. C. Any person appointed as a member of an electoral board or a general registrar shall be prohibited from collecting any fee as a notary during the time of such appointment.
- Acknowledgment (max)
- $10.00
- Jurat (max)
- $10.00
- Additional signature (max)
- $10.00
- Travel fee capped?
- ✗
- Travel fee disclosure required?
- ✓
Notarial Acts
*Certified copy: May not certify a copy of a document in the custody of a court (Va. Code 47.1-12(iii)).
Certificate Language
Bracketed {tokens} are placeholders the app fills in (venue, names, dates) when it generates a certificate.
Source Documents
Full statute and (where published) the commissioning authority’s notary handbook. Download links appear here once the documents table is populated.
📄 Full notary statute (coming soon) 📄 Notary handbook (coming soon)
