Virginia notary commission
Virginia notary commission: apply, then claim it at the circuit court
Apply to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, online or on paper, with the $45 nonrefundable fee. Your commission goes to the circuit court you chose, usually in 2 to 3 weeks; claim it there and take the oath within 60 days, paying the clerk $10. No bond is required, and the Secretary's handbook describes no course or exam.
Who Virginia commissions
- At least 18, a legal resident of the United States, and able to read and write English.
- A Virginia resident, or regularly employed in Virginia and notarizing in connection with that job. If that job ends, you must surrender the commission.
- No felony conviction under federal, Virginia or any state's law, unless you were pardoned, the conviction was vacated through a writ of actual innocence, or your civil rights were restored.
Source: Notary Commissions, Secretary of the Commonwealth; Notary Handbook.
Application to oath in Virginia
- Apply. Online or on paper, with the $45 nonrefundable fee. Your name must match your state-issued ID exactly. A paper application must be notarized by a traditional Virginia notary, not an electronic one.
- Wait for the commission. Processing usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. The commission goes to the circuit court you chose, and you are notified.
- Claim it within 60 days. At that circuit court clerk's office, take the oath and pay the $10 clerk fee. Miss the 60 days for any reason and you reapply and pay again.
- Order your seal. It must carry your registration number and commission expiration date.
- Set up your journal. Every act is recorded and kept for five years.
Source: Notary Commissions, Secretary of the Commonwealth; Notary Handbook.
Virginia's short list of costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commission application | $45 Nonrefundable. |
| Clerk fee for the oath | $10 Paid at the circuit court. |
| Bond | None required The handbook suggests considering liability insurance. |
| Seal | Vendor price Must show your registration number and expiration date. |
| Electronic notary application | $45 Optional, after the traditional commission. |
A traditional Virginia commission costs $55 in government fees, plus your seal and journal. Electronic notaries add the $45 application, an electronic seal and a digital certificate.
Source: Notary Commissions; Electronic Notary; Notary Handbook.
VA starter kit · $29
Virginia Notary Starter Kit
Virginia's $45 application and 60-day circuit court step, the $10 and $25 fee caps, ID rules, the 5-year journal, seal rules with the registration number, electronic notary setup, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
A term that ends in your birth month
A Virginia commission lasts four years and ends on the last day of your birth month (Code of Virginia 47.1-21). You reapply every fourth year; notaries in good standing don't return to court for the oath.
After a name change, reapply under the new name. Until the new commission arrives, add "I was commissioned as ..." to every act, because your seal must match your commissioned name.
Source: Notary Handbook.
Becoming a Virginia electronic notary
Virginia allows remote notarization by electronic notaries. First hold a traditional commission picked up from the circuit court, then apply online for an electronic commission ($45, nonrefundable). Buy an electronic seal before applying; you sign electronic documents with a digital certificate, and must tell the Secretary within 90 days if you change technology.
Remote acts are treated as performed where you are physically located in Virginia. Keep a recording of each video conference act for five years. The fee is up to $25 per electronic act.
Source: Electronic Notary, Secretary of the Commonwealth; Notary Handbook; Code of Virginia 47.1-19.
Virginia fees and records
Code of Virginia 47.1-19 caps a paper acknowledgment, oath, affidavit or deposition certificate, or true copy at $10, and the same acts on an electronic document at $25. Travel away from your usual place of business is limited to actual and reasonable expenses, and only if the person paying agrees. Charging more is unlawful.
Each journal entry records the date and time, type of act, the document, each principal's printed name and address, the ID used and any fee, and is kept at least five years.
Source: Code of Virginia 47.1-19; Notary Handbook.
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Virginia notary questions
Is there a Virginia notary exam?
The Secretary of the Commonwealth's handbook describes no course or exam requirement for a traditional commission.
What if I don't claim my Virginia commission within 60 days?
You must submit a new application and pay the fee again.
When does a Virginia commission expire?
Four years later, on the last day of your birth month.
I live in Maryland but work in Virginia. Can I be a Virginia notary?
Yes, if you are regularly employed in Virginia and notarize in connection with that job. If the job ends, you surrender the commission.
Do I go back to court to renew?
Not if you're in good standing. Notaries in good standing who reapply don't return to court for the oath.
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General information from official Virginia sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the Commonwealth of Virginia.