Becoming a notary in Virginia is one of the fastest, lowest-cost ways to start a flexible professional business. The application is straightforward, the state fee is modest, and once you are commissioned you can build anything from a small side income to a full-time signing business.
This guide walks you through the Virginia process step by step — eligibility, the application, the oath deadline most people do not hear about until it is too late, your supplies, and what to do once the commission is in your hand. Rules differ by state, so if you live outside Virginia, use our national guide on how to become a notary and confirm details with your own Secretary of State.
What a Virginia Notary Actually Does
A notary public is a public official commissioned by the Commonwealth to serve as an impartial witness. In Virginia, your core duties include:
- Taking acknowledgments — verifying that a signer personally appeared and willingly signed a document
- Administering oaths and affirmations
- Taking verification of fact by oath or affirmation (jurats)
- Certifying copies of certain documents
- Performing electronic notarizations if you register as an electronic notary
Every act you perform protects the public against fraud. That responsibility is exactly why clients, title companies, and signing services pay for professional, well-trained notaries — and why treating this as a real business from day one pays off.
Step 1: Check That You Qualify
Virginia keeps eligibility simple. To apply for a Virginia notary commission, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a legal resident of the United States
- Be able to read and write English
- Live in Virginia, or live elsewhere but be regularly employed in Virginia and perform notary services as part of that job
- Have no felony conviction, unless you have received a pardon, had the conviction vacated, or had your civil rights restored
Virginia does not require a surety bond, and right now Virginia does not require an exam or a training course to receive a commission — though that changes soon, which we cover below.
Step 2: Apply Through the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Virginia notary commissions are issued through the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. You complete the application online, and the application fee is $45, payable to the Treasurer of Virginia.
One step surprises first-time applicants: your signature on the application must itself be notarized by a current Virginia notary before the application is complete. Any working notary can do this for you — bring valid ID, sign in front of them, and have your application signature notarized.
Most applications are processed in about two to four weeks. If you have not heard anything after four weeks, contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office to check your status rather than assuming the notice was lost.
Step 3: Take Your Oath at the Circuit Court — Within 60 Days
This is the step with a hard deadline, and missing it is expensive.
Once your commission is issued, you must appear at the circuit court you selected on your application, take the oath of office, and pay a $10 court fee. You have 60 days from the date your commission is issued to claim it. If you miss that 60-day window, the commission is void and you start over — new application, new $45 fee.
From Vanessa’s desk: put the oath appointment on your calendar the day your approval arrives. Every year, new notaries lose their commissions to a calendar mistake, not a capability problem.
Step 4: Get Your Seal, Journal, and Supplies
After your oath, you are legally a notary — but you are not ready to work until you have your tools:
- Notary seal/stamp: Virginia law requires your seal on notarial certificates. Order one with your name exactly as it appears on your commission.
- Notary journal: Keep a journal and record every notarial act. It is your single best protection if a notarization is ever questioned, and a journal entry is required for electronic notarizations. Professional notaries treat the journal as non-negotiable.
- Basic supplies: pens that write smoothly, a document bag, and reliable transportation if you plan to offer mobile services.
- E&O insurance (recommended): Virginia does not require errors and omissions insurance, but title companies and signing services often expect it, and it protects you personally if a claim arises. Most working notaries carry it.
Budget roughly $125–$150 total to get fully set up, including your state and court fees, a seal, and a journal.
Step 5: Know the Rules That Protect Your Commission
A commission lasts four years and expires on the last day of your birth month in the fourth year. Inside that term, a few rules matter every single day:
- Virginia caps the fee for a traditional notarial act at $10 per act. The cap for an electronic notarization is $25.
- You may charge a reasonable travel fee for mobile appointments if the signer agrees to it in advance — agree on it before you drive, every time.
- Never notarize a document in which you or your spouse is a party, is named, or has a direct financial interest. Never notarize your own signature.
- Read the Virginia Notary Handbook published by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. It is free, and it is the authority on your duties.
The Change Coming July 1, 2027 — And Why Training Matters Now
Virginia is modernizing its notary requirements. Beginning July 1, 2027, new commission applicants will need to complete an approved training course, and first-time applicants will also need to pass an examination. Recommissioning notaries will complete the approved course as well.
If you are applying now, you are ahead of that deadline — but the direction is clear: Virginia expects trained notaries. The notaries who invest in real training today are the ones title companies will keep calling tomorrow.
From Vanessa’s Desk
I have been a Virginia notary since 2014, and I now train notaries across the country. Here is what I tell every new Virginia notary: the commission is the easy part. The application takes an afternoon. What separates notaries who earn a little from notaries who build a business is everything that happens after the oath — knowing your documents cold, presenting yourself professionally, and learning how signing work actually flows. Get commissioned this month, then learn the business like it matters, because it does.
What to Do After You Are Commissioned
With your commission in hand, you have three proven directions:
- General mobile notary work — serving the public directly for wills, powers of attorney, school forms, and business documents.
- Loan signing agent work — guiding borrowers through mortgage packages for title companies and signing services, typically paid per appointment rather than per stamp. Read our guide on how much notary signing agents make.
- Remote online notarization (RON) — Virginia was one of the first states in the nation to authorize it. With an electronic notary registration, you can notarize for signers appearing by video. See our guide on how to become a remote online notary.
Ready to Build Your Notary Business the Right Way?
Your commission is the credential. Training is what turns it into income. The Ultimate Notary Training bundle walks you from brand-new notary to confident signing professional, and our ebook, How to Make $1K a Week as a Notary, shows you the business model step by step — find it in the Notary2Notary shop.
Prefer live guidance? Join us on the Notary2Notary coaching calls every Sunday and bring your questions.
Welcome to the Notary Family. Let’s get you commissioned — and then let’s get you paid.
FAQ
How long does it take to become a notary in Virginia?
Most applicants complete the process in about three to five weeks. The Secretary of the Commonwealth typically processes applications in two to four weeks, and then you take your oath at the circuit court — which you must do within 60 days of your commission being issued.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Virginia?
The state application fee is $45 and the circuit court oath fee is $10. Adding a seal and journal, most new Virginia notaries spend about $125 to $150 total to get fully set up. Optional E&O insurance is an additional cost.
Does Virginia require notary training or an exam?
Not yet. Virginia currently requires neither, but beginning July 1, 2027, new applicants must complete an approved course, and first-time applicants must pass an exam. Training is strongly recommended now so you can perform notarizations correctly and win signing work.
How long does a Virginia notary commission last?
A Virginia notary commission lasts four years and expires on the last day of your birth month in the fourth year. Renewal uses the same application process, and if you renew before your commission expires, you generally do not need to return to the circuit court for a new oath.