Can You Get a U.S. Document Notarized While Overseas?
Yes, in many situations, a person located outside the United States can complete a U.S. notarization remotely with a commissioned Florida Remote Online Notary.
Florida law allows a Florida online notary who is physically located in Florida to perform an online notarization even when the signer—or principal—is located outside Florida. That can include a signer located in another U.S. state or another country.
For attorneys, title professionals, businesses, and individuals dealing with time-sensitive documents, this can eliminate the need to locate a U.S. embassy, consulate, or local notary simply because a signer happens to be overseas.
There are, however, important considerations involving identification, the receiving party's requirements, witnesses, and whether the document will eventually be used outside the United States.
How does Remote Online Notarization work when you're overseas?
Remote Online Notarization, commonly called RON, allows the signer and notary to meet through secure, live audio-video technology instead of sitting in the same physical room.
Under Florida law, an online notarization includes identity-verification requirements such as presentation of a government-issued identification credential, credential analysis and identity proofing. The session is conducted using two-way audio-video technology and recorded as required by Florida law.
In practice, the process generally looks like this:
The document is uploaded to the secure RON platform.
The signer completes the platform's required identity-verification process.
The signer and Florida online notary meet through live audio-video communication.
The document is electronically signed and notarized.
The completed electronic document is returned according to the needs of the transaction.
The notary remains physically located in Florida even though the signer may be thousands of miles away.
Does the signer have to be in Florida?
No.
This is one of the most common misconceptions about Florida Remote Online Notarization.
Florida law specifically provides that an online notary physically located in Florida may perform an online notarization regardless of whether the principal or witnesses are physically located in Florida at the time.
That can make RON particularly useful when someone is:
Traveling internationally
Living or working abroad
Stationed overseas
Selling U.S. property from another country
Handling business matters while traveling
Unable to attend an attorney's office or closing in person
One of several signers located in different places
Geography doesn't necessarily have to stop the transaction.
Can an international seller sign U.S. real estate documents remotely?
Potentially, yes.
Remote Online Notarization can be especially helpful in real estate transactions involving sellers who are traveling, living abroad, or located in a different state.
I've handled remote transactions where the challenge isn't the document itself—it's coordinating people in different locations, time zones and schedules while keeping the signing moving.
The important distinction is that the receiving party ultimately determines what it will accept.
For a real estate transaction, that may mean confirming RON acceptance with the title company, closing agent, lender, attorney, county recorder or other party responsible for the transaction before the signing is scheduled.
That small step can prevent a very expensive headache later.
What identification does an international signer need?
International signers are where choosing the right RON platform becomes particularly important.
Florida's online-notarization law requires the notary to establish identity using prescribed identity-verification procedures. If the required identity verification cannot be completed, the online notarization cannot proceed under that method.
Not every signer—and not every identification document—works equally well with every RON platform.
That's why I ask international clients about their location and identification before the appointment whenever possible.
A five-minute conversation beforehand is considerably better than discovering during a time-sensitive signing that the technology can't authenticate the signer.
Can multiple people sign remotely from different locations?
Often, yes.
One of my favorite things about RON is that “everyone needs to get into the same room” doesn't necessarily have to be part of the logistics anymore.
Depending on the documents and transaction requirements, signers may participate from different locations.
This can be particularly useful for:
Real estate transactions
Business agreements
Family or estate-related documents
Multi-owner transactions
Documents involving parties living in different states
Transactions involving U.S. and international signers
For complicated transactions, I recommend identifying every signer, their physical location, required witnesses and the deadline before scheduling.
That's where an experienced remote notary becomes more than someone placing a digital stamp on a page.
Can witnesses participate remotely?
Florida law permits remote witnessing of certain electronic records when statutory requirements are satisfied. A witness may be physically present with the principal or participate remotely through the audio-video technology used for the online notarization. Remote witnesses are subject to additional identity and location requirements.
However, document-specific rules matter.
Certain estate-planning documents, for example, have additional requirements and safeguards. Florida law separately addresses execution of electronic wills and related instruments.
If an attorney prepared your document, I recommend confirming the intended execution and witness requirements with that attorney before the notarization.
A notary verifies and performs the requested notarial act; a notary does not determine what legal execution method your document requires.
That distinction matters.
Is online notarization the same thing as an apostille?
No—and this causes a LOT of confusion.
Notarization and apostille authentication are two separate processes.
A notarization generally relates to the execution of a document and the notarial act performed by the notary.
An apostille authenticates the signature/capacity of the public official associated with a public document for use in another country participating in the Hague Apostille Convention. The Florida Secretary of State is Florida's competent authority for issuing apostilles on qualifying Florida documents.
So you may have a situation that involves:
Document → Notarization → Apostille → International destination
But not every notarized document needs an apostille.
The destination and receiving authority matter.
What if my document will be used in another country?
Ask the organization receiving it before you notarize it.
Specifically, find out:
What type of notarization do you require?
Will you accept a Remote Online Notarization?
Does the document require an apostille or another form of authentication?
Are there specific execution, witness or original-document requirements?
The receiving authority is in the best position to tell you what it requires.
I can facilitate the notarization and assist with Florida apostille processing when appropriate, but I don't determine the legal requirements of the receiving country or agency.
Remote notarization shouldn't feel complicated just because you're far away
The irony of international document work is that sometimes the hardest part isn't the document.
It's figuring out who needs to sign, where everyone is located, what identification they have, whether witnesses are required, what the receiving party will accept, and how quickly everything needs to happen.
That's the part I enjoy solving.
DM Notary Solutions provides Florida Remote Online Notarization for signers across the United States and internationally, including individuals, attorneys, title and escrow professionals, businesses and private clients.
Whether you're across Tampa Bay or across the Atlantic, the goal is the same:
Make the signing secure, straightforward and easy to complete.
Need to notarize a U.S. document while overseas?
Contact DM Notary Solutions with your document type, current location, deadline and number of signers. I'll help determine whether Remote Online Notarization is a practical option for your signing.
DM Notary Solutions provides notarial and document facilitation services and does not provide legal advice. Acceptance and execution requirements should be confirmed with the attorney, agency or organization receiving the document.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can a Florida online notary notarize for someone outside the United States?
Yes. Florida law allows a Florida online notary who is physically located in Florida to perform an online notarization even when the principal is outside Florida, including internationally, provided the applicable RON requirements can be satisfied.
Do I have to be a Florida resident to use a Florida Remote Online Notary?
No. The principal does not have to be physically located in Florida during a Florida online notarization.
Can I use Remote Online Notarization while traveling?
Potentially, yes. Your physical location, identification, document requirements and receiving party's acceptance should be considered before scheduling.
Can an international seller use RON for a Florida real estate closing?
Potentially. RON can be used in many real estate transactions, but acceptance and execution requirements should be confirmed with the title company, attorney, lender or other receiving party.
Is an apostille included with online notarization?
No. Notarization and apostille authentication are separate processes. Florida apostilles are issued by the Florida Secretary of State for qualifying Florida documents.
Can several signers in different countries join the same signing?
Depending on the document, platform, signers' ability to satisfy identity requirements and receiving party's requirements, remote execution may allow parties in different locations to participate.
