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Notarizations for Signers Located Outside The Country

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Are you located outside of the country but need a document notarized? Fortunately, most states allow online notaries to perform online notarizations for signers outside the United States. For documents to be used in the United States, remote online notarization offers a convenient way to have your documents notarized.
Whether you are on vacation, living abroad, or your job took you to another country, remote online notarization may help you notarize important documents. Before you sign up for an online notarization session, ensure a notary can help you with your document and check that you have the requisite technology and documents.
Who Can Use Remote Online Notarizations When Abroad?
Nothing is worse than being abroad and realizing you have documents needing notarization. While other countries have notaries, foreign notaries cannot notarize documents for use in the United States.
Even when you are on vacation, important life events happen. You may receive an urgent phone call or email saying a document needs to be notarized for a business deal, a real estate closing, or to meet a legal deadline. There is no reason being on a deserved vacation should stop you from getting the deal done or meeting the timeline.
Living out of the country may result in you missing a lot of important events or dates back home. However, living abroad should not stop you from being able to have important documents notarized.
Embassies and military bases typically have a U.S.-licensed notary who can notarize a signers document. However, this isn't always as great as it seems. Embassies often have long waits to get an appointment, and you are one international crisis away from the embassy canceling appointments or closing for the day. By their nature, military bases are difficult for regular civilians to access and are also at risk of being completely closed off due to an international emergency. This all adds up to having unreliable options for documents to be notarized.
One reliable option for those with important documents needing to be notarized promptly is remote online notarizations. Anybody with a computer, tablet, or smartphone can have their documents notarized in minutes using Notarize Genie's online notary service.
Can Notaries Be Located Outside of the Country?
No! Almost all states require the Notary to be located in the state where the document needs to be notarized. Failure of the Notary to be located in these states could make the document unenforceable. As such, the signer needs to check the state law concerning notary locations. Second, the signer should confirm the Notary’s location with the Notary when the online notarization session begins.
If the Notary fails to confirm their location or states they are outside the state, signers should immediately terminate their session and connect with a new notary.
What Do you Need For Online Notarization When You Are Abroad?
Between having the correct technology and bringing the correct items to a notarization session, there are several necessities for the signer to have. In addition to having an internet connection, the signer must have the proper electronic device and the necessary documents.
The most important aspect of effectuating a remote online notarization is to have a computer, tablet, or telephone. Your electronic device must be able to establish an audio-video connection with the Notary. As such, your device must have a functioning camera, speaker, and microphone capability.
Once you satisfy the electronic requirements, the signer must have a copy of the document they wish to have notarized. Before the notarization session begins, the signer will send the document to the online Notary.
Once the session starts, the signer must verify their identity, which will require showing government-issued identification. This requirement should be easy for signers outside the country as they need a passport to travel, or a government identification card if they are part of the military or other government agency. Acceptable types of signer identification include:
- 1. Passports
- 2. Drivers License
- 3. Enhanced or Real Driver's License
- 4. Government Identification Card
It is important to note there are limitations on documents that can be notarized while you are abroad. Check with a notary before starting the session to ensure they can notarize your document.
What Documents Can Be Notarized Online When Signers Are Abroad
The signer must understand they are limited in which documents may be notarized online when they are abroad. Signers may not use online notarizations for documents to be used in foreign countries. Only documents for use inside the united states may be notarized online while the signer is abroad.
Additionally, while the signer's job or business may bring them abroad, if the document is for their work, it is possible to have it notarized online. When the document is for a U.S.-based company, their workers can have their documents notarized by an online notary.
Is Remote Online Notarization Secure For Signers Abroad
Similar to signers located in the United States, many signers abroad worry online notarization is not safe or secure. However, signers are often surprised to learn online notarization is more secure than in-person notarizations.
With the help of technology, online notarizations verify the signer's identity, connect the Notary and signer, and store the signer's information. An audit trail of the notarization session and the Notary's electronic journal evidence the validity of an online notarization. From verifying your identity to storing your information, Notarize Genie provides a secure notarization experience.
By following these steps, signers can trust their document is validly notarized:
- 1. The signer uploads a copy of their document(s) needing to be notarized, typically in PDF format.
- 2. The signer's identity is checked utilizing Dynamic Knowledge Based Authentication from a company like IDology, then verifying the signer's identification documents with credential analysis processing before passing the signer along to the Remote Online Notary Public remotely for a final review of their ID during the notarization.
- 3. The Notary and signer communicate using audiovisual technology that is recorded and stored in the Notary's journal for no less than ten (10) years.
- 4. Once the Notary verifies the signer's identity, both the signer and Notary sign the document, and the Notary attaches their seal.
- 5. The RON platform automatically records all required information within the Notary's journal for the Notary and retains the journal entry and audio and video recording of the session for ten (10) years.
- 6.The RON platform will then automatically return the notarized document to the signer.
When done properly, online notarizations are more secure than other methods of notarization. This makes picking a trusted online notarization provider like Notarize Genie so important.
Signers Abroad Can Trust Notarize Genie With Their Document Notarization Needs
Are you traveling or living abroad and have a document needing notarization? Notarize Genie has the solution to prevent headaches caused by searching for a nearby military base or waiting forever at an embassy. Signers can check us out by visiting our website at www.notarizegenie.com or giving us a call at (800) 381-8240.