How to Notarize a U.S. Document Abroad

How to Notarize a U.S. Document Abroad

A Simple Guide for Americans Living or Traveling Overseas

If you have ever lived abroad, you already know that dealing with paperwork can feel like a full-time job. And when it comes to notarizing a U.S. document while you are outside the country, most people are not even sure where to start.The good news? You actually have several options — some easy, some slow, and one surprisingly convenient.

Here is a clear breakdown of how you can notarize a U.S. document abroad without losing your mind in the process.

1. U.S. Embassy or Consulate Notarial Services

This is the option most people think of first — and sometimes the only one they know about.

Every U.S. embassy and most U.S. consulates around the world offer notarial services. A consular officer can notarize your signature, certify copies, or take oaths. It works almost like visiting a notary public in the United States.

Pros

• Official government service

• Widely recognized for international use

Cons

• Long wait times (appointments sometimes take weeks)

• Not available every day

• Not convenient if you do not live near an embassy or consulate

For Americans living far from major cities, this option is often frustrating and slow.

2. Local Foreign Notaries (Often Not Accepted for U.S. Use)

Depending on what your document is for, some people try to use a local notary in the country where they live.

For example, a notary in Germany, Mexico, or the United Arab Emirates.

Important:

Most U.S. institutions do not accept notarizations performed by foreign notaries — unless the document is for use in that foreign country, or unless you later get it authenticated or legalized.

So this method is risky unless you really understand the rules.

Pros

• Easy to access locally

• Often inexpensive

Cons

• Frequently not accepted for U.S. purposes

• May require extra steps like legalization or Apostille

• Not valid for many financial, legal, or immigration documents

If your document needs to be recognized by a U.S. court, bank, school, or agency — this route usually will not work.

3. Remote Online Notarization (RON) — The Easiest Option for Americans Abroad

This is the option most Americans abroad do not even know exists — but it is by far the easiest, fastest, and most convenient.

Remote Online Notarization (RON) is a legally valid way to notarize your U.S. documents online with a U.S. notary, no matter where you are in the world.You simply connect through a secure video call, upload your document, verify your identity, and the notary completes everything digitally.

Services like Scribble Seal make this entire process fast and fully online.

Pros

• 100 percent online — no embassy visit

• Perfect for Americans living abroad long-term

• Works for a wide range of documents

• Available almost any time

• Easy, fast, and legally valid under U.S. law

Cons

• Requires a stable internet connection

• A few document types might still require in-person notarization (depending on state laws and the receiving institution)

For most people abroad — especially those needing to notarize a power of attorney, a passport copy, affidavits, parental consent forms, or financial documents — online notarization is the smoothest solution.

Where Scribble Seal Fits In

If you prefer the online option, Scribble Seal is a U.S.-based notary and document legalization service that helps Americans all over the world notarize their documents quickly and securely.

With Scribble Seal you can:

• Notarize your documents remotely

• Get help with Apostilles or embassy legalization afterwards

• Receive support 100 percent in English

• Get clear guidance if you are unsure what your receiving institution will accept

For many of our clients abroad, it is the first time they feel the process is finally “easy.”

Which Option Should You Choose?

Here is a simple way to decide:

• If you need something official and slow is okay → Embassy or Consulate.

• If your document is only for local use in the foreign country → Local notary might work.

• If you want fast, simple, secure, and accepted in the United States → Remote Online Notarization (Scribble Seal).

Most Americans living overseas now choose online notarization simply because it saves time, money, and frustration.

Final Thoughts

Notarizing a U.S. document abroad does not have to be complicated. Whether you are handling a power of attorney, school documents, bank forms, or a simple affidavit, you now have several reliable ways to get it done.

If you want the fastest and most convenient option, online notarization through Scribble Seal is the solution that feels closest to being back home — without the travel, the wait times, or the embassy stress.