Remote Notary Services UK: Notarisation by Video Call, Anywhere in the World
Getting a document notarised no longer has to mean travelling to a London office, or worse, flying back to the UK from overseas. Notaries Public in England and Wales are permitted to issue notarial acts using video conferencing technology where the client is not in the same physical location — meaning you don't need to be in the UK at all to have a document notarised by us.
Staple Inn Notaries specialises in remote notary services in England and Wales. Remote notarisation isn't an occasional add-on to our practice — it's a core specialism we've built our process around, allowing us to serve clients genuinely anywhere in the world.
What Is Remote Notarisation?
Remote notarisation allows a Notary Public to witness a signature, certify a document, or authenticate a document's execution over a live video call — such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or a similar secure platform — rather than requiring the client to be physically present in the same room. The Notary verifies the client's identity, witnesses the signing or confirms the document's authenticity, and applies their notarial certificate, seal, and — where needed for electronic submission — a Qualified Electronic Signature.
This is not a lesser or informal version of notarisation. It carries the same legal weight as an in-person appointment, provided the process is carried out correctly and the receiving jurisdiction is confirmed to accept it.
You Don't Need to Be in England or Wales
Under the Faculty Office's current Code of Practice, only the Notary is required to be physically located in England and Wales when issuing a notarial act. The client can be located anywhere in the world, provided there is a sufficient connecting factor to England and Wales — such as your residence, nationality, place of business, the location of an asset the document relates to, or the governing law of the transaction.
This applies to the great majority of clients who need a UK notary in the first place, which is what makes it possible for us to genuinely serve clients worldwide, not just those based in the UK.
Who This Service Is For
Remote notarisation is particularly valuable for:
UK expats and nationals living abroad who need a UK document notarised without flying home
International businesses and individuals dealing with UK-related legal, property, or corporate matters from overseas
Clients anywhere in England and Wales who simply prefer the convenience of a video appointment over travelling to Central London
Time-sensitive matters where an in-person appointment isn't practical to arrange quickly
How Our Remote Notary Process Works
Get in touch with details of your document, your location, and where it needs to be used.
We confirm eligibility — checking your document type is suitable for remote notarisation, that there's a sufficient connecting factor to England and Wales, and that the receiving jurisdiction will accept it.
Schedule your video appointment, at a time that works for you wherever you're based in the world.
Identity verification and witnessing — during the call, we verify your identity and witness the signing or confirm the document as required.
Certification — we apply our notarial certificate, seal, and electronic signature as needed.
Delivery — your notarised document is sent to you securely, ready for onward use, legalisation, or apostille if required.
Not Every Document Qualifies for Remote Notarisation
Remote notarisation is available for a defined range of document types, including certified copies of court documents, UK-issued degree and qualification certificates, DBS/ACRO criminal record checks, company documents such as certificates of good standing and incorporation, and documents requiring a witnessed signature such as powers of attorney and letters of authority. Oaths, affidavits, and statutory declarations still require the deponent to be physically present with the Notary, and certain deeds and instruments may also require a witness in physical presence under English law.
We also carry a professional obligation to check that the receiving jurisdiction will accept a remotely notarised document before proceeding — we handle this as part of our process, as specialists in this area.
A Full-Service Notarial Firm, Available Remotely
Remote appointments don't limit the scope of what we can help with. As Notaries Public authorised to carry out the full range of non-contentious legal work a solicitor can perform, we handle everything from straightforward document certification to more complex cross-border corporate and property matters — all of which can often be progressed, at least in part, through remote appointments. Our specialisation in remote notarisation means we've refined this process specifically to make it as smooth as an in-person appointment, wherever you're calling in from.
Our Fees
Our standard notarial fees apply whether your appointment is remote or in person:
£135 — Notarisation of a personal document (flat rate, for use in the UK or overseas)
£150 — Notarisation of a commercial or property document (flat rate, for use in the UK or overseas)
If your document also requires an apostille or legalisation, this is arranged separately following notarisation.
Book Your Remote Appointment
👉 Get in touch to arrange your remote notary appointment: internationalnotary.co.uk/contact-us
Wherever you're based in the world, contact us with details of your document and we'll confirm eligibility and arrange a video appointment at a time that suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be in England or Wales to have a document notarised remotely?No. Only the Notary needs to be physically located in England and Wales. As the client, you can be based anywhere in the world, provided there's a sufficient connecting factor to England and Wales, such as your residence, nationality, business, or the transaction's governing law.
Is remote notarisation legally valid in England and Wales?Yes. Notaries Public in England and Wales are permitted to issue notarial acts using remote technologies under the Faculty Office's Code of Practice, provided certain conditions are met.
What documents cannot be notarised remotely?Oaths, affidavits, and statutory declarations require the client to be physically present with the Notary. Certain deeds may also require a witness in physical presence under English law.
How do I know if my destination will accept a remotely notarised document?We check this as part of our process before your appointment, using our best endeavours to confirm the receiving jurisdiction's requirements.
Contact Us
Staple Inn Notaries
Fox Court, Gray's Inn Road, Holborn, London
📞 020 3488 4195
About the Author
Sheikh Najam LLB TEP MA MBA is a Notary Public for England and Wales and CEO of Staple Inn Notaries, based in Central London, specialising in remote notary services. He is also a European Attorney and a STEP-qualified International Private Wealth Lawyer, and serves as Vice President for Notarial Affairs and an Advisory Board Member at Justinian Lawyers, the Berlin-headquartered international legal network of the Association of European Attorneys. Appointed by the Court of Faculties under Royal Authority and regulated through the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sheikh Najam advises on cross-border corporate, property, and private client matters across common law, civil law, and international jurisdictions.
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