No, with a handful of narrow enacted exceptions. A notary commission authorizes notarial acts in the state that issued it, and the notary must be physically in that state for the act. Below: the general rule, the exceptions with their statutes, which states commission non-residents, and where a notary must be for a remote act — every state, cited.
A notary commission is issued by one state and authorizes notarial acts under that state's law. It is not a national license, and what decides whether an act is authorized is where the notary is physically located at the moment of the act — not where the signer lives or where the document will be used.
Some states say it outright:
The signer can live anywhere and the document can be headed anywhere. A Texas notary, for example, can notarize for a California resident whose document will be filed in New York, as long as the act happens with the notary in Texas, under Texas law.
A document drafted in, or headed to, another state can be notarized by a notary acting in their own state. The notary's state law governs the act.
The notary's commissioning state. The notary follows their own state's rules for identification, certificates and fees, wherever the document came from.
Whether another state accepts a notarization is governed by that state's law — and by the party receiving the document. Confirm with them before the appointment if it matters.
Where each state's rules allow it — each commission is its own application, qualification, bond (if required) and renewal. What people usually mean by "notary reciprocity states" is which states will commission a non-resident.
Each state's rule, with its citation, is in the state-by-state table. Holding a commission in two states means following each state's law for the acts you perform there.
These are the enacted provisions we found that reach across a state border. Each works only on its own terms — and whether the other state accepts the act is governed by that state's law.
Read together, Montana's § 1-5-605(4) and North Dakota's § 44-06.1-09(4) appear to allow a Montana notary to act in North Dakota. Confirm with both states' Secretaries of State before relying on any cross-border act.
With remote online notarization the signer appears by audio-video, so they can be in another state. The notary still acts under their own state's law — and the RON statutes cited in the table require the notary to be located in the commissioning state during the act.
A notary authorized for RON in their own state can serve a signer located elsewhere, where that state's law allows it — without a second commission.
How RON works end to end: our remote online notarization guide.
Checked against official statute text on October 1–2, 2026. Where we couldn't confirm the current text, the cell says to confirm with the state. Each state links to its full guide.
| State | Can a non-resident be commissioned? | Where the notary must be for a remote act |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Residents only — Ala. Code § 36-20-70(c)(1), as amended by Act 2023-548. | Must be physically in Alabama — Ala. Code § 36-20-73.1(d)(2), as amended by Act 2026-536. |
| Alaska | Residents only — AS 44.50.020(3). | Must be located in Alaska — AS 44.50.075(b). |
| Arizona | Residents only — A.R.S. § 41-269(B)(3). | Must be located in Arizona — A.R.S. § 41-263(B). |
| Arkansas | Residents, or residents of an adjoining state (or a military spouse) employed or operating a business in Arkansas — Ark. Code § 21-14-101(b)(1)(A), as amended by Act 479 of 2021. Confirm with the Arkansas Secretary of State. | Must be physically located in Arkansas — Ark. Code § 21-14-309(a)(1), added by Act 1047 of 2021. Confirm with the Arkansas Secretary of State. |
| California | Residents only (narrow exception for notaries on military and naval reservations, Gov. Code § 8203.1) — Gov. Code § 8201(a)(1). | Online notarization is authorized but not yet available; once it is, the notary must be physically located in California — Gov. Code § 8231.4(a). |
| Colorado | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Colorado — C.R.S. § 24-21-521(3)(c) (2024 text). Confirm with the Colorado Secretary of State. | Must be located in Colorado — C.R.S. § 24-21-514.5(4)(a) (2024 text). Confirm with the Colorado Secretary of State. |
| Connecticut | Residents, or anyone whose principal place of business is in Connecticut — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 3-94b(b)(2). | Confirm with the Connecticut Secretary of the State. |
| Delaware | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Delaware — 29 Del. C. § 4301(b)(3). | Must be located in Delaware — 29 Del. C. § 4320(c). |
| District of Columbia | Residents, or anyone whose primary place of employment or practice is in the District — D.C. Code § 1-1231.19(c)(3). | Remote notarization is authorized but not yet available; the law requires the notary to be located in the District — D.C. Code § 1-1231.13a(b). |
| Florida | Residents only — Fla. Stat. § 117.01(1). | Must be physically located in Florida — Fla. Stat. § 117.209(3). |
| Georgia | Residents, or residents of a bordering state who carry on a business or profession, or are regularly employed, in Georgia — per the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority's summary of O.C.G.A. § 45-17-2. | Georgia has no remote online notarization law as of our check on 2026-10-02. |
| Hawaii | Residents only — HRS § 456-2. | Must be located in Hawaii — HRS § 456-23(b). |
| Idaho | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Idaho — Idaho Code § 51-121(2)(c). | Must be located in Idaho — Idaho Code § 51-114A(3). |
| Illinois | Residents, or residents of a bordering state who work or do business in an Illinois county, for a one-year term and only if their state commissions Illinois residents — 5 ILCS 312/2-101(a). | Must be physically located in Illinois — 5 ILCS 312/3-105(b). |
| Indiana | Residents, or anyone primarily employed in Indiana — IC 33-42-12-1(b)(3). | Must be physically present in Indiana — IC 33-42-17-2(g). |
| Iowa | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Iowa — Iowa Code § 9B.21(2)(c). | Must be located in Iowa — Iowa Code § 9B.14A(3). |
| Kansas | Residents, or residents of a bordering state with a regular place of employment or practice in Kansas — K.S.A. 53-5a22(c)(3). | Must be located in Kansas — K.S.A. 53-5a15(b). |
| Kentucky | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in the county of application — KRS 423.390(1)(c). | Must be physically located in Kentucky — KRS 423.355(3). |
| Louisiana | Residents (commissions are parish-based) — La. R.S. 35:191(A)(1). | Must be physically located in a Louisiana parish where the notary has authority — La. R.S. 35:626(A). |
| Maine | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Maine — 4 M.R.S. § 1922(2)(B). | Must be located in Maine — 4 M.R.S. § 1915(3). |
| Maryland | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Maryland; a non-resident qualifies only if their home state lets Maryland residents working there serve as notaries — Md. Code, State Gov't § 18-102(a)(3), (6). | Must be located in Maryland — Md. Code, State Gov't § 18-214(a). |
| Massachusetts | Residents, or anyone with a regular place of work or business in Massachusetts — M.G.L. c. 222, § 13(a). | Remote notarization is authorized but was not yet available as of 2026-07-14; the law requires the notary to be physically located in Massachusetts — M.G.L. c. 222, § 28(a). |
| Michigan | Residents, or anyone whose principal place of business is in Michigan — MCL 55.271(1)(b). | Confirm with the Michigan Secretary of State. |
| Minnesota | Residents, or residents of Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota or South Dakota — Minn. Stat. § 359.01, subd. 2. | Must be physically located in Minnesota — Minn. Stat. § 358.645, subd. 3(a). |
| Mississippi | Residents of at least 30 days — Revised Mississippi Law on Notarial Acts (2020 H.B. 1156, § 21). Confirm with the Mississippi Secretary of State. | Mississippi has no remote online notarization law as of our check on 2026-10-02; its current notary rules cover in-person electronic notarization only (Miss. Admin. Code Title 1, Part 5, Chapter 8). |
| Missouri | Residents, or anyone with a regular place of work or business in Missouri — RSMo 486.605.2(2). | Must be physically located in Missouri — RSMo 486.1155.1. |
| Montana | Residents, or anyone regularly employed in, or with a registered place of business in, Montana (plus certain licensees and military families) — MCA 1-5-619(1)(c). | Must be physically located in Montana — MCA 1-5-603(10)(b)(i). |
| Nebraska | Residents, or residents of a bordering state employed in or with a regular place of work or business in Nebraska — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 64-101(8). | Confirm with the Nebraska Secretary of State. |
| Nevada | Residents, or residents of an adjoining state with a registered Nevada business or regular Nevada employment — NRS 240.015(2). | Must be physically present in Nevada — NRS 240.1993(2). |
| New Hampshire | Residents, or residents of an abutting state employed or doing business in New Hampshire who are already notaries in their home state — RSA 455:2. | Must be located in New Hampshire — RSA 456-B:6-a(III). |
| New Jersey | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in New Jersey — N.J.S.A. 52:7-12(a)(2) and 52:7-13(a) (2021 text). Confirm with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Notary Public Unit. | Must be located in New Jersey — N.J.S.A. 52:7-10.10(d) (2021 text). Confirm with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Notary Public Unit. |
| New Mexico | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment in New Mexico — 2021 S.B. 12, § 20 (NMSA § 14-14A-20). Confirm with the New Mexico Secretary of State. | Must be located in New Mexico — 2021 S.B. 12, § 5(C). Confirm with the New Mexico Secretary of State. |
| New York | Residents, or anyone with an office or place of business in New York — Exec. Law § 130. | Must be located in New York — Exec. Law § 135-c(4)(a). |
| North Carolina | Residents, or anyone with a regular place of work or business in North Carolina — G.S. 10B-5(b)(2). | Remote electronic notarization was not yet operational as of 2026-07-14; the law requires the notary to be physically located in North Carolina — G.S. 10B-134.7(a). |
| North Dakota | Residents, anyone with a place of employment or practice in North Dakota, or residents of a border county in a state that extends reciprocity — N.D.C.C. § 44-06.1-20(2)(c). | Must be located in North Dakota — N.D.C.C. § 44-06.1-13.1(3). |
| Ohio | Residents only, except attorneys admitted in Ohio whose principal place of business or primary practice is in Ohio — Ohio Rev. Code § 147.01(B)(2). | Online notaries must be Ohio residents located in Ohio — Ohio Rev. Code § 147.64(B). |
| Oklahoma | Residents, or anyone employed in Oklahoma — 49 O.S. § 1. | Must be physically located in Oklahoma — 49 O.S. § 205. |
| Oregon | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Oregon — ORS 194.315(2)(b). | Must be located in Oregon — ORS 194.277(3). |
| Pennsylvania | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Pennsylvania — 57 Pa.C.S. § 321(a)(3). | Must be located in Pennsylvania — 57 Pa.C.S. § 306.1(b). |
| Rhode Island | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Rhode Island — R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-30.1-15(b)(3). | Must be located in Rhode Island — R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-30.1-12.1(b). |
| South Carolina | Applicants must be registered voters in South Carolina — S.C. Code § 26-1-15(1). | South Carolina has no remote online notarization law as of our check on 2026-10-02; its electronic-notary law requires the signer to appear in person (S.C. Code § 26-2-50(A)(1)). |
| South Dakota | Residents, or residents of a bordering county whose place of work or business is in South Dakota — SDCL 18-1-1. | Must be located in South Dakota — SDCL 18-1-11.2. |
| Tennessee | Confirm with the Tennessee Secretary of State. | Must be physically located in Tennessee — Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1360-07-03-.03(2). |
| Texas | Residents only — Tex. Gov't Code § 406.004(a). | Must be physically in Texas — 1 Tex. Admin. Code § 87.41(b). |
| Utah | Anyone who lawfully resides or is employed in Utah for at least 30 days before applying — Utah Code § 46-1-3(2)(b). | Must be physically located in Utah — Utah Code § 46-1-3.6(1). |
| Vermont | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Vermont — 26 V.S.A. § 5341. | Must be located in Vermont — 26 V.S.A. § 5379(b). |
| Virginia | Residents, or non-residents regularly employed in Virginia — Va. Code § 47.1-4. | Confirm with the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth. |
| Washington | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in Washington — RCW 42.45.200(2)(b). | Must be located in Washington — RCW 42.45.280(3). |
| West Virginia | Residents, or anyone with a place of employment or practice in West Virginia — W. Va. Code § 39-4-20. | Must be located in West Virginia for a remote online act — W. Va. Code § 39-4-37. |
| Wisconsin | Any U.S. resident — Wis. Stat. § 140.02(1)(a). | Must be located in Wisconsin — Wis. Stat. § 140.145(3). |
| Wyoming | Residents, anyone with a place of employment or practice in Wyoming, or certain military families — W.S. § 32-3-120(a)(iii). | Confirm with the Wyoming Secretary of State. |
Generally no. A notary commission authorizes notarial acts in the state that issued it, and the notary must be physically in that state for the act. A handful of states have narrow enacted exceptions: Montana (MCA 1-5-605(4)) and Wyoming (W.S. § 32-3-104(b)) let their notaries act in a bordering state that recognizes them, North Dakota gives effect to acts by notaries of bordering states that grant North Dakota notaries similar authority (N.D.C.C. § 44-06.1-09(4)), and Virginia's statute lets its notaries act outside the Commonwealth under Virginia law (Va. Code § 47.1-13(B)). Whether another state accepts such an act is governed by that state's law.
True reciprocity — letting another state's notary act inside the state — appears in North Dakota's statute, for notaries of bordering states that grant North Dakota notaries similar authority (N.D.C.C. § 44-06.1-09(4)). Montana and Wyoming let their own notaries act in a bordering state that recognizes them. Separately, some states let residents of bordering states apply for a commission if they work there; the state-by-state table lists each rule with its citation.
Yes, where each state's rules allow it: you apply, qualify and are commissioned separately in each state. Some states commission non-residents who work or practice there, some limit that to residents of bordering states, and some commission residents only. The state-by-state table lists each state's rule with its citation.
No. A Texas notary has statewide jurisdiction in Texas (Tex. Gov't Code § 406.003), must be a Texas resident (§ 406.004(a)), and may perform an online notarization only while physically in Texas (1 Tex. Admin. Code § 87.41(b)) — though the signer may be located elsewhere.
For an in-person notarization, yes — the notary and the signer are together, in the notary's state. For a remote online notarization, the state RON laws cited in the table require the notary to be located in the commissioning state, while the signer appears by audio-video from elsewhere where that law allows it.
Have it notarized by a notary who is physically in the state that commissioned them; that state's law governs the act. Whether the state where the document will be used accepts it is governed by that state's law, so confirm with the party receiving the document.
The exact rules — residency, non-resident eligibility, RON status, bond — vary by state and change. Use Smoothquill's free state guides for the specifics that apply to you.
We're not lawyers and this isn't legal advice — it's the universal framing. For anything binding, confirm with your state's commissioning authority, linked in each state guide.
Residency, non-resident eligibility, RON status, fees — they're all state by state. Start with your state's free guide.
Browse the state guides →