Need a Notary While Traveling? How to Get a Document Notarized Online From an Airport
Travel plans are stressful enough without suddenly realizing you need a document notarized.
Maybe you are already at the airport. Maybe you are between flights. Maybe you just landed in another state for work and found out a document needs to be signed before you head home.
Your first instinct may be to search for “notary near the airport,” “airport notary,” or “notary near me.”
But depending on the document, you may not need to find a local notary at all.
Remote Online Notarization (RON) allows many documents to be signed and notarized online through a live audio-video session with an authorized online notary.
That can make RON especially useful for people who are traveling.
What Is Remote Online Notarization?
Remote Online Notarization is a notarization completed online instead of in person.
Rather than meeting a notary at an office, hotel, coffee shop, or airport terminal, you connect with the notary through a secure online notarization platform.
During a typical RON session:
Your document is uploaded or prepared for the online signing.
Your identity is verified.
You connect with the online notary through live audio and video.
You electronically sign the document.
The notary completes the electronic notarization.
The completed document is available electronically after the session.
The signer and notary do not need to be physically sitting in the same location.
For a traveler, that can mean completing a notarization from an airport lounge, hotel room, business center, rental property, or another location with reliable internet access.
Why RON Can Be Helpful When You Are Traveling
Travel often creates exactly the kinds of situations where finding an in-person notary becomes inconvenient.
You may be:
waiting for a flight
staying at an airport hotel
traveling for business
visiting another state
on vacation
preparing to leave the country
already traveling internationally
dealing with an unexpected real estate or business document
trying to complete paperwork before a deadline
Instead of arranging transportation to a local notary or trying to find someone willing to meet you at the airport, an eligible document may be able to be notarized remotely.
In many cases, you simply need the document, acceptable identification, a suitable device, reliable internet access, and a location where you can complete the live video session.
Can I Use an Online Notary While I Am at an Airport?
Potentially, yes.
You do not need to be sitting in a traditional office to participate in a Remote Online Notarization.
An airport can be noisy and crowded, however, so it is best to find a reasonably quiet location with a stable internet connection.
Good options may include:
an airport lounge
a private workspace
a business center
a conference area
an airport hotel
another quiet area away from the gate
You should also leave yourself enough time to complete identity verification and the notarization without rushing to board your flight.
Looking for a Notary Near LAX, DFW, ATL or Another Airport?
This is where RON can be especially useful.
Someone searching for a:
notary near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
notary near John Wayne Airport (SNA)
notary near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
notary near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
notary near Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
notary near Denver International Airport (DEN)
notary near John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
notary near Orlando International Airport (MCO)
notary near Miami International Airport (MIA)
notary near Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
notary near Nashville International Airport (BNA)
notary near McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)
may have another option: complete the notarization online instead.
The same concept applies whether you are traveling through a major international airport or a smaller regional airport.
You do not necessarily need a notary physically located inside or near the airport if your document can be handled through Remote Online Notarization.
What Documents Can Be Notarized Online While Traveling?
Many common documents may be candidates for RON, including certain:
affidavits
acknowledgments
business documents
real estate documents
powers of attorney
authorization forms
sworn statements
agreements
personal documents
Minor Travel Consent / Parental Consent to Travel form
However, not every document or transaction is appropriate for Remote Online Notarization.
The type of document, electronic-signature requirements, witness requirements, recording requirements, applicable law, and the policies of the organization receiving the document can all matter.
If there is any uncertainty, it is a good idea to confirm that the receiving party will accept a remotely notarized electronic document before completing the session.
What If I Am Traveling in Another State?
Being outside Tennessee does not automatically mean you need to find a notary in the state you are visiting.
Knox Notary Co. provides Remote Online Notarization through a Tennessee Online Notary operating under Tennessee's RON framework.
Because the notarization is completed remotely, eligible signers may be able to participate while physically located in another state.
That can be especially helpful for business travelers, vacationers, people temporarily working away from home, or anyone who needs a document notarized while traveling.
Whether RON is appropriate still depends on the document and where it will ultimately be used.
What If I Am Traveling Outside the United States?
Remote Online Notarization may also be an option for people who are already overseas.
For example, you may be traveling internationally and suddenly learn that a U.S. real estate, business, personal, or authorization document needs to be notarized.
Instead of trying to locate an in-person notarization option abroad, you may be able to complete the notarization online.
There is one important practical consideration: identity verification.
Most RON sessions require the signer to successfully complete identity verification and Knowledge-Based Authentication, commonly called KBA.
KBA uses information tied to your U.S. identity and credit history to generate questions that help verify that you are who you say you are.
In practical terms, a U.S. Social Security number and sufficient recent U.S. credit history are typically needed to successfully complete this process.
If you have lived outside the United States for an extended period, have limited recent U.S. credit history, or do not have a U.S. Social Security number, you may have difficulty completing the required identity verification.
If you are currently overseas, it is best to contact Knox Notary Co. before scheduling so we can determine whether RON is likely to work for your situation.
What Do I Need to Notarize a Document Online While Traveling?
Before starting, it is helpful to have:
your document ready
an acceptable government-issued ID
a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone
reliable internet access
a reasonably quiet location for the live video session
any required witnesses arranged in advance
enough time to complete identity verification and the signing without rushing
If there is uncertainty about whether the receiving organization accepts electronic or remotely notarized documents, you should also confirm acceptance before the appointment.
Mobile Airport Notary vs. Remote Online Notary
If you are traveling through Knoxville or East Tennessee, Knox Notary Co. may be able to provide an in-person mobile notary appointment, including appointments near McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), depending on availability.
But if you are traveling through LAX, SNA, DFW, ATL, ORD, DEN, JFK, MCO, MIA, CLT, BNA, or another airport outside our local mobile service area, Remote Online Notarization may be the more practical option.
You do not necessarily need to find someone physically located near your terminal.
You may be able to bring the notary to you — online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a document notarized online while traveling?
Yes, many documents can be notarized remotely using Remote Online Notarization. Whether your particular document is eligible depends on the document, applicable requirements, and whether the organization receiving it will accept an electronically notarized document.
Can I use an online notary while sitting at an airport?
Potentially, yes. You will need a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and microphone, reliable internet access, acceptable identification, and a location suitable for a live audio-video session.
A quiet airport lounge, hotel room, business center, or private area is usually preferable to a crowded boarding gate.
Do I need to find a notary in the state I am visiting?
Not necessarily. Remote Online Notarization may allow you to connect with an authorized online notary without locating an in-person notary where you are currently traveling.
Whether RON is appropriate depends on the document and transaction.
Can I get a document notarized online before an international flight?
Potentially, yes. If the document is eligible for RON and you can successfully complete identity verification and the live video signing process, you may be able to complete the notarization online before leaving the country.
Can I use Remote Online Notarization if I am already overseas?
Yes, in many cases.
Most RON sessions require successful identity verification and KBA. In practical terms, a U.S. Social Security number and sufficient recent U.S. credit history are typically needed to successfully complete the KBA process.
If you have lived outside the United States for an extended period or have limited recent U.S. credit history, contact us before scheduling so we can determine whether online notarization is likely to work for you.
Does Knox Notary Co. have notaries physically located at LAX, DFW, ATL, JFK or other airports?
No.
The airports mentioned in this article are examples of places where a traveler may potentially use our Remote Online Notarization service.
Knox Notary Co. is not claiming to have an in-person notary stationed at those airports.
That is the advantage of RON: for an eligible document and signer, you may not need a notary physically located near you at all.
Need a Document Notarized While Traveling?
Whether you are at an airport, staying in a hotel, traveling for business, visiting another state, or already overseas, Knox Notary Co. may be able to help you complete your notarization online.
Contact us with:
the type of document you need notarized
your current location
where the document will be used
how many people need to sign
whether witnesses are required
We can help determine whether Remote Online Notarization is a good option for your situation.