To become a U.S. Virgin Islands notary, you must be at least 21, a U.S. citizen who has lived in the territory for five years, and a high school or GED graduate with no criminal conviction, then apply to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor with a $100 fee and a $5,000 bond. As of September 2026, though, that office says it is not accepting new notary applications, citing 3 V.I.C. § 771(a). Renewals continue.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's notary page, FAQ and forms, and 3 V.I.C. §§ 771 to 776, 827 and 829. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | U.S. Virgin Islands answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New applications | Not being accepted as of September 2026; renewals go on as usual | Lieutenant Governor, Notaries Public page |
| Who can apply | 21 or older, a U.S. citizen, five years' residence before appointment (Virgin Islands Bar members excepted), high school diploma or GED, no criminal conviction | 3 V.I.C. § 772; Lieutenant Governor FAQ |
| Appointment limit | No more than 600 notaries, not counting notaries ex officio and Virgin Islands Bar members | 3 V.I.C. § 771(a) |
| Training or course | None mandated; the office highly recommends its Back to Basics class | Lieutenant Governor FAQ |
| Exam | None listed among the qualifications | 3 V.I.C. § 772 |
| How to apply | Affidavit, criminal record report for all three islands, two character letters, proof of citizenship, bond and fee, then oath and seal imprint | Lieutenant Governor new notary application (Rev. 01/2019) |
| Fees | $100 new commission, $75 renewal, $25 annual fee due each January 1 | Lieutenant Governor FAQ |
| Bond | $5,000 from an insurance or bonding company, or two resident sureties owning property worth $10,000 over encumbrances | 3 V.I.C. § 773; Lieutenant Governor FAQ |
| Commission term | Four years from the date of issuance | Lieutenant Governor FAQ |
| Where valid | Only in the territory and the district that issued the commission | Lieutenant Governor FAQ |
| Stamp and embosser | A blue ink stamp and an embosser, both showing name, NOTARY PUBLIC, NP number, expiration date and judicial district. See the Virgin Islands notary stamp hub | 3 V.I.C. § 827(1); Lieutenant Governor FAQ |
| Journal | Required unless you are a Virgin Islands attorney; kept ten years, then deposited with the Lieutenant Governor | 3 V.I.C. § 829 |
| Renewal | File within two months of expiration with the $75 fee, unpaid annual fees, a new bond and background papers | Lieutenant Governor FAQ; Renewal Application 26 |
Record keeping and remote acts differ widely by state. The USVI rules sit beside every other jurisdiction in notary journal requirements by state and remote online notarization and the electronic seal.
Can you apply for a U.S. Virgin Islands notary commission in 2026?
Not as a new applicant for now. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor's notary page states that it is not accepting new notary applications, citing 3 V.I.C. § 771(a), while existing notaries keep renewing without interruption.
Section 771(a), in the chapter text the office posts, lets the Lieutenant Governor commission no more than 600 notaries for the territory, excluding notaries ex officio and members of the Virgin Islands Bar, each for four years. The notice gives no reopening date and does not say whether it reaches bar members, so check with the Notary Public Division on St. Croix or St. Thomas before preparing paperwork.
The rest of this page sets out the requirements the office publishes, so you are ready if intake reopens, and covers what serving notaries must keep up.
Who qualifies to be a notary in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
You must be at least 21, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the territory for at least five years before appointment, with a high school diploma or GED. Members of the Virgin Islands Bar are excused from the five-year residence rule.
Under 3 V.I.C. § 772, you also must not have been convicted of any crime, in the territory or elsewhere, and you must keep living in the Virgin Islands through your term; moving away vacates the office. The Lieutenant Governor looks into each applicant's character before a commission issues.
What does a Virgin Islands notary application involve?
The office's new application form, revision 01/2019, runs in three phases: an eligibility review, approval of your bond by the Superior Court, and issuance of the commission with an NP number. It asks for the following items.
- A notarized affidavit, fully completed and signed.
- A criminal record report that covers all three islands.
- Two character reference letters, each with the writer's return address and daytime contact details.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship with a photo, such as a passport, voter identification, or a birth certificate paired with photo identification.
- A $5,000 bond and the $100 commission fee, payable to the Government of the Virgin Islands.
- Your signed, notarized oath and an imprint of your notary seal, in the final phase.
Attorneys add a Certificate of Good Standing. The office's current renewal form also asks for a signed consent to an NCIC criminal background history check.
What does a Virgin Islands notary commission cost?
The Lieutenant Governor's office charges $100 for a new commission and $75 for a renewal, plus a $25 annual fee due every January 1. The bond, criminal record report, stamp, embosser and journal are separate costs.
Keep the annual fee current. Under 3 V.I.C. § 773, if it goes unpaid, the Lieutenant Governor cancels the appointment after giving 30 calendar days' notice, and a renewal must include any annual fees still owed.
On the earning side, the renewal form caps the fee at $5 per notarial act. A registered mobile notary may add a travel fee, kept separate from the notarial fee and capped at $25.
Is there training or an exam for Virgin Islands notaries?
The office's FAQ lists no exam among the qualifications and names no mandatory course. It does highly recommend that notaries register for its Back to Basics class to build confidence and competence in notarial duties.
The journal deserves study before your first act, since territory law requires one. The office's Journal Reference Guide walks through each required entry, summarized in the journal section below.
How does the $5,000 Virgin Islands notary bond work?
You need a $5,000 bond from an insurance or bonding company, or a surety bond guaranteed by two resident sureties who own Virgin Islands property worth at least $10,000 over and above encumbrances. It goes in with your application.
Section 774 makes the notary and the sureties on the bond liable for the damages an injured party sustains. The bond is also not a one-time purchase: a fresh $5,000 bond goes in with every renewal application.
What stamp and embosser does a Virgin Islands notary need?
Two devices, used together: a stamp inked in blue and an embosser. According to the Lieutenant Governor's FAQ, Virgin Islands law calls for the embossed seal together with a stamp in blue ink, so neither replaces the other.
Each face shows the words NOTARY PUBLIC, your name matching the commission paperwork, your NP number, the date the commission expires, and your judicial district: St. Croix, or St. Thomas and St. John. The number and date come with the commission, so order after it issues. Our U.S. Virgin Islands notary stamp guide covers the layout.
Section 776 adds that a document is not properly notarized until the seal is impressed and your name is written, printed or stamped legibly. If a device goes missing, notify the Office of the Lieutenant Governor promptly.
What must a Virgin Islands notary journal record?
Every notary other than a licensed Virgin Islands attorney must keep a journal of all notarial acts, hold it for ten years after the last entry, and deposit it with the Lieutenant Governor's office when the commission ends.
Under 3 V.I.C. § 829(c), as the office's guide quotes it, each entry records:
- When the act took place, by date and time
- What kind of act it was, and which record was involved where there is one
- Each person's full name and address
- The basis for identity: personal knowledge, or the credential shown with its issue and expiration dates
- Any fee charged
The guide also expects the signer to sign the journal, so collect that signature before the customer leaves. The renewal form puts it plainly: keep a journal however few notarizations you perform. Mobile notaries log their travel fees there too.
How does renewal work for a Virgin Islands notary?
Commissions run four years from issuance. The office's FAQ says to file the renewal within two months of expiration, with the $75 fee, any unpaid annual fees, a new $5,000 bond and updated background documents.
The 2026 renewal form asks again for a criminal record report covering all three islands, NCIC consent, two character letters and proof of citizenship, followed by the oath and a new seal imprint. Section 773, in the posted chapter text, gives priority to renewal applications with a new bond and the fee postmarked within 60 days after the term ends.
Because both devices show your expiration date, a renewed commission means new ones. See our guide to locating the expiration date on a notary seal.
What happens after a name or address change?
For a new address, send the office a letter giving your old and new addresses and asking it to update your records. To notarize under a new name, apply for an amended commission; the office posts a Change of Name Form for that.
A new name also means new devices, since the stamp and embosser must match your name as it appears in your commission documents. Keep in mind that a commission works only in the district that issued it.
Frequently asked questions
When will new Virgin Islands notary applications reopen?
The notice gives no date. Watch the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's Notaries Public page, which carries the notice and the current forms.
Can a St. Croix notary notarize on St. Thomas?
No. The FAQ says a commission is valid only in the territory and in the district where it was issued. St. Thomas and St. John form one district, and St. Croix is the other.
Do Virgin Islands attorneys count toward the 600 limit?
No. Section 771(a) leaves members of the Virgin Islands Bar out of the 600 count, and a licensed Virgin Islands attorney is also excused from the journal rule in § 829(a). The notice does not address attorneys, so confirm with the office before applying.
What is a mobile notary in the Virgin Islands?
A notary who travels to the customer. The office's Mobile Notary Fact Sheet requires registration with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, an explanation of fees before service, and itemized receipts that separate notarial fees from travel fees.
Where can I buy U.S. Virgin Islands notary supplies?
Any supplier that can make a blue ink stamp and an embosser with the required face. Order once you have your NP number and expiration date, since both devices must show them.
Serving notaries replacing a stamp or embosser can compare blue ink stamps, embossers and seals in the ESS notary stamps collection, and our notary seal rules for each state and territory show how the Virgin Islands compare.
