Remote Notarisation in Ireland 2026, Can Irish Notaries Notarise Online?

Last reviewed: 16 May 2026

As of 16 May 2026, remote notarisation in Ireland remains without dedicated statutory authorisation, Irish notaries are still generally required to verify a signatory’s identity and witness their signature in person. While numerous jurisdictions around the world have enacted remote online notarisation (RON) frameworks since 2020, Ireland has not followed suit, leaving individuals and businesses navigating a patchwork of practical workarounds. This guide provides a clear, current explanation of what is and is not permitted, the role of commercial RON platforms, how much notary services cost in Ireland, and the step-by-step process for getting notarised documents accepted abroad through apostille or consular legalisation.

Whether you are a solicitor advising a client, a company secretary managing cross-border transactions, or an individual needing a statutory declaration for use overseas, the information below will help you avoid costly mistakes.

Quick Answer: Can Irish Notaries Notarise Online in 2026?

No. As of 16 May 2026, Ireland has not enacted legislation permitting fully remote or video-based notarial acts. The Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland expects a notary to personally satisfy themselves as to the identity of the person appearing before them, which in practice means physical attendance at the notary’s office or another agreed location.

Three key implications flow from this position:

• Irish notarial acts require personal attendance. A notary public in Ireland cannot perform a legally valid notarial act, such as witnessing a signature, administering an oath, or certifying a copy, solely via video call or other remote means.
• Foreign RON platforms do not create Irish notarial acts. Commercial remote online notarisation services such as Notarize or Notarity may be available to users located in Ireland, but the resulting notarisation is performed under the authority of a foreign (typically US) notary. It is not an Irish notarial act and will not carry an Irish notarial seal.
• Apostille consequences differ. An Irish apostille can only be affixed to a document bearing an Irish notarial certificate. Documents notarised remotely by a foreign notary must be apostilled by the authorities in the notary’s home jurisdiction, not by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.

Who Can Notarise in Ireland? Roles and Qualifications

Understanding who holds the power to notarise documents in Ireland is essential before exploring remote alternatives. Not every legal professional can perform a notarial act.

Notary Public vs Solicitor

A Notary Public in Ireland is a legal officer appointed by the Chief Justice on the recommendation of the Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland. Notaries hold a distinct commission that empowers them to administer oaths, witness signatures, certify copies of documents, and prepare notarial certificates for use at home and abroad. Their seal and signature carry international recognition, particularly within the framework of the Hague Apostille Convention.

A solicitor, by contrast, is a qualified legal practitioner regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. Solicitors can witness certain signatures, administer oaths for affidavits and statutory declarations, and certify copies for domestic purposes. However, a solicitor’s certification does not automatically carry the same international weight as a notarial act, and a solicitor cannot affix a notarial seal unless they also hold a separate notarial commission.

Can a Solicitor Be a Notary?

Yes. A practising solicitor may apply to become a Notary Public, but additional qualifications are required. The applicant must typically undertake the Faculty of Notaries Public’s prescribed course of study, pass the requisite examinations, and petition the Chief Justice for appointment. The process confirms that while many notaries in Ireland are also solicitors, the two roles remain legally distinct.

How to Find a Notary in Ireland

The Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland maintains a directory of appointed notaries. Individuals and businesses can also search the Global Law Experts lawyer directory, filtering by Ireland and Notary Services, to locate qualified practitioners with verified credentials.

Remote and Video Notarisation in Ireland: Legal Status and Practical Reality

The question of whether video notarisation in Ireland is lawful requires distinguishing between three concepts that are often conflated: remote online notarisation (RON), in-person electronic notarisation (IPEN), and traditional paper-based notarisation.

Understanding RON, IPEN and eNotary

• Remote Online Notarisation (RON) allows a signatory and a notary to be in different physical locations, communicating via an audio-visual link. The notary verifies identity through knowledge-based authentication and credential analysis. RON is now authorised in all 50 US states and in several other jurisdictions worldwide.
• In-Person Electronic Notarisation (IPEN) requires the signatory to appear physically before the notary, but the document itself is signed electronically and the notary affixes a digital seal. The in-person identity check is preserved.
• Traditional paper-based notarisation involves physical appearance, a wet-ink signature, and a physical notarial seal and certificate.

Ireland has not enacted legislation authorising RON. No statutory instrument, practice direction from the Faculty of Notaries Public, or guidance from the Law Society of Ireland currently permits an Irish notary to perform a notarial act where the signatory is not physically present. Industry observers expect that a legislative framework may eventually be introduced, the growing availability of commercial RON platforms and Ireland’s strong technology sector make it a likely candidate, but as of this article’s review date no such framework exists.

When a RON Performed by a Foreign Notary May Be Accepted

Commercial RON platforms such as Notarize advertise their services to users in Ireland. However, these platforms typically commission US-based notaries who perform the act under US state law. The resulting notarisation is a US notarial act, not an Irish one. This distinction matters enormously:

• A US RON may be perfectly acceptable to a US recipient, for example, a US bank, law firm, or government agency that requires notarised documents from a person located abroad.
• It will not be treated as an Irish notarial act by Irish courts, the Irish Revenue Commissioners, or foreign authorities expecting an Irish notary’s seal and an Irish apostille.
• If the destination country requires an apostille, it must come from the US Secretary of State (or equivalent) in the state where the remote notary holds their commission, not from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.

Risks and Common Pitfalls

Confusion around remote notarisation in Ireland creates real risks. Consider a common scenario: an Irish company director, based in Dublin, needs to sign a power of attorney for use in a European country. Using a US-based RON platform would produce a document notarised under US law, potentially unrecognised by the destination authority. The director would then need to start again, attending an Irish notary in person, and obtaining an apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs. The cost, delay and frustration are avoidable with proper planning.

Before engaging any remote notarisation service, clients should confirm three things: the jurisdiction under which the notary is commissioned, whether the destination authority will accept that jurisdiction’s notarisation, and whether the correct apostille or legalisation chain is available.

What Documents Commonly Require Notarisation, and Which Can Be Done Remotely?

Irish notaries routinely handle a broad range of documents. The following categories almost always require in-person attendance under current Irish practice:

• Powers of attorney, both general and enduring, particularly where intended for use abroad.
• Statutory declarations, a statutory declaration in Ireland is a written statement of fact made under the Statutory Declarations Act 1938, signed in the presence of a notary, solicitor, commissioner for oaths, or peace commissioner.
• Certified true copies, the notary must sight the original document and compare it with the copy.
• Adoption and immigration packs, intercountry adoption and visa applications frequently require multiple notarised documents with specific certificate wording.
• Probate oaths for use abroad, where an Irish person has assets in a foreign jurisdiction and must swear an oath for probate purposes, a notarial certificate may be required to satisfy the foreign court.
• Corporate documents, board resolutions, company constitutional documents, and share transfer instruments for international transactions.

Statutory Declaration Ireland: Notarisation vs Sworn Affidavit

A statutory declaration differs from a sworn affidavit. While both are formal statements, an affidavit is sworn on oath and is primarily used in court proceedings, whereas a statutory declaration is declared to be true and is used for administrative and commercial purposes. Both require the personal attendance of the declarant before an authorised person. Neither can be validly completed via a video call under current Irish law.

Fees and How Much a Notary Costs in Ireland, 2026 Price Guide

Notary fees in Ireland are not fixed by statute, and practitioners set their own charges. The following table provides guideline ranges based on published practitioner fee schedules. Fees should always be confirmed directly with your chosen notary before attending.

Several factors influence how much a notary costs for any given instruction. Urgency (same-day or out-of-hours requests), the number of signatures required, translation needs, and whether the notary must travel to the client’s location all affect the final bill. For high-value or complex corporate transactions, it is prudent to request a written fee estimate in advance.

Getting Irish Notarised Documents Accepted Abroad, Apostille, Legalisation and Embassy Rules

Having a document notarised is often only the first step. For an Irish notarised document to be recognised by a foreign government, court, or institution, it must typically undergo an additional authentication process. The route depends on whether the destination country is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

Step-by-Step Workflow

1. Have the document notarised in person by an Irish Notary Public. The notary will verify your identity, witness your signature (or certify a copy), and attach a notarial certificate bearing their seal.
2. Obtain an apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) if the destination country is a signatory to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. The apostille in Ireland is issued by the DFA’s Authentication Section, confirming the notary’s signature and seal are genuine.
3. For non-Hague countries, pursue consular legalisation. The document must first be authenticated by the DFA, then presented to the embassy or consulate of the destination country in Ireland (or the nearest relevant diplomatic mission) for further legalisation.
4. Arrange certified translation if required. Many destination authorities require documents to be translated into the local language by a certified or sworn translator. The translation itself may also need to be notarised and apostilled.

Comparison: Apostille vs Consular Legalisation

Timelines and Processing

The DFA’s processing times for apostilles can range from same-day service (for walk-in appointments where available) to several working days for postal applications. During peak periods or when documents are submitted in large volumes, delays of up to two weeks are not uncommon. Consular legalisation adds further time, as embassy processing schedules vary by country. Early indications suggest that demand for apostille services has increased in recent years alongside growth in cross-border transactions, so building buffer time into any deadline is strongly advisable.

Using RON From Abroad, When Foreign RON May Be Accepted

If you are physically located outside Ireland and need a notarised document for a US recipient, a US-based RON service may be a practical option. The resulting document carries a US notary’s seal and can be apostilled by the relevant US state authority. However, this approach works only when the receiving party explicitly accepts a US notarial act. For documents intended for Irish authorities, Irish courts, or countries specifically requiring an Irish notarial certificate, remote notarisation through a foreign platform is not a substitute.

Practical Alternatives and Workarounds for Cross-Border Transactions

The absence of remote notarisation in Ireland does not leave cross-border clients without options. Several practical alternatives exist:

• Mobile notary service. Many Irish notaries will travel to a client’s home, office, hospital, or other location for an additional fee. This is particularly useful for elderly or mobility-impaired clients.
• Notarisation by a local foreign notary. If you are abroad and need a document notarised for use in Ireland or a third country, attending a local notary in your current jurisdiction and obtaining an apostille from that country’s competent authority is often the most efficient route.
• Embassy or consulate notarisation. Some Irish embassies and consulates abroad can administer oaths, witness signatures, or authenticate documents. Availability varies by mission, and it is essential to check with the specific embassy in advance.
• US RON for US-bound documents. Where the end recipient is a US entity, a RON performed by a US-commissioned notary is typically accepted. This is a pragmatic solution for Irish residents dealing with US banks, immigration authorities, or legal proceedings.
• Corporate transaction alternatives. For company signings, consider whether a director or company secretary can attend a local notary abroad, execute documents under seal with appropriate board authority, or use electronic signature platforms where the counterparty accepts them without notarisation.

Red Flags and Tips for Clients and Businesses

Missteps in the notarisation process can cause significant delays and expense. The following checklist highlights the most common errors and how to avoid them:

• Do not assume a US RON is universally valid. A document notarised by a US online notary is a US notarial act. It will not be accepted by authorities expecting an Irish notary’s seal.
• Always confirm destination requirements before signing. Contact the receiving authority, foreign court, or institution to confirm exactly what form of notarisation, apostille, or legalisation they require.
• Do not skip the apostille. A notarised document without an apostille (or consular legalisation) is frequently rejected by foreign authorities, even if the notarisation itself is valid.
• Check translation requirements early. Certified translations take time to arrange, and the translation may itself require notarisation and apostille.
• Request sample certificate wording. Ask your notary to provide or confirm the exact wording of the notarial certificate in advance, particularly for adoption packs and immigration documents where specific language is mandated by the destination authority.
• Bring correct identification. Irish notaries require robust proof of identity, typically a current passport or national identity card. Expired identification will not be accepted.

Conclusion

Remote notarisation in Ireland remains unavailable under Irish law as of mid-2026. While commercial RON platforms continue to expand globally, they do not produce Irish notarial acts, and relying on them for documents that require an Irish notary’s seal creates a real risk of rejection and delay. The practical path for most individuals and businesses is straightforward: attend an Irish notary in person, obtain the appropriate notarial certificate, and follow the apostille or consular legalisation workflow for international use. For complex or time-sensitive transactions, particularly those involving multiple jurisdictions, seeking qualified legal advice early in the process is the most effective way to avoid costly errors and ensure documents are accepted on first presentation.

Sources

1. The Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland, FAQs
2. Law Society of Ireland
3. Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland), Authentication & Apostille
4. Hague Conference on Private International Law, Apostille Convention
5. CloudSign, Remote Notarisation: How Online Notaries Work in Ireland
6. David Walsh Legal, eNotary
7. Notarize, International Ireland
8. Thomas W Enright, Notary Public (fee benchmark)