Can You Get Documents Notarised Online in Ireland?

With so many services moving online, it's a natural question: can you get documents notarised online in Ireland? The growth of remote online notarisation (RON) in the United States and other countries has led many people to wonder whether similar services are available here. This article explains the current position in Ireland, why in-person attendance is generally required, and what steps you can take remotely to prepare for your notarisation appointment.

The Short Answer

As of 2025, Ireland does not have a legal framework for fully remote or online notarisation. Irish notarial practice requires the person whose document is being notarised (the signatory or deponent) to attend before the Notary Public in person. This means you need to physically visit the notary's office or arrange for the notary to attend at an agreed location.

This is not unique to Ireland — most civil law and common law jurisdictions worldwide still require in-person notarisation. The in-person requirement is considered essential to maintaining the integrity, security, and international recognition of notarial acts.

Why Can't Notarisation Be Done Online in Ireland?

There are several important reasons why Irish notarial law requires in-person attendance:

Identity Verification

One of the primary functions of a Notary Public is to verify the identity of the person signing a document. This involves physically inspecting original identification documents (typically a passport or driving licence), comparing the photograph with the person present, and satisfying themselves that the person is who they claim to be. While technology is improving, remote identity verification does not yet meet the rigorous standards required for notarial acts.

Witnessing Signatures

The Notary Public must personally witness the signature being placed on the document. This means watching the person physically sign the document in the notary's presence. Video call technology, while useful for many purposes, does not provide the same level of assurance — there are concerns about whether the person on screen is actually the person signing, whether the document being signed is the same one reviewed, and whether the person is acting freely and without coercion.

Document Integrity

The notary needs to physically inspect the document being notarised to ensure it has not been altered, that all pages are present, and that the document is in proper form. The notary's physical seal is then applied directly to the document, creating a tamper-evident authentication.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Obligations

Notaries Public in Ireland are "designated persons" under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. This means they have statutory obligations to carry out customer due diligence, which typically requires face-to-face identification. Remote verification may not satisfy these AML requirements.

International Recognition

The whole point of notarisation is that it carries international recognition. If Ireland were to introduce online notarisation without international consensus, there is a risk that remotely notarised documents would not be accepted by foreign authorities, embassies, and courts — defeating the purpose of notarisation in the first place.

How Does Ireland Compare with the US?

In the United States, Remote Online Notarisation (RON) has been adopted by many states, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. RON allows notarisation to be performed via video call using identity verification technology and digital signatures. However, it is important to understand several key differences:

• Different legal system: US notaries operate under a fundamentally different system. A US notary public is a much more limited role than an Irish or European notary — they require far less training and their acts carry less legal weight.
• State-by-state rules: RON is not universally accepted in the US — each state has its own rules, and some states still do not permit it.
• Limited international acceptance: Documents notarised via RON by a US notary may face acceptance issues when used internationally, particularly in civil law countries.
• Not equivalent: A US RON notarisation is not equivalent to an Irish notarisation and may not be accepted for purposes where an Irish notarial act is required.

What Can Be Done Remotely?

While the notarial act itself must be performed in person, there are several preparatory steps that can be handled remotely to make the process as efficient as possible:

• Initial consultation: You can discuss your requirements by phone or email before your appointment
• Document review: Send copies of your documents in advance for the notary to review and advise on any issues
• Instructions from abroad: If you have specific instructions from a foreign authority, email them to the notary's office for review
• Appointment booking: Book your appointment online or by phone
• Fee quotation: Request a quote by email or phone before attending

By handling these steps in advance, your in-person appointment can be as brief and efficient as possible — often as short as 15–30 minutes.

Will Online Notarisation Come to Ireland?

It is possible that Ireland will eventually introduce some form of remote or electronic notarisation, but this would require:

• Legislative change to authorise remote notarial acts
• Development of secure technology platforms approved by the Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland
• International consensus to ensure remotely notarised documents would be accepted by foreign authorities
• Alignment with EU initiatives on digital identity and electronic authentication

The EU's eIDAS Regulation (Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services) provides a framework for electronic identification and trust services, and the updated eIDAS 2.0 regulation may eventually facilitate some form of remote notarisation across EU member states. However, as of 2025, no such system has been implemented in Ireland.

For more on this topic, see our article on electronic notarisation in Ireland.

Practical Tips for Your In-Person Appointment

To make your notarisation appointment as smooth and quick as possible:

1. Call or email ahead — Explain your requirements so the notary can prepare
2. Send documents in advance — Email copies of your documents for review before your appointment
3. Bring the right ID — A valid passport is the preferred form of identification
4. Don't sign in advance — If you need to sign a document in front of the notary, bring it unsigned
5. Allow enough time — Most appointments take 15–30 minutes, but complex matters may take longer
6. Ask about same-day service — Hugh Phelan offers same-day appointments when available

Need Documents Notarised in Cork?

While online notarisation is not yet available in Ireland, Hugh Phelan's office in Douglas, Co. Cork makes the in-person process as convenient as possible. With same-day availability, flexible scheduling, and the ability to handle preparatory steps by phone and email, the notarisation process is quick, professional, and straightforward.

Contact us today at 021-489-7134 or info@phelansolicitors.com, or book an appointment online.