A notary does not stamp or sign your actual passport. What banks, schools and foreign agencies mean by a “notarized passport” is a photocopy of the photo page with a notary’s certificate attached.
When you need a notarized passport copy
- Opening a bank or brokerage account abroad
- Applying for a foreign visa, residency or citizenship
- Applying for an ITIN or handling an overseas inheritance
- Proving identity to a foreign university or employer
Two ways a passport copy gets notarized
Copy certification. The notary compares the photocopy to your original passport and certifies that it is a true copy.
Sworn statement by you. You sign a short statement that the copy is true and complete, and the notary notarizes your signature. Some agencies ask for this form instead.
Ask the agency which one they want before your appointment. The wording they require matters more than the method.
What to bring
- Your original, valid passport
- A clear photocopy of the photo page, or let us make it
- Any form or wording the receiving agency gave you
- A second photo ID if you have one
Step by step
- Book a time or walk in to a Pac Signing office in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Lake Oswego or Vancouver, WA.
- The notary checks your passport and compares it to the copy.
- You sign the statement if one is needed.
- The notary completes the certificate, signs and stamps it, and records the act in the journal.
Sending it abroad
A notarized copy going to another country often needs an Oregon apostille as well. The Secretary of State charges $10 per document. We can submit it for you.
Notarized passport photos
Some applications ask for a passport photo to be certified on the back by an official. A notary can notarize your signed statement about the photo. We also take passport photos in the office.
FAQ
Can a notary stamp my actual passport?
No. A notary never stamps or signs a passport. A notarized passport means a photocopy of the photo page with a notary certificate attached.
Can I get a copy of an expired passport notarized?
A copy can be made of an expired passport, but the receiving agency may not accept it. Ask them first.
How much does it cost?
$10 per notarial act at a Pac Signing office, or a $70 travel fee plus $10 per act for a mobile visit in Oregon.
Can I do this online?
Oregon allows remote online notarization. Check that the receiving agency accepts an electronically notarized copy first.
Call (971) 394-4152 or book online for a same-day appointment, or see mobile notary prices.
Official source: ORS chapter 194: Oregon Uniform Law on Notarial Acts.