Virginia Online Notaries Are Not the Only Ones: Florida Online Notaries Can Also Serve Foreign Persons Without a Social Security Number
When it comes to online notarization for foreign persons without a Social Security Number (SSN), many assume that Virginia is the only state that allows this. However, it’s time to expand your knowledge—Florida online notaries can also perform online notarizations for individuals without an SSN.
Understanding Florida’s Online Notarization Laws
Florida’s statutes provide clear guidance on how online notaries can verify the identity of individuals, even those without an SSN. According to Florida Statute 117.265(4), an online notary public must confirm the identity of the principal by either:
Personal Knowledge of the principal; or
Remote Identity Verification, which includes:
Remote presentation of a government-issued identification credential.
Credential analysis of the government-issued identification credential.
Identity proofing using knowledge-based authentication (KBA) or biometric verification.
Identity Proofing Options in Florida
Florida law allows two different types of identity proofing for online notarization:
Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA)
Biometric Verification
This is explicitly stated in Florida Statute 117.201(7), which defines identity proofing as a process in which a third party affirms an individual’s identity using public or proprietary data sources, such as KBA or biometric verification.
Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA)
KBA questions are designed to verify a signer's identity by requiring answers to questions derived from personal and financial information, such as:
Past addresses
Loan amounts
Vehicle registrations
Credit history details
The data is sourced from credit reports, public records, and other databases, making it a secure form of verification. However, if the signer does not have an SSN or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), KBA cannot be used.
Biometric Verification: The Alternative for Non-U.S. Citizens
When an individual does not have an SSN or ITIN, Florida online notaries bypass KBA and rely on biometric verification. This method uses unique physical or behavioral characteristics such as:
Facial recognition
Fingerprint scanning
Voice pattern analysis
For non-U.S. citizens, the acceptable form of identification for online notarization in Florida is a foreign passport. According to Florida Statute 117.201(6) However, for an online notarization of a principal not located within the United States, a passport issued by a foreign government not including the stamp of the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services may be used as a government-issued identification credential to verify the principal’s identity.
SSN vs. ITIN: What’s the Difference?
Social Security Number (SSN): A unique nine-digit identification number issued by the U.S. government to citizens, permanent residents, and certain authorized non-immigrant workers.
Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): A tax processing number issued by the IRS to nonresident and resident aliens, their spouses, and dependents who cannot obtain an SSN.
And...Now You know!
If you need a document notarized online but do not have an SSN, you are not limited to Virginia notaries. Florida online notaries are fully capable of performing notarizations for foreign individuals using biometric verification. Whether you choose a Virginia or Florida online notary, rest assured that remote online notarization is accessible and legally compliant.
