The Evolving Role of Notaries: Passport Acceptance Agents

The notary profession opened an exciting chapter in 2025! 

With the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159, signed December 23, 2024), Congress added notaries to the list of professionals authorized to serve as passport acceptance agents.

The law incorporates provisions from H.R. 8234, introduced by Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21). Specifically, Section 7507 of the NDAA amended 22 U.S.C. 213a, the federal statute that defines who can accept passport applications.

1. What's Changing in the Notary Landscape? 

Notaries have traditionally served as impartial witnesses to important document signings.

The NDAA expands that role. 

Under the new statute, an eligible notary is a U.S. citizen who is "employed by and provides services through a reputable, established company or institution" and commissioned to perform notarizations under state, district, or territorial law.

The change is now part of federal law. The State Department, however, still needs to designate eligible notaries and update its implementing regulations.

2. What Are The Responsibilities of a Passport Acceptance Agent? 

Passport acceptance agents verify identity and confirm the accuracy of submitted documents when people apply for a passport.

Clerks and specialized agents typically handle this process today.

Notaries could expand that pool once the State Department finalizes its designation process and training requirements. This would bring a new level of accessibility for the public.

What scenarios could this help? 

A notary acting as a passport acceptance agent could help in cases like:

• Someone whose passport expires weeks before an international trip. Instead of traveling hours to a government office, they could visit a notary serving as a passport acceptance agent.

Visiting a notary today is easier than ever. Remote sessions have grown more popular thanks to technological advancements.

3. Why Are Notaries Qualified For This Role? 

Several qualifications position notaries to assist with legal and administrative processes:

• Notaries are trained to handle sensitive documents during commissioning.
• With over 4.4 million notaries in the U.S., they often serve as the first point of contact for official document services.
• Many notaries already use digital notarization. This shows their readiness to adopt new roles and technology.

4. The Business Potential for Notaries 

The legislative change opens new service lines for notaries:

• Diverse revenue streams: notaries gain access to a broader client base.
• Increased marketability: passport acceptance service sets notaries apart in a competitive space.
• Leveraging technology: Remote Online Notarization platforms can support adjacent passport-related services.

5. Preparing for the Transition 

Even with the statutory change in place, eligible notaries cannot yet act as passport acceptance agents. The State Department must update 22 CFR 51.22, establish a designation process, and finalize training requirements.

As of May 2026, the State Department has not yet issued implementation guidance. Notaries should monitor official State Department announcements for updates.

A few requirements are already clear from the existing rules:

• Eligible notaries must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old.
• They will need to complete training set by the State Department before accepting applications.
• They cannot have certain felony or moral-turpitude convictions.
• The new statute also requires that eligible notaries work through "a reputable, established company or institution" rather than independently.

Stay informed, invest in training when it becomes available, and build community awareness of this future service.

A Bright Future for Notaries! 

As the world becomes more intertwined with remote work and new opportunities, notaries are uniquely positioned to provide accessibility and trust.

The possibility of serving as passport acceptance agents shows how the profession continues to adapt. We will share updates as the State Department moves toward implementation.

A Little About NotaryLive

Using an online notary service like NotaryLive is a convenient way to notarize your form. NotaryLive is a secure platform that lets you connect with a remote online notary from anywhere, through a virtual meeting.

In simpler terms, all you have to do to notarize a document through NotaryLive is…

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Become An Online Notary With NotaryLive

Once you have been commissioned as an online notary, be sure to visit NotaryLive.com to learn more about how you can start notarizing documents online from the comfort of your home or office.

Curious how to notarize those documents online? Visit our guide.

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