Identification requirements
Start with the common ID options below. Open the details that apply to your situation before booking.
Commonly used photo ID
For the smoothest experience, use a qualifying, unexpired government-issued photo identification credential that the online verification system can successfully analyze.
U.S. Driver's License
A qualifying and platform-supported driver's license issued by a U.S. state or territory.
State-Issued ID
A qualifying and platform-supported identification card issued by a U.S. state or territory.
U.S. Passport
A qualifying U.S. passport supported by the credential-analysis system.
Foreign Passport
For a principal outside the United States, Florida law expressly provides for use of a passport issued by a foreign government, subject to the required online verification.
Check your situation
Military or restricted federal ID: do not upload without authorization
Military & Restricted Federal Identification
Do not photograph, scan, or upload a military or other restricted federal identification credential unless that reproduction is legally authorized.
Department of Defense identification credentials, including Common Access Cards and Uniformed Services identification cards, are subject to federal restrictions on unauthorized photographing and reproduction.
Remote online identity verification normally requires an image of the identification credential to be transmitted to the verification system. Because of this, a credential that Florida recognizes for identification purposes may still be unsuitable for a remote online notarization if the credential cannot lawfully be photographed or reproduced.
If your identification states that copying, photographing, scanning, or reproduction is prohibited or restricted, do not upload it to the RON platform.
Use another qualifying and platform-supported credential when available. If you are unsure, contact Florida Online Notary before your appointment.
Expired identification
Plan to Use an Unexpired Identification Credential
Florida's general statutory identification list permits certain documents that are current or were issued within the preceding five years.
The remote online notarization platform used by Florida Online Notary may impose stricter technical requirements and requires supported photo identification to be unexpired for its standard credential-analysis process.
For an online appointment, plan to use a qualifying, unexpired credential supported by the RON platform.
International signers and foreign passports
International Signers
A signer does not have to be physically located in the United States to use a Florida remote online notary, but the identification relied upon must satisfy Florida's RON requirements.
Foreign Passport — Principal Outside the United States
Florida Statute §117.201(6) expressly permits a passport issued by a foreign government to be used as the government-issued identification credential when the principal is outside the United States.
The passport must still successfully complete the required credential analysis and identity proofing.
International Identity Proofing
International signers commonly use biometric identity proofing rather than U.S.-based knowledge questions.
This generally involves uploading the identification credential and completing a selfie or liveness check so the verification technology can compare the signer to the presented credential.
Platform Support Does Not Change Florida Law
Remote identity-verification technology may technically support national identity cards, driver's licenses, passports, and other credentials from many countries.
Florida law separately controls what identification credential a Florida online notary may legally rely upon.
For example, a RON platform may technically be capable of analyzing a Chinese national identity card or Chinese driver's license. That technical capability does not, by itself, make the credential a qualifying Florida RON identification credential.
A principal outside the United States who has a foreign passport should plan to use the foreign passport unless another credential clearly qualifies under Florida law and is supported by the RON platform.
Identification in another language
A Qualifying ID Does Not Automatically Fail Because It Is Written in Another Language
Florida's RON statutes do not state that the qualifying identification credential must be printed in English.
The credential must qualify under Florida law, be successfully analyzed through the RON system, and provide sufficient information for the online notary to satisfactorily identify the signer.
If an identification credential contains unfamiliar characters or language and there is uncertainty about the credential or the signer's identity, the notarization may need to be delayed until satisfactory identification can be established.
Names on your ID and documents
Make Sure Your Signer Information Is Accurate
Accurate information helps reduce identity-verification problems before the live notarization begins.
Use the Name on Your Identification
When entering signer information for identity verification, use the legal name shown on the identification credential you intend to present.
Significant Name Differences
If the name on the document differs materially from the name on your identification, contact Florida Online Notary before the appointment so the issue can be reviewed.
If identity verification fails
What If Identity Verification Does Not Work?
The required identity-verification procedures must be successfully completed before a Florida remote online notarization can proceed.
How online identity verification works
How Online Identity Verification Works
Remote online identity verification involves more than simply showing identification to the camera.
Remote Presentation
An image of the qualifying identification credential is presented through the secure RON system.
Credential Analysis
Third-party technology electronically analyzes the credential and its identifying data.
Identity Proofing
The signer completes the identity-proofing method required for the session, such as knowledge-based authentication or biometric verification.
Florida legal requirements and platform support
Florida Law and Platform Support Are Two Separate Requirements
A credential must qualify under Florida law and also be usable through the remote identity-verification technology.
Florida Determines What Legally Qualifies
Florida Statute §117.201(6) defines the government-issued identification credential used for RON by reference to the identification list in §117.05(5)(b)2.
For a principal outside the United States, §117.201(6) also contains a specific rule permitting a passport issued by a foreign government without the USCIS stamp otherwise referenced in the general identification statute.
The Platform Must Also Be Able to Verify It
The RON platform must be capable of performing the required credential analysis and identity proofing.
A credential being technically supported by the platform does not, by itself, make that credential legally qualifying under Florida law.
Florida Statutory Reference — View Qualifying Credentials & RON Requirements
Fla. Stat. §117.201(6) — RON Identification Credential
For remote online notarization, Florida defines a “government-issued identification credential” by reference to the approved identification documents in §117.05(5)(b)2.
When the principal is physically outside the United States, §117.201(6) additionally permits a passport issued by a foreign government without the USCIS stamp otherwise mentioned in §117.05.
Fla. Stat. §117.05(5)(b)2 — Statutory Identification List
The statute includes the following categories of identification, provided the statutory conditions are satisfied:
- Florida identification card or driver's license.
- Passport issued by the United States Department of State.
- Foreign-government passport meeting the requirements of the general statute. For a principal outside the United States, the separate rule in §117.201(6) applies.
- Driver's license or identification card issued by another U.S. state or territory, or by Canada or Mexico.
- Identification card issued by a branch of the United States Armed Forces.
- Veteran Health Identification Card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Certain Florida Department of Corrections inmate identification cards for persons in Department custody.
- Certain Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate identification cards for persons in Bureau custody.
- The specialized sworn law-enforcement statement authorized by statute when an inmate's identification was confiscated upon confinement.
- Identification card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Being included in Florida's statutory identification list does not necessarily mean a credential can practically be used for RON.
Remote online notarization requires transmission and electronic analysis of the identification credential. Some credentials may be subject to reproduction restrictions, may not be supported by the RON platform, or may involve circumstances in which access to the required remote technology is unavailable.
For example, U.S. Armed Forces identification cards appear in Florida's statutory list, but Department of Defense rules restrict unauthorized photographing and reproduction of DoD ID cards. Do not photograph or upload a DoD credential unless the reproduction is legally authorized.
Likewise, specialized inmate credentials appear in the statutory list because Florida law addresses particular identification circumstances involving persons in custody. Their inclusion does not mean that a correctional institution will permit or support a remote online notarization.
Fla. Stat. §117.265(4) — Additional RON Verification
Unless the principal is personally known to the online notary, Florida's RON procedure requires all three of the following:
- Remote presentation of a qualifying government-issued identification credential.
- Credential analysis of that identification credential.
- Identity proofing of the principal.
If those requirements cannot be satisfied, the online notarization cannot proceed.
Official Florida Legislature sources:
Fla. Stat. §117.201 — Definitions
Fla. Stat. §117.05 — Identification and General Notary Requirements
Ask Before Your Appointment
If you have an unusual or foreign-issued identification credential, a military or restricted federal ID, an expired credential, or another identification concern, contact Florida Online Notary before scheduling so we can determine whether another qualifying form of identification should be used.