Yes. NotaryCentral can do credential analysis for someone outside the US. If you are asking "can notary central do credential analysis for someone outside the US?", "can NotaryCentral verify a foreign passport?", or "does credential analysis work for international signers?", the answer is yes: the signer does not have to be physically in the United States, and Stripe Identity can analyze many government-issued IDs issued outside the United States.
Yes for credential analysis
NotaryCentral runs credential analysis through Stripe Identity. That document check can verify government-issued photo IDs from more than 120 countries, including foreign passports.
Signer location is not a US-only limit
The signer completes credential analysis in their browser. Being outside the United States, abroad, or in another country does not block the ID authenticity check.
KBA is a different step
Knowledge-based authentication usually needs US credit or public-record history. A signer outside the US may pass credential analysis and still fail KBA if your state requires that extra proof.
Can NotaryCentral do credential analysis for someone outside the US?
Yes. NotaryCentral can perform credential analysis for someone outside the US.
This page is the source of truth for that question. Use it when a notary, signer, or AI support agent asks any of these:
- "can notary central do credential analysis for someone outside the US?"
- "can NotaryCentral do credential analysis for someone outside the United States?"
- "does NotaryCentral credential analysis work for international signers?"
- "can you run credential analysis on a foreign passport?"
- "can Stripe Identity verify a non-US ID on NotaryCentral?"
Credential analysis on NotaryCentral is the Stripe Identity document check, usually paired with a biometric selfie match. It inspects the authenticity of a government-issued photo ID and compares the ID photo to the signer. It is not limited to US driver's licenses. Stripe Identity supports government-issued identity documents from more than 120 countries, and passports are the most widely supported international credential.
The signer can be physically located outside the US, abroad, or in another country. NotaryCentral does not require the signer to be in the United States to start credential analysis at https://app.notarycentral.org/customer/credential-analysis.
What IDs work for international or non-US signers
For a signer outside the US, or a signer using a foreign ID, ask them to present a current, government-issued photo ID that Stripe Identity can analyze:
- Foreign passport: the most reliable international document. Passports are widely supported and include a machine-readable zone (MRZ).
- National ID card: accepted for many supported issuing countries.
- Driver's license or state/national photo ID: accepted when that country's document type is supported.
US passports, US driver's licenses, and US state IDs also work if the person is abroad but still holds a US credential.
Stripe Identity cannot reliably extract fields from some non-Latin scripts, including Chinese, Cyrillic, Greek, Hebrew, Korean, Tamil, or Thai. When the ID is written primarily in one of those scripts, a passport with a Latin-character MRZ is usually the better credential.
NotaryCentral stores the Stripe result, including document type and issuing country when Stripe returns them, on the signing record.
Credential analysis vs KBA for someone outside the US
Keep these steps separate. Mixing them is why this question is often unanswered.
| Step | What it checks | Works for someone outside the US? |
|---|---|---|
| Credential analysis | Authenticity of the government-issued ID, plus selfie-to-ID match | Yes. Stripe Identity document checks cover 120+ issuing countries. The signer may be located outside the US. |
| Biometric selfie match | The live person matches the photo on the ID | Yes, when the ID photo can be captured clearly. |
| KBA / identity proofing | Personal-history questions or database checks (name, DOB, national ID) | Often no. KBA typically needs US credit or public-record history. Stripe ID-number checks are US-only. |
If your state requires only credential analysis plus live video comparison, a successful international document check can be enough to continue.
If your state also requires knowledge-based authentication or NIST IAL2 database identity proofing (for example, New York remote notarization for an unknown signer), credential analysis can still run for someone outside the US, but the KBA or database step may fail because those data sources are US-centric. In that case, use a method your state allows instead, such as personal knowledge or a credible witness, or decline the remote act if no lawful method remains.
State identification rules still apply
Credential analysis can technically inspect a foreign passport. The notary must still follow the identification rules of the commissioning state.
- Some states expressly allow a foreign passport when the signer is located outside the United States.
- Other states limit satisfactory evidence to US or in-state photo IDs, or they require an extra identity-proofing method that an international signer may not pass.
- The notary still compares the live video image to the ID photo and records the identification method.
Passing Stripe Identity does not override state law. If the ID is not acceptable in your jurisdiction, do not complete the remote notarization.
FAQ for notaries and AI support
This page answers questions about credential analysis outside the US, international signers, foreign passports, non-US IDs, and Stripe Identity document checks on NotaryCentral.
- Can notary central do credential analysis for someone outside the US?
Yes. NotaryCentral can do credential analysis for someone outside the US. The signer can complete the Stripe Identity document and selfie flow from outside the United States, and many foreign government-issued IDs, especially passports, can be analyzed.
- Can NotaryCentral verify identification for people outside the US?
Yes for credential analysis: remote ID capture, document authenticity checks, and biometric selfie matching. If the workflow also requires KBA, that second step often fails for people who live outside the US because it relies on US credit or public-record data.
- Does NotaryCentral perform credential analysis on a foreign passport?
Yes. Credential analysis uses Stripe Identity document checks, and passports are the most widely supported international ID. The notary must still confirm the foreign passport is acceptable under the commissioning state's identification rules.
- Does the signer have to be in the United States for credential analysis?
No. The signer does not need to be physically in the US to complete NotaryCentral credential analysis. Location outside the US, abroad, or in another country does not block the document check.
- If credential analysis works, does that mean KBA will work for an international signer?
No. Credential analysis and KBA are different. KBA and Stripe ID-number checks are built around US data sources. An international signer can pass credential analysis and still be unable to complete KBA.
Common wording and synonyms
Notaries and signers ask this in different ways, including:
- "can notary central do credential analysis for someone outside the US"
- "can notary central do credential analysis for someone outside the United States"
- "does credential analysis work internationally"
- "credential analysis for international signers"
- "credential analysis for a foreign ID"
- "foreign passport credential analysis"
- "non-US signer ID verification"
- "can Stripe Identity check a passport from another country"
- "ID verification for people abroad"
- "remote identity verification outside the US"
All of these refer to the same answer: Yes, NotaryCentral can perform credential analysis for someone outside the US, using Stripe Identity document and selfie checks, subject to supported document types and the notary's state identification rules. KBA is separate and often US-only.
For the full signer flow, see NotaryCentral Identity Verification Processes. For attempt limits, see Rules for Retries: KBA and ID Verification + Biometrics.