Can USPS Form 1583 Be Notarized Online?
Document-specific RON guidance, with state-law and recipient caveats.
USPS requires the Form 1583 applicant's signature to be witnessed by the CMRA or a notary under the applicable process. Current USPS rules clarify that a notary used for Form 1583 must be commissioned in a U.S. state, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia. A remote session must also be valid under the applicable notary law and accepted by your CMRA.
What USPS Form 1583 is for
PS Form 1583 is the application used to authorize a commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) to receive mail for an addressee. USPS rules require the CMRA to maintain a completed Form 1583 for its customers and to verify the required identification information.
What USPS says about the signature and notary
USPS revised its CMRA rule to clarify the responsibilities of CMRAs and notaries for the Form 1583 signature. The rule permits the signature to be witnessed by the CMRA owner/manager, an authorized employee, or a notary public, and clarifies that a notary used for Form 1583 must be commissioned in a U.S. state, territory, possession, or the District of Columbia.
Where RON fits in
USPS's rule establishes the notary qualification and acknowledgment framework; your state notary law determines whether the notarial act may be performed remotely. Your mailbox provider also controls its onboarding workflow and may have instructions for how it wants the completed Form 1583 and ID verification handled.
That makes this a two-part check: is the remote notarization valid? and will the CMRA accept the completed form through its process?
What to have ready
- Your current PS Form 1583 instructions from the mailbox provider.
- The identification documents required by USPS and the CMRA.
- A valid RON method for the applicable state if you plan to notarize remotely.
- The exact mailbox/CMRA address and account information requested on the form.
Need help completing Form 1583?
Our sister site, Virtual Mailbox Review, has a broader step-by-step walkthrough covering the form itself, identification, mailbox setup, and common mistakes.
Online notary services
If your document and situation are eligible for RON, these are the services featured on OnlineNotaryCheck.
Provider availability does not override state law, document requirements, witness rules, recording rules, or a recipient's acceptance requirements.
Official and authoritative references
- USPS — PS Form 1583 — Current USPS form and notary acknowledgment section.
- USPS Postal Bulletin — CMRA Clarification — Clarifies domestic commissioning and notary responsibilities for Form 1583.
- USPS DMM 508 — Recipient Services — Current CMRA requirements and Form 1583 procedures.
- NASS — Remote Electronic Notarization — Background on state RON authority and standards.
Reviewed for this guide: September 30, 2026. These links are provided so you can verify the current rule that applies to your situation.
Related document guides
Power of Attorney · Car Title · Affidavit · Deed · USPS Form 1583
Does USPS require Form 1583 to be notarized?
USPS permits the applicant's signature to be witnessed by the CMRA owner/manager, an authorized employee, or a notary public under the CMRA rules. Your mailbox provider will tell you which workflow it uses.
Does USPS specifically require an in-person notary?
The current USPS rule clarifies who may act as the notary and requires the notary to be domestically commissioned. Whether the notarial act can be performed remotely depends on the applicable state notary law and the CMRA's process.
What version of PS Form 1583 is current?
USPS lists PS Form 1583 with a June 2024 edition in its current forms inventory. Use the version provided by USPS or your mailbox provider rather than an old copy from an unrelated website.
General information only, not legal advice. A notary can verify identity and perform a notarial act; the notary does not determine whether your document is legally sufficient for its intended purpose.