To become a Colorado notary, you must be 18 or older, lawfully present in the U.S., live or work in Colorado, finish approved training and pass the state exam within 90 days of applying, and file online with a notarized affirmation and a $10 fee. No bond appears among Colorado's requirements. A commission lasts four years. This guide explains eligibility, each filing step, the stamp rules, the journal, remote approval and renewal in Colorado.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against the Colorado Secretary of State's notary pages and handbook, the Notary Program Rules at 8 CCR 1505-11, and C.R.S. §§ 24-21-517, 24-21-519 and 24-21-523. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | Colorado answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | 18 or older; reads and writes English; a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident or otherwise lawfully present; lives in Colorado or holds a Colorado place of employment or practice | Secretary of State application FAQ; C.R.S. § 24-21-523 |
| Disqualifications | Any felony conviction, a misdemeanor involving dishonesty in the past five years, or a previously revoked commission | C.R.S. § 24-21-523(1) |
| Training | Approved training, free through the Secretary of State's eLearning course or sold by approved vendors; completed no more than 90 days before applying | 8 CCR 1505-11, Rule 2.1.3 |
| Exam | Online and open book, about 30 minutes; passed within the same 90 days | Secretary of State exam page; Rule 2.1.3 |
| How to apply | Online, with a notarized Affirmation, both sides of your ID, and your training and exam certificates | Secretary of State application FAQ |
| Application fee | $10, online only | Secretary of State notary fee schedule |
| Bond | None listed in the qualifications or the fee schedule | Secretary of State application FAQ and fee schedule |
| Commission term | Four years from approval | Secretary of State application FAQ |
| Stamp or seal | Rectangular ink stamp with a visible border, your notary ID number and expiration date; embossers are not allowed. See the Colorado notary stamp guide | C.R.S. § 24-21-517(1)(a); Secretary of State stamps FAQ |
| Journal | Required for every act; kept 10 years after the last entry, sent to the State Archives, or left with an employer | C.R.S. § 24-21-519; Secretary of State journals FAQ |
| Renewal | Up to 90 days before expiration, with renewal training and the exam passed within 90 days; $10 | Rule 2.1.4; fee schedule |
| Remote notarization | Separate approval for Active notaries after remote training and exam; $10 application; notary must be in Colorado | Rule 5.2.1; C.R.S. § 24-21-514.5; Secretary of State remote FAQ |
Two national tables put this Colorado guide in context: which states require a notary journal and where remote online notarization is allowed.
Who qualifies to be a notary in Colorado?
Colorado commissions adults who can read and write English, are lawfully present in the United States, and either live in Colorado or have a place of employment or practice there. You also need to pass the state exam after completing training.
Section 24-21-523 bars some applicants. You cannot hold a commission with any felony conviction, a misdemeanor involving dishonesty within the past five years, or a notary commission that was ever revoked. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens add copies of both sides of their permanent resident card or visa.
What are the steps to become a Colorado notary?
Training, the exam and the application all happen online, and the Secretary of State usually processes a complete filing in three to five business days. The whole sequence has to fit inside a 90-day window that opens when you finish training.
- Confirm you qualify against the list above.
- Take approved training, either the Secretary of State's free eLearning course or a class from an approved vendor.
- Pass the online exam. It is open book and takes about 30 minutes.
- Read the notary law in Title 24, Article 21, Part 5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, as the Secretary of State's checklist advises.
- Sign the Affirmation in front of a notary and leave no spaces blank.
- Apply online with the Affirmation, both sides of your identification and both certificates, and pay the $10 fee.
- Check your email. You receive your notary ID and a temporary password, then a notice when the application is processed.
- Order your stamp and journal using the details on your certificate of commission.
If the Secretary of State asks for corrections, make them within 90 days or the application must start over.
What training and exam does Colorado require?
Every new applicant and every renewing notary must complete approved training and pass the Secretary of State's exam. The training certificate expires 90 days after it is issued, so apply before it runs out.
The Secretary of State's own eLearning course and exam cost nothing. Its training page also lists 10 approved vendors with classroom, online and self-study formats, and the office says it endorses none of them. The exam is open book, so you can keep notes and the handbook beside you.
How much does a Colorado notary commission cost?
The Secretary of State charges $10 to apply and $10 to renew, both online. Training and the exam are free through the state's eLearning course, so most of the spending goes to the notarized Affirmation, your stamp and your journal.
- Application or renewal: $10 each.
- Remote notary application: $10.
- Change of record and duplicate certificate: free.
- Vendor training: priced by the vendor if you skip the free course.
- Stamp and journal: bought from suppliers after approval.
Do Colorado notaries need a surety bond?
No bond appears in Colorado's qualification list, and the Secretary of State's notary fee schedule shows no bond filing. Your commission rests on the training, the exam, the notarized Affirmation and the online application.
The Affirmation is where you state that you have carefully read Colorado's notary law and will perform each notarization in line with it. Sign it in front of a notary; the renewal checklist says no space may be left unfilled.
What stamp does a new Colorado notary need?
A rectangular ink stamp with a visible border, plain or decorative. Inside it go your name exactly as on your certificate, Notary Public, State of Colorado, your notary ID number and your commission expiration date.
Order it after approval. The Secretary of State tells new notaries to provide the certificate of commission when ordering supplies and to check that the name and notary ID number on them match it. Colorado sets no size or ink color, and embossers cannot be used.
A lost or stolen stamp must be reported in writing within 30 days of learning about it. The Colorado notary stamp and acknowledgment guide breaks down each required line.
What must a Colorado notary journal record?
Colorado requires a journal entry for every notarial act, unless your employer keeps the original record with all of the required information. Paper journals have to be permanent registers, bound, with numbered pages.
- Date and time of the act
- Type of act, such as an oath, affirmation or acknowledgment
- Description or title of the record
- Name and address of each signer and witness, with their signatures
- How you identified each person
- The fee charged
When the journal is full or you leave office, you have three options: keep it for 10 years from the last entry, send it to the Colorado State Archives, or leave it with your employer. Report a lost or stolen journal within 30 days, the same deadline as a stamp.
How long does a Colorado commission last, and how do you renew?
Four years from the date the application is approved. You can renew online up to 90 days before expiration, and renewal repeats the core requirements: renewal training and the exam within 90 days, a new notarized Affirmation and the $10 fee.
Your expiration date is printed on the stamp, so every renewal calls for a new one. Deface or disable the old stamping device once the commission it shows has expired. The ESS explainer on reading the expiration date on a notary seal covers where that date appears.
Which changes must a Colorado notary report?
A new name, business address or home address must reach the Secretary of State within 30 days. The handbook adds phone number and email changes to that list, and a change of record is free.
A name change also affects your supplies. The stamp must show your name exactly as it appears on your certificate, so order a new stamp once the change is on record.
Can Colorado notaries perform remote notarizations?
Yes, with separate approval. A notary with an Active commission takes the remote notary training and exam, applies through the Become a remote notary option in the online account, pays $10 and keeps at least one approved remote notarization provider on record.
You must be physically in Colorado for every remote act. Each session is logged in a tamper-evident electronic journal, and the audio-video recording has to be stored securely for 10 years. Remote approval renews every four years or when your regular commission does, whichever comes first.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find the Colorado notary handbook?
The Secretary of State posts the Colorado notary handbook as a PDF, most recently revised April 24, 2024. Read it with the statute itself, Title 24, Article 21, Part 5.
How quickly does Colorado process a notary application?
Once a complete application is filed, the Secretary of State processes it in three to five business days. Training and the online exam can be finished beforehand at your own pace, as long as you apply within 90 days of completing them.
Can a nonresident hold a Colorado commission?
Yes, when you hold a place of employment or practice inside Colorado and meet every other qualification. The handbook notes that a notary who lives outside Colorado and no longer has a Colorado business address must resign.
Can I use an embosser with my Colorado stamp?
No. The Secretary of State states that embossers cannot be used. The official stamp is the rectangular ink stamp.
How much can a Colorado notary charge?
Up to $15 per document for a standard notarization and up to $25 for an electronic or remote notarization.
What happens if my training certificate expires before I apply?
Under Rule 3.3.2 the certificate expires 90 days after issue. Complete the training and exam again, then file the application within the new 90-day window.
With your certificate of commission and notary ID in hand, order a bordered rectangular stamp or a complete kit from the ESS Colorado notary stamps and seals collection. Our overview of notary seal rules by state shows how Colorado compares.
