To become a Florida notary, you must be 18 or older, a legal Florida resident who can read, write and understand English, finish a three-hour education course, and apply through an approved bonding agency with a $7,500 bond and $39 in state fees. The Governor appoints notaries for four-year terms, and the Department of State issues the commission. Your stamp carries the commission number and expiration date, so it comes after the commission.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against Chapter 117 and section 668.50 of the 2026 Florida Statutes, the Department of State's notary commission pages and the Governor's notary reference manual. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | Florida answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | 18 or older, a legal Florida resident, able to read, write and understand English. A permanent resident alien files a recorded Declaration of Domicile | Fla. Stat. § 117.01(1) |
| Training or course | At least 3 hours of interactive or classroom instruction, including electronic notarization, finished within 1 year before a first application | Fla. Stat. § 668.50(11)(b) |
| Exam | Not among the listed requirements | Fla. Stat. § 117.01; Department of State notary page |
| How to apply | Forms DS-DE 77 and DS-DE 76, submitted through an approved bonding agency | Department of State, Notary Commissions |
| State fees | $39: a $25 application fee, the $10 commission fee and a $4 surcharge | Fla. Stat. § 117.01(2) |
| Bond | $7,500, held before acting and for the whole term | Fla. Stat. § 117.01(7) |
| Oath | Sworn application; the oath states you have read Chapter 117 | Fla. Stat. § 117.01(3) |
| Commission term | Four years, exercised only while you are inside Florida | Fla. Stat. § 117.01(1) |
| Stamp or seal | Rubber stamp in black ink with your name, Notary Public-State of Florida, commission number and expiration date. See the Florida notary seal hub | Fla. Stat. § 117.05(3)(a) |
| Journal | Optional for paper acts; online notaries keep an electronic journal for 10 years | Governor's Reference Manual; Fla. Stat. § 117.245 |
| Renewal | A full new application each term; the Department suggests filing about six months early | Fla. Stat. § 117.01(6); Governor's Reference Manual |
| Changes to report | Address, phone or criminal record changes in writing within 60 days; name changes by amended commission | Fla. Stat. § 117.01; Department of State notary page |
| Online notary | Registration needs a current commission, a course, a $25,000 bond and $25,000 in errors and omissions coverage | Fla. Stat. § 117.225 |
Two national tables put this Florida guide in context: which states require a notary journal and where remote online notarization is allowed.
Who qualifies to be a Florida notary?
You must be at least 18, a legal resident of Florida, and able to read, write and understand English. Residency has to last through the whole four-year term, and a Florida notary may act only while physically within the state.
A permanent resident alien may apply but must include a recorded Declaration of Domicile. The sworn application also covers your character, professional history and criminal record, and under section 117.01 a material false statement on it is grounds for suspension.
What are the steps to a Florida notary commission?
Every Florida application travels through a bonding agency rather than straight to the state. The agency provides the bond, forwards your paperwork and fee to the Department of State, and hands you the commission certificate and seal afterward.
- Finish the education course: at least three hours, completed within one year before you apply.
- Pick an approved bonding agency from the Department of State's list.
- Fill in forms DS-DE 77 and DS-DE 76 from the application packet. The sworn application includes a character affidavit, and your oath states that you have read Chapter 117.
- Submit through the agency with the $7,500 bond, proof of the course and a $39 check or money order payable to the Department of State. Cash is not accepted.
- Receive your commission and seal through the agency, and destroy any old seal before you use the new one.
The Department of State's notary commission page links the application downloads and the list of bonding agencies. The Governor's Notary Section handles investigations, disciplinary recommendations and notary education materials.
What does the Florida notary course cover, and is there an exam?
The course must provide at least three hours of interactive or classroom instruction on a notary's duties, including electronic notarization, and a first-time applicant must complete it within one year before applying. The listed requirements include no state exam.
The Department of State's Notary Education Program offers a course online, and private providers registered with the Executive Office of the Governor may also teach it, using a state-approved core curriculum. Keep your completion certificate, because the application asks for proof.
The rule sits in section 668.50(11)(b), Florida's electronic transactions law, and it is worded for first-time applicants.
How much does a Florida notary commission cost?
The state's share is $39: a $25 application fee, the $10 commission fee and a $4 surcharge that funds the Governor's notary education and assistance work. The bond premium, a paid course if you choose one, the seal and any journal are paid to others.
A wartime veteran rated at least 50 percent disabled by the federal government owes no commission fee. Payment goes by check or money order to the Department of State through your bonding agency.
Once commissioned, you may charge up to $10 per notarial act, and nothing for witnessing a vote-by-mail ballot.
How does the $7,500 Florida notary bond work?
Before your first act and for the rest of the term, you need a $7,500 bond conditioned on the proper discharge of the office. It is filed with the Department of State and answers to people harmed when a notary breaches a duty.
Your bonding agency arranges the bond as part of the application, so the premium depends on the agency you choose. The Governor's notary FAQ adds that a notary bond cannot be revoked and that you may keep serving until your term ends.
A legal name change calls for a bond rider, covered below. Registering as an online notary requires its own $25,000 bond, set by section 117.225.
Which stamp should you order after your Florida commission is issued?
Order a rubber stamp that prints in photographically reproducible black ink and shows your name, the words Notary Public-State of Florida, your commission number and your commission expiration date. The last two exist only after the commission issues.
An impression seal may be used alongside the stamp, but never in its place on a paper document. Under section 117.05(3), the seal and commission certificate belong to you, not to an employer who paid for them. Our Florida notary seal guide covers each element and what to have ready when ordering.
The Governor's notary page says bonding agencies supply seals as part of their service. A backup stamp, a pre-inked model or an embosser can be ordered once you hold the commission number and expiration date.
Should a Florida notary keep a journal?
Florida law does not require a journal for paper notarizations, but the Governor's reference manual suggests keeping one as protection. Online notarizations are the exception: they need an electronic journal and recordings kept at least ten years.
For online acts, section 117.245 lists what each entry holds:
- Date and time of the notarization
- Type of notarial act
- The principal's name and address
- How identity was established
- A description of the document
- Any fee charged
Many paper journals include a thumbprint box; the Governor's notary FAQ calls that feature optional.
How do you renew a Florida notary commission?
Florida has no automatic reappointment. You complete the full application every term with a new bond, and the Department of State suggests submitting it about six months before your commission expires so service does not lapse.
Section 668.50(11)(b) frames the three-hour course as a first-time requirement. The new term brings a new expiration date, so the old stamp retires with the old commission; destroy it before using the new one. Our notary seal expiration date explainer helps you find the printed date.
What paperwork follows a name or address change in Florida?
Notify the Department of State in writing within 60 days of any change to your home or business address, your home or business phone, or your criminal record. A legal name change needs an amended commission, also requested within 60 days.
Send form DS-DE 77A, your current commission, a bond rider and a $25 check or money order through an approved bonding agency. The Department of State says you may keep notarizing under your former name until the amended commission arrives. Missing these deadlines is grounds for suspension.
If your seal is lost, stolen or possibly in someone else's hands, notify the Department of State or the Governor in writing immediately. Unlawful possession of a notary seal is a second-degree misdemeanor.
Frequently asked questions
What color ink should a notary use in Florida?
Black. Section 117.05(3)(a) requires the rubber stamp seal to print in photographically reproducible black ink on every paper document you notarize.
Is the Florida notary course free?
The Department of State provides a course through its Notary Education Program at no charge to you. Private providers registered with the Executive Office of the Governor also offer the course and set their own prices.
Can a Florida notary work in any county?
Yes. The commission is statewide, and the only location limit is that you must be physically within Florida when you act.
Can a permanent resident become a Florida notary?
Yes. A permanent resident alien may apply and be appointed, provided a recorded Declaration of Domicile goes in with the application.
Can Florida notaries notarize online?
Yes, after registering as an online notary with the Department of State. You need a current commission, a classroom or online course on online notarization duties and technology, a $25,000 bond, at least $25,000 in errors and omissions insurance, and a named RON service provider.
How soon can I order a Florida notary stamp?
Only after the commission issues. The stamp has to show the commission number and expiration date, and neither exists until the Department of State issues your commission.
When your commission details arrive, compare rectangular and round stamps and embossers in the ESS Florida stamps and seals collection. Our state notary seal requirements page shows how Florida's black ink rule compares with the rest of the country.
