To become a Minnesota notary, you must be 18 and live in Minnesota or in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin, mail the Secretary of State's application with a $120 fee, then record your commission with a county for $20. There is no exam and no bond. Every commission ends on a January 31 roughly five years out. Below are the steps, costs, stamp rules and the renewal window.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against the Minnesota Secretary of State's notary pages and Minnesota Statutes chapter 359. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | Minnesota answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Minimum age 18. Minnesota residents qualify, as do residents of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin who name a Minnesota county for recording | Minn. Stat. § 359.01, subds. 1 and 2 |
| Course or exam | Neither appears in the Secretary of State's steps for a new commission | Secretary of State, Become a Notary |
| How to apply | Mail the Notary Application, which carries an oath and four background questions, with a check or money order | Secretary of State, Become a Notary; Notary Application (rev. August 2024) |
| Application fee | $120, nonrefundable | Minn. Stat. § 359.01, subd. 3 |
| Bond | None. Chapter 359 has no bond provision | Minn. Stat. ch. 359 |
| County recording | Record the commission with your county of residence, with matching signatures, for $20 | Minn. Stat. § 359.061; Secretary of State, Become a Notary |
| Commission term | Ends January 31 of the fifth year after the year of issue | Minn. Stat. § 359.02 |
| Stamp | Required, rectangular, 3/4 by 2.5 inches at most, showing the expiration date. See the Minnesota notary stamp guide | Minn. Stat. § 359.03, subd. 3 |
| Journal | Not required by law, but recommended by the Secretary of State | Secretary of State, Notary FAQ |
| Renewal | Allowed six months before expiration; filing opens August 1 online or by mail; $120 plus $20 to the county | Minn. Stat. § 359.02; Secretary of State, Notary FAQ |
| Name or address change | Tell the Secretary of State within 30 days; no fee | Minn. Stat. § 359.071 |
| Remote online notary | A separate authorization with no fee; the notary must be physically in Minnesota | Secretary of State, Remote Online Notarization Authorization |
How the Minnesota journal rule and remote notarization rule compare with the other 53 jurisdictions: see notary journal requirements by state and remote online notarization by state.
Who can hold a Minnesota notary commission?
Adults 18 or older who live in Minnesota qualify, and so do residents of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. An out-of-state applicant names the Secretary of State as agent for service of process and picks a Minnesota county for recording.
Formally, the Governor appoints notaries with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary of State runs the applications and keeps the commission record, while discipline sits with the commissioner of commerce.
The Notary Application asks four background questions: state agency investigations, discipline against a professional license, criminal charges or convictions, and civil cases involving fraud, misrepresentation, mishandled funds or breach of a fiduciary duty or contract. Minor traffic matters and juvenile adjudications are excluded from the criminal question.
How do you apply for a Minnesota notary commission?
First-time applicants file on paper: complete the Secretary of State's Notary Application, swear its oath, and mail it with $120. After the commission issues, one step remains: recording it with your county.
- Download the Notary Application and mark New Appointment.
- Fill in your personal and business details and answer the four background questions.
- Sign the oath printed on the form, swearing to support the United States and Minnesota constitutions and to discharge the office faithfully.
- Mail the form with $120 by check or money order made out to the Office of the Secretary of State. Cash is not accepted.
- Wait for review. The FAQ asks you to allow about six weeks plus mail time.
- Record the commission with your county of residence, or with the Minnesota county you designated if you live out of state, and pay the $20 recording fee.
- Buy your stamp before you perform a notarial act.
County recording under Minn. Stat. § 359.061 involves two signatures: one matching the first, middle and last name on the commission and the stamp, and a sample in the style you will actually use. The Secretary of State warns that skipping this step exposes you to civil penalties.
What will a Minnesota commission cost you?
Budget for two government charges: $120 to the Secretary of State, which is not refunded, and $20 to record the commission with your county. No exam fee or bond premium applies, so the rest of the cost is your stamp and any journal you choose.
- Commission application: $120, set by § 359.01, subd. 3.
- County recording: $20.
- Renewal: the same $120 and $20 again every term.
- Name or address update: no fee.
- Electronic or remote authorization: no fee for either, according to the commission guide.
Is there a Minnesota notary exam or required course?
No. The Secretary of State's steps for a new commission include no exam and no mandatory class. The office points applicants to its notary FAQ and help pages, and its FAQ notes that notary organizations offer training.
Self-study still matters. The FAQ states that a notary who fails to affix the stamp has not properly notarized the document, and Minn. Stat. § 359.085 sets the standards of conduct, including the rule that a notarial officer may not acknowledge, witness or attest to their own signature.
Does Minnesota require a notary bond?
Minnesota does not ask for one. Chapter 359 contains no bond provision, and neither the Secretary of State's application steps nor its fee answers mention a surety bond, so the $120 fee and $20 county charge are the only required payments.
Do not read the missing bond as protection. Section 359.01, subd. 6 says the commission authorizes notarial acts but grants the notary no immunity or other benefit under the law.
Which stamp does a new Minnesota notary need?
Order a rectangular inked stamp once your notary certificate arrives, because the face prints your commission expiration date. Minnesota allows a stamp no taller than 3/4 inch and no wider than 2.5 inches, bordered by a serrated or milled edge, and an embosser cannot serve in its place.
Under Minn. Stat. § 359.03, subd. 3, the stamp carries the Minnesota state seal, your name as it appears on the commission, the title Notary Public, and My commission expires with the date. The impression must reproduce legibly. The statute names no ink color.
The name on the stamp must also match the signature you record with the county. Our Minnesota notary stamp guide covers the ex officio wording and the size rule in more detail.
Is a journal required for Minnesota notaries?
Minnesota law does not require a journal, but the Secretary of State calls keeping one prudent and lists what each entry should record. Chapter 359 also treats the notary's official journal, like the stamp, as personal property exempt from execution.
The Notary Commission Guide suggests recording the following for every act:
- The date and the type of notarial act
- A description of the document
- The signature, printed name and address of each signer
- How each signer proved identity
- The county, and any fee charged
Choose a journal with a column for each of those items, including identity evidence and county, so every entry is complete.
When does a Minnesota commission expire, and when can you renew?
Every Minnesota commission expires on January 31 of the fifth year after the year of issue, so its real length depends on the month you were appointed. You may renew up to six months early, and filing opens each August 1.
The FAQ gives the window as August 1 through January 31, online or by mail. Under § 359.02, the renewed term begins the day after the old one ends. You pay $120 again and re-record the new commission with your county for $20.
Because the expiration date is printed on the face, a renewal needs a new stamp. The old one stays usable until its printed date, even after the renewal is approved. See where a notary seal shows its expiration date for what to look for. A commission that has already lapsed is handled as a reappointment: complete the application, check Re-appointment and mail it.
What if your name or address changes?
Report a new name or address to the Secretary of State within 30 days; no fee is charged. Use your online account or mail an updated Notary Application, and support a name change with a document such as a marriage certificate or driver's license.
The application form also tells notaries to register again with the county after a move into a different county. A new name means a new stamp, since the face must show your name as it appears on the commission.
Minnesota's notary law sets no procedure and no deadline for reporting a lost or stolen stamp.
Can Minnesota notaries notarize electronically or remotely?
Yes, with separate authorizations from the Secretary of State. Electronic notarization and remote online notarization each need their own registration, neither carries a fee, and a remote notary must be physically in Minnesota during the act.
Section 359.01, subd. 5 requires you to register the capability before your first electronic act. For remote online notarization authorization, you must already have recorded the commission with your county, keep proof of that filing, and certify that your communication technology meets Minn. Stat. § 358.645, subd. 2.
Each registration lasts only as long as the current commission remains valid. Under subd. 4 of § 359.03, the stamp information can be affixed electronically to an electronic record.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Minnesota notary application take?
The Secretary of State reviews applications in the order received and asks you to allow about six weeks for processing, plus mail time. Then allow time to record the commission with your county.
Can I apply for a Minnesota notary commission online?
New applications go by mail with a check or money order. Renewals can be filed online or by mail starting August 1, and name or address updates can be made through your online account.
Can I keep using my old stamp after I renew?
Yes, until the expiration date printed on it. From the first day of the new term, use a stamp that shows the new date.
What if my Minnesota commission already expired?
Apply for reappointment. Complete the Notary Application, check Re-appointment, and submit it by mail with the $120 fee.
Can an embosser serve as my Minnesota notary seal?
No. The official seal is the inked rectangular stamp described in § 359.03, and an embosser cannot take its place.
Do I register with the county again at renewal?
Yes. The commission guide tells notaries to renew with the Secretary of State and re-register with the county every five years, paying the $20 county fee each time.
When your certificate arrives, pick a rectangular Minnesota notary stamp from the ESS Minnesota stamps and seals collection. For a side-by-side view of other states, see our state notary seal requirements page.
