Iowa requires notaries to use a stamp, and it must show your name, the words "Notarial Seal" and "Iowa", a labeled commission number, and a "My Commission Expires" line. That last line may carry the printed date or stay blank. Iowa sets no size, shape or stamp ink color, and an embossed impression counts as fully as an inked one. Below: wording, devices, terms, losses and ordering.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against Iowa Code § 9B.17(1)(a) and The Iowa Secretary of State. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp use | Iowa notaries have to use one. | The Iowa Secretary of State |
| Your name | Appears on the face of the stamp. | Iowa Code § 9B.17(1)(a) |
| Legend words | "Notarial Seal" plus the single word "Iowa". | Iowa Code § 9B.17(1)(a) |
| Commission number | Shown after the label "Commission Number". | Iowa Code § 9B.17(1)(a) |
| Expiration line | "My Commission Expires", then either the date or an empty line. | Iowa Code § 9B.17(1)(a) |
| Size and shape | No dimensions or outline are prescribed. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Ink color | No color is prescribed for the stamp. | Not addressed in the cited rules |
| Embosser | A full alternative, since the stamp may be embossed on the certificate as well as affixed to it. | Iowa notary statute |
| Commission term | Three years for Iowa residents; one year for a bordering-state resident who works in Iowa. | The Iowa Secretary of State |
| Lost or stolen stamp | Tell the commissioning officer promptly once you learn of it. | The Iowa Secretary of State |
For the same rule in the other 53 jurisdictions, read notary seal requirements by state.
What does the face of an Iowa notary stamp have to say?
Iowa Code § 9B.17(1)(a) sets out five items. The face carries your name; "Notarial Seal"; "Iowa"; your commission number, introduced by the label "Commission Number"; and the label "My Commission Expires", after which comes either the date or an empty line.
Check two of those with extra care when you proof an order. The legend is "Notarial Seal", paired with the single word "Iowa", and the commission number sits on the face under its own label. A stamp missing either one does not match the list. For a closer look at each line, see our guide to Iowa notary seal requirements.
Is a stamp mandatory for Iowa notaries?
Yes. Iowa requires its notaries to use an official stamp. The statute describes that stamp as being affixed to or embossed on the certificate, so the impression belongs on the notarial certificate itself rather than somewhere else on the document.
If you hold an Iowa commission, have the stamp in hand before your first notarization, because the certificate calls for the impression. Our explainer on how Iowa notary stamp law works places this rule next to the rest of the chapter.
Printed date or blank line: which expiration format fits you?
Both formats satisfy the wording rule. Iowa lets the "My Commission Expires" label be followed by the actual date or by a blank line, so the decision comes down to how long you want one stamp to stay accurate.
A printed date ties the stamp to a single term; once a new commission brings a new date, the face no longer matches. A blank line keeps the date off the die altogether. Weigh that against your term length, covered below, and read our notes on renewing an Iowa notary stamp.
Can an embosser stand in for the inked stamp?
Yes. Iowa's statute allows the stamp impression to be embossed on the certificate as well as affixed to it, which makes an embosser a complete alternative rather than a decorative extra. Either device can serve as your official stamp.
The same five items apply whichever device you pick, so an embosser die needs your name, "Notarial Seal", "Iowa", the labeled commission number and the expiration line. See also our Iowa notary public seal guidelines.
Does Iowa set a size or shape for the stamp?
No. Neither the dimensions nor the outline of an Iowa notary stamp is addressed in the rules cited here, so a rectangular or round stamp can work as long as all five required items fit on it.
The commission number and the expiration line are usually the longest pieces of text, so choose a face with room for them without crowding. That is a layout decision for you, not a legal one.
Which ink color should an Iowa notary stamp use?
Iowa does not address ink color for the stamp, so the rules cited here neither require nor bar any color. Choose on practical grounds, such as how clearly the impression reads on the paper you usually notarize.
If you emboss instead, the question does not arise for that impression. Whatever you choose, use one ink consistently so your certificates look alike from one act to the next.
How long does an Iowa notary commission last?
Three years for an Iowa resident. A notary who lives in a bordering state and works in Iowa receives a one-year term instead, and that commission comes to an end if the Iowa work stops.
The term touches the stamp only through the expiration line. On a three-year commission a printed date serves one term; on a one-year commission it serves a single year, which is a point to weigh when you choose between the printed and blank formats.
What if your name or address changes during the term?
The Iowa rules cited here do not address it. They set no notice, no deadline and no stamp replacement step for a change of name or of address, so there is no Iowa timetable to report on this page.
Your name is one of the five required items, though. If the name you use as a notary changes, compare it with the name printed on your stamp before your next certificate.
What should you do if the stamp is lost or stolen?
Report it promptly to the commissioning officer after you find out the device is missing or has been stolen. For an Iowa notary, the commissioning authority is the Iowa Secretary of State. The duty is framed as promptness rather than a count of days.
Once the report is made, order a replacement with your commission number ready, since it goes on the new face along with the other four items.
Who commissions notaries in Iowa?
The Iowa Secretary of State. That office issues Iowa notary commissions, and your commission is where two of the stamp's details come from: your commission number and the date your commission expires.
Keep the commission paperwork beside you when you order so both details are copied exactly. If you are still working through the process, read about the steps to becoming an Iowa notary.
What details should you have ready when ordering?
Your name as it should print, your commission number, your choice between a printed expiration date and a blank line, and the date itself if you want it printed. Decide as well whether you want an inked stamp or an embosser.
The legend words and the two labels are fixed by the wording rule, so you do not supply them. Browse our overview of Iowa notary supplies before you place the order.
How do you check a new Iowa stamp before first use?
Make a test impression on plain paper and read it against the five required items: your name, "Notarial Seal", "Iowa", the "Commission Number" label with the right digits, and the "My Commission Expires" line showing the date or the blank you chose.
Read the commission number digit by digit, since a transposed number is easy to miss. For an embosser, tilt the test sheet toward a light so the raised letters are readable before you rely on the die.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Iowa stamp say "Notary Public" instead of "Notarial Seal"?
The required list names "Notarial Seal" together with "Iowa". A stamp built around a different legend does not carry the words the list calls for, so order the listed wording.
Is the blank expiration line limited to certain notaries?
The wording rule offers the blank line as an alternative to the printed date and does not reserve it for any group of notaries.
Does the commission number need its label?
Yes. Your number sits after the label "Commission Number" rather than appearing as a bare string of digits.
I live in a neighboring state and notarize in Iowa. What changes?
Your term is one year rather than three, and the commission ends if you stop working in Iowa. A printed expiration date therefore goes out of step quickly, which makes the blank-line format worth considering.
Does the stamp need to say "State of Iowa"?
The wording list calls for the word "Iowa" by itself, alongside "Notarial Seal". Order the stamp with the word as listed.
With your commission number and expiration format settled, choose an inked stamp or an embosser from our Iowa stamps and seals collection.
