To become a notary public in New York, you must be at least 18, live in the state or keep an office or place of business there, pass the $15 state exam, and apply online to the Department of State with a sworn oath of office and the $60 fee. New York asks for no bond. Commissions run four years, and renewal opens online 90 days before expiration. This page covers the steps, costs, journal duty, stamp choices and renewal rules.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against the New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Executive Law §§ 130 to 137 and 19 NYCRR Part 182. Sources read September 2026.
| Item | What New York requires | Where it is set |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Age 18 or older, and either New York residence or an office or place of business in the state | DOS application guidance; Exec. Law § 130 |
| Criminal history | A felony conviction generally bars appointment unless the Secretary of State makes a finding under Correction Law article 23-A; some misdemeanors also disqualify | Exec. Law § 130; DOS notary FAQs |
| Training | No course appears among the Department of State's requirements | DOS, Become a Notary Public |
| Exam | $15, multiple choice, one hour; pass or fail by mail; a pass is valid two years. New York attorneys and qualifying court clerks are exempt | DOS exam instructions; Exec. Law § 130 |
| How to apply | Online on New York Business Express, with the Oath of Office form (DOS-2201) uploaded as a PDF | DOS, Become a Notary Public |
| Application fee | $60, nonrefundable, by credit or debit card | Exec. Law § 131; DOS application guidance |
| Bond | None. Neither the requirements page nor the state's notary law publication mentions one | DOS, Become a Notary Public |
| Oath and filing | The oath goes in with the application; the Department forwards your commission and oath to the county clerk | Exec. Law § 131 |
| Commission term | Four years | Exec. Law § 130 |
| Stamp | Optional. Your name, "Notary Public State of New York," county of original qualification and expiration date must be printed, typed or stamped. See the New York notary stamp hub | Exec. Law § 137 |
| Journal | Required for every notary since January 25, 2023; kept at least 10 years | 19 NYCRR § 182.9; DOS notary FAQs |
| Renewal | $60 online, starting 90 days before expiration | DOS renewal and updates page |
| Electronic notary | Register the capability with the Secretary of State before any electronic act; $60 registration fee | Exec. Law § 135-c; 19 NYCRR § 182.11 |
Two national tables put this New York guide in context: which states require a notary journal and where remote online notarization is allowed.
Who is eligible to be a New York notary public?
Adults aged 18 or older who either reside in New York or have an office or place of business in the state. A non-resident who works from a New York office can therefore qualify through that business address.
Executive Law § 130 also asks the Secretary of State to confirm that you are of good moral character, have the equivalent of a common school education, and know the duties of the office. The application asks about any conviction other than a minor traffic violation and any pending criminal charge. A felony conviction generally prevents appointment, and certain misdemeanors are also disqualifying, unless the Secretary makes a finding under article 23-A of the Correction Law that a conviction is not a bar.
How do you apply for a New York notary commission?
Pass the exam first, then file a single online application on New York Business Express with your exam result, a signed and sworn oath, and the $60 fee. The Department of State issues the commission and notifies your county clerk.
- Pass the $15 exam, unless you are an exempt attorney or court clerk.
- Complete the Oath of Office form (DOS-2201). Sign it by hand before a person authorized to administer oaths, and make sure the name matches your application exactly.
- Sign in to a NY.gov account and open the Notary Public Commission application (DOS-0033) on the Department of State's Become a Notary Public page.
- Enter your exam details, upload a scanned PDF of the oath, and give your Social Security number or tax ID.
- Pay $60 by credit or debit card and complete the attestation.
- Track the application online until you are appointed.
Once you are appointed, the Department sends you a notary identification card showing your name, address, county and commission term. By the 10th of the following month it transmits the commission and your oath to the county clerk, who indexes your official signature so the public can verify it.
What does the New York notary exam cover and cost?
The exam fee is $15. The test is multiple choice, and you get one hour once the instructions end. Results arrive by mail as pass or fail, with no numerical score, and a pass is valid for two years.
Bring current government-issued photo identification that carries your signature, the $15 fee, and two #2 pencils, since none are provided. The Department posts exam schedules on its Become a Notary Public page. For the fall 2026 New York City sessions, you request a seat in writing and requests are answered in the order received.
Members of the New York State bar, and court clerks of the Unified Court System appointed after a Civil Service promotional exam in the court clerk series, can be appointed without the exam. They still pay the $60 application fee. The Department lists no training course among its requirements, so preparation is up to you.
What does a New York notary commission cost?
For a first commission the state charges $75: $15 for the exam and $60 for the application. There is no bond premium to budget, and a stamp is a choice rather than a legal cost.
- Exam: $15 by check, money order, Visa or MasterCard.
- Application: $60, nonrefundable. Of that, $20 goes to the county clerk under Executive Law § 131.
- Renewal: $60.
- Change of name or address: $10, waived when a name changes because of a change in marital status.
- Duplicate identification card: $10.
- Returned check: $20.
Exempt attorneys and court clerks pay only the $60 application fee. A journal is required, so count it as part of your startup cost.
Does New York require a notary bond?
No. The Department of State's list of requirements does not include a surety bond, and the notary law publication it issues does not mention one, so there is nothing to buy or file before you start.
The record that matters in New York sits with the county clerk instead. The clerk keeps your commission and signature on file, and anyone can check that a signature on a document is your official one.
What stamp should a New York notary order after the commission is issued?
A stamp is optional in New York, but Executive Law § 137 requires a statement under every signature, and stamping is one of the permitted ways to apply it. Order a stamp after appointment, because the statement includes your expiration date.
The statement has four printed parts: your name; the phrase "Notary Public State of New York"; the county in which you first qualified; and the date your commission expires. Your signature and the venue of the act complete it on each document. The Department calls for black ink, while size, shape and embossers are not addressed. Our New York notary stamp hub sets out each line and how to check an impression.
What must a New York notary journal include?
Since January 25, 2023, every New York notary, including those who work only in person, must keep a journal of each notarial act, with the type of identification used, and retain it for at least 10 years.
Under 19 NYCRR § 182.9 and the Department's guidance, each entry records:
- The date, approximate time and type of notarial act
- The name and address of each person served
- The type of credential presented
- The identity verification steps you used
Electronic notaries also log the communication technology, certification authority and verification providers used, and keep the audio and video recording. Records may be held through a third party if protected by a password or other secure means.
How do you renew a New York notary commission?
Renew online through New York Business Express, starting 90 days before your commission expires, and pay $60. The Department makes you responsible for tracking the expiration date and filing on time.
Executive Law § 130 lets the Secretary of State waive the qualifying requirements when you apply for reappointment before your term ends, or within 6 months after it expires. The statute describes that application as made with the county clerk, while the Department's renewal page now sends notaries to its online system, and § 131 has the reappointment oath and fee go to the Secretary of State.
A paper renewal must show your name, UID number, address and expiration date, or it is returned. A new term brings a new expiration date, so a stamp from the old term no longer matches; see our guide to finding the expiration date on a notary seal.
How do you report a name or address change in New York?
If your name, address or email address changes, notify the Secretary of State within five days, and sign the notice with your official signature. The change form costs $10, waived for a name change caused by a change in marital status.
Use form DOS-1473-f, which the Department offers in 11 languages. A new name or county of residence does not change the county of original qualification shown in your statement, but a name change does mean new stamp wording.
Can a New York notary work electronically?
Yes, after registering the capability with the Secretary of State. You must already hold a commission, pay a $60 registration fee, and be physically in New York for each electronic act, although the signer may be elsewhere.
Registration includes a description of the technology you will use and an exemplar of your electronic signature. An electronic notary may charge up to $25 per electronic act and must keep the audio and video recording for at least 10 years. Extra verification rules apply when the signer is outside the United States.
Frequently asked questions
Do New York attorneys have to take the notary exam?
No. An attorney admitted in New York can be appointed without the exam but still pays the $60 application fee.
Can I notarize anywhere in New York State?
Yes. Executive Law § 130 makes a notary's jurisdiction match the boundaries of the state. The county in your statement is the county of original qualification, not a limit on where you act.
How long is a passing exam result good for?
Two years from the exam date. Apply within that window or you will need to test again.
Is there a New York notary renewal form?
Renewal is an online application on New York Business Express, open from 90 days before expiration. If you file on paper, include your name, UID number, address and expiration date.
How much can a New York notary charge?
$2 for administering an oath or affirmation or taking an acknowledgment or proof of execution. A registered electronic notary may charge up to $25 per electronic act.
What does "Notary Public State of New York" mean on a stamp?
It is the exact phrase Executive Law § 137 requires in the statement printed beneath your signature, next to your name, county of original qualification and expiration date.
When your commission and expiration date are confirmed, choose a stamp, embosser kit or record book from the ESS New York stamps and seals collection. For the seal rules in other states, see our national notary seal requirements page.
