For Notaries · Illinois
How to Become a Notary in Illinois
To become a notary in Illinois, be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and an Illinois resident. Since January 2024, applicants (first-time and renewing) must complete a 3-hour state-approved course and pass an exam, obtain a $5,000 bond, and file a $15 application with the Secretary of State. Commissions last four years.
Need a document notarized instead? This guide covers becoming a commissioned notary in Illinois. If you are looking for a notary today, compare where to get a document notarized in Illinois or notarize it online in minutes.
Last updated: October 1, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Illinois notaries are commissioned by the Illinois Secretary of State, and the rules changed meaningfully in recent years. As of January 1, 2024, first-time applicants must complete a state-approved study course and pass an exam before applying — a step Illinois did not require in the past. You also post a $5,000 surety bond, pay a $15 filing fee, and serve a four-year term. Illinois now authorizes electronic and remote online notarization as well, so you can choose to add online authority (which carries a larger $30,000 bond) and start earning from remote signings.
Illinois Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and a resident of Illinois (or, for the 1-year non-resident commission, employed or with a principal place of work in Illinois). You must be able to read and write English and have no disqualifying felony conviction or a commission revoked in the past decade. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | $5,000 surety bond for a traditional notary, covering the full four-year term. An electronic/remote notary must carry a $30,000 bond (or $25,000 in addition to the $5,000 traditional bond). |
| State filing fee | $15 for a notary commission, including a combined notary + electronic notary application; the $25 electronic notary fee is waived for two years from July 2026 under Public Act 104-621, so adding electronic authority to an active commission is free. |
| Commission term | 4 years (1 year for non-resident commissions) |
| Notary education | Required. Since January 1, 2024, applicants must complete a Secretary of State-certified course of at least 180 minutes (three hours) and pass its examination — this applies to both first-time and renewing notaries (5 ILCS 312/2-101.5). The only exemption is for renewing applicants who are ARDC-licensed attorneys in good standing, sitting Illinois or federal judges, or employed by them (5 ILCS 312/2-101.5(c); 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.205(e), amended effective January 1, 2025). |
| Exam | Required. The course ends in a 50-question exam drawn at random from a bank of at least 100 questions, with a passing score of at least 85% (14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.235). Renewing notaries must pass it too, except renewing applicants who are ARDC-licensed attorneys in good standing, sitting Illinois or federal judges, or employed by them. |
Since January 1, 2024, first-time Illinois notary applicants must complete a minimum 180-minute (three-hour) state-certified study course and pass a 50-question examination with a score of at least 85%. — Illinois Administrative Code, Title 14, Part 176.205 (Course of Study and Examination)
How to Become a Notary in Illinois: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and an Illinois resident (or work in Illinois for the 1-year non-resident commission). You must read and write English and have no disqualifying felony or a commission revoked in the last 10 years.
- 2
Complete the study course and pass the exam
First-time applicants must take a Secretary of State-certified study course of at least three hours (in person or online) and pass a 50-question exam with a score of at least 85%. This requirement began January 1, 2024; renewing notaries must also complete it, except renewing applicants who are ARDC-licensed attorneys in good standing, sitting Illinois or federal judges, or employed by them.
- 3
Obtain your $5,000 surety bond
Purchase a $5,000 notary surety bond from a licensed bonding company; it covers your four-year term. The bond protects the public, not you, so consider separate errors-and-omissions coverage. Electronic/remote notaries need a $30,000 bond instead.
- 4
Submit your application and $15 fee
File your notary public application with proof of your bond and course completion through the Illinois Secretary of State and pay the $15 filing fee. To also perform electronic/remote notarizations, apply for the combined commission (still $15 while the electronic notary fee is waived) and provide the higher bond.
- 5
Receive your commission and start notarizing
Once approved, you receive a four-year commission. Get your official notary seal and record book (journal), then you're ready to notarize documents across Illinois.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Illinois
Illinois authorizes both electronic notarization and remote online notarization (RON) through an electronic notary commission (5 ILCS 312, Article VI-A). Illinois residents apply online with the Secretary of State and must use an Electronic Notarization System Provider that the state has approved. The application asks whether you will perform notarizations remotely by audio-video communication, and applications for electronic/remote authority are open now. A notary who performs remote notarizations must carry a $30,000 bond instead of the standard $5,000 and must be located in Illinois when performing the act.
Online / remote notary application fee: No state fee to add electronic authority to an active commission while the $25 electronic notary fee is waived for two years from July 2026 (Public Act 104-621). A new commission, including a combined notary + electronic notary application, is $15. A notary may charge up to $25 per electronic notarial act (5 ILCS 312/3-104).
Illinois's electronic and remote notarization rules (Public Act 102-160) took effect in 2023, and the Secretary of State launched its Electronic Notary System in April 2024; notaries can apply for electronic/remote authority now.
See how RON is authorized in Illinois — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Illinois remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Illinois instead? Notarize online with an Illinois commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Illinois
Illinois allows remote online notarization, so once you hold an Illinois commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in Illinois? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in Illinois?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State filing fee (traditional) | $15 (fixed by the state) |
| $5,000 surety bond | Premium varies by bonding company (about $30-$55) |
| Study course and exam | Varies by approved provider |
| Seal, journal and supplies | Varies |
| Electronic / remote notary (optional) | No added state fee while the $25 fee is waived (through about July 2028); requires a $30,000 bond |
See what USA Notary costs an Illinois notary for platform-side details.
What an Illinois Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Illinois caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $5 |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $25 |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Illinois compares with every other state in the how Illinois fees compare across all 50 states.
Fee cap read from 5 ILCS 312/3-104 on October 1, 2026, which also states the online cap. Fees are per notarial act or signature, and a notary may charge less than the cap; separately permitted charges such as travel or an online-platform technology fee are not part of it. Confirm before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Illinois
Commission term in Illinois
4 years (1 year for non-resident commissions)
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Illinois Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Illinois notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states · compare RON platforms for Illinois notaries
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to become a notary in Illinois?
The Illinois Secretary of State filing fee is $15. You also need a $5,000 surety bond (the premium, often around $30-$55, is set by your bonding company), the required study course, and supplies such as a seal and journal. Adding electronic/remote notary authority has no state fee while the $25 electronic notary fee is waived (a combined notary and electronic notary application is also $15), and remote notarization requires a $30,000 bond.
Do Illinois notaries have to take a course and pass an exam?
Yes. Since January 1, 2024, applicants must complete a Secretary of State-certified study course of at least three hours and pass a 50-question exam with a score of at least 85%. Renewing notaries must complete both as well; the only exemption is for renewing applicants who are ARDC-licensed attorneys in good standing, sitting Illinois or federal judges, or employed by them, and who submit the signed statement the Secretary of State requires.
Does Illinois allow remote online notarization?
Yes. Illinois authorizes both electronic notarization and remote online notarization (RON), and applications are open now. The application asks whether you will perform notarizations remotely by audio-video communication, and a notary who performs remote notarizations must carry a $30,000 bond rather than the standard $5,000.
How long is an Illinois notary commission valid?
An Illinois resident notary commission is issued for a four-year term. Non-resident commissions are issued for one year. You must renew before your commission expires to keep notarizing.
Do I need a separate commission to perform electronic or remote notarizations in Illinois?
Electronic notary authority is added to a notary commission. The application asks whether you are requesting a Notary Public and Electronic Notary Public commission and whether you will notarize remotely by audio-video communication. You can apply for a combined traditional plus electronic commission at once for $15, or add electronic authority to an active commission later at no fee while the $25 electronic notary fee is waived - and if you will notarize remotely, you must provide a $30,000 bond (a notary who holds only a $5,000 bond submits a separate $25,000 bond on Form I 263).
Can you make money as a notary in Illinois?
Yes. Beyond per-notarization fees, many Illinois notaries add income through loan-signing and remote online notarization work. Once you're commissioned as an electronic/remote notary, you can join USA Notary to receive assigned, paid online signings.
How much can a notary charge in Illinois?
Illinois's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $5, per act or signature.
How much can an Illinois notary charge for online notarization?
Illinois's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $25, against $5 in person.
When does an Illinois notary commission expire?
The Illinois commission term is: 4 years (1 year for non-resident commissions). No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Illinois cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- what an Illinois loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby East North Central guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- Illinois Secretary of State - Notary Services
- Illinois Administrative Code, Title 14, Part 176.205 - Course of Study and Examination
- Illinois Notary Public: Requirements and Rules - LegalClarity
- New Requirements for Illinois Notaries - Gensburg Calandriello & Kanter, P.C.
- Illinois Secretary of State - Giannoulias Eliminates Fee for Electronic Notary Services (September 9, 2026)
- Illinois Public Act 104-621 (electronic notary fee waiver)
- Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312)
- Illinois Secretary of State - Notary Public or Notary Public and Electronic Notary Public Application, Hardship Exemption Request and Instructions (Form I 269)
This guide summarizes public requirements from Illinois's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.