For Notaries · Iowa
How to Become a Notary in Iowa
To become a notary in Iowa, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who lives or works in Iowa, and able to read and write English. Iowa requires no surety bond, no exam, and no training course. You file with the Secretary of State, pay the $30 state fee, and serve a 3-year term.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Iowa notaries are appointed by the Secretary of State, whose Notary Division administers commissions statewide. Iowa is one of the easier states to enter: there is no surety bond, no state exam, and no mandatory training course for a traditional commission. You confirm your eligibility, complete a short application (which doubles as your oath of office), and submit it with a $30 fee through the Secretary of State's online Fast Track Filing system or by mail. Iowa residents receive a 3-year term, while qualifying residents of a bordering state who work in Iowa receive a 1-year term. Once commissioned, you can extend your services online by separately registering as a remote online notary, which does add a training requirement.
Iowa Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | Be at least 18 years old; be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; be able to read and write English; and be a resident of Iowa or a resident of a bordering state who is employed or practices in Iowa. You must not be disqualified under Iowa Code section 9B.23, which covers convictions for fraud, dishonesty, or deceit and prior notary misconduct. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | No surety bond is required to become a notary public in Iowa. (Errors & omissions insurance is optional and offered by vendors, but the state does not require it.) |
| State filing fee | $30 application fee paid to the Secretary of State (renewal is also $30). The Application for Approval to Perform Remote Notarizations has no fee. |
| Commission term | 3 years for Iowa residents (1 year for qualifying non-residents employed in Iowa) |
| Notary education | Not required for a traditional Iowa notary commission. The Secretary of State recommends education but does not mandate it. (A Secretary of State-approved training course IS required to perform remote online notarizations.) |
| Exam | Not required. Iowa does not administer or require a notary examination for a traditional commission. |
Iowa's notary commission application fee is $30, and the state charges no separate fee to register as a remote online notary. — Iowa Secretary of State - Notary Forms and Fees
How to Become a Notary in Iowa: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Verify you are at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, able to read and write English, and either an Iowa resident or a bordering-state resident employed in Iowa. Confirm you are not disqualified under Iowa Code 9B.23.
- 2
Complete the application (your oath of office)
Fill out the Application for Notary Commission. No bond, exam, or training course is required for a traditional commission; completing the form serves as your oath of office.
- 3
Submit your application and $30 fee to the Secretary of State
File online through the Secretary of State's Fast Track Filing system or mail the paper form with the $30 fee to the Secretary of State, Notary Division, in Des Moines.
- 4
Receive your commission and get your seal
Once the Secretary of State approves you, obtain a compliant official rubber stamp seal (required for all notarizations); a journal is recommended for paper acts. Iowa residents are commissioned for 3 years.
- 5
Optional: register for remote online notarization
To notarize online, complete a Secretary of State-approved RON training course and file the Application for Approval to Perform Remote Notarizations (no state fee), then contract with an approved technology platform.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Iowa
Remote online notarization is operative in Iowa. You must first hold a valid Iowa notary commission, then complete a Secretary of State-approved RON training course within the 6 months before your first remote act and file the Application for Approval to Perform Remote Notarizations with the Secretary of State, identifying compliant audio-video technology. The application itself has no state fee; platform, e-seal, and e-journal costs are vendor-set.
Online / remote notary application fee: No state fee for the RON application (vendor/platform costs apply separately)
Authorized under Iowa Code 9B.14A with rules in Iowa Administrative Code 721-Chapter 43; remote provisions effective July 1, 2020
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 Iowa remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Iowa instead? Notarize online with a Iowa commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Iowa
Iowa allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Iowa 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 Iowa? | 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 Iowa?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee (Secretary of State) | $30 |
| Surety bond | Not required ($0) |
| Education / exam | Not required ($0) for traditional commission |
| Official seal stamp & journal | Varies by supplier (approx. $20-$50) |
| RON registration (optional) | No state fee; training + platform costs vary by vendor |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Iowa Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Iowa is one of the states that sets no statutory maximum on the in-person notarial fee, so the per-act price is whatever you and the signer agree to.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | No cap |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | No cap |
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 Iowa compares with every other state in the full 50-state breakdown of what a notary costs.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Iowa
Commission term in Iowa
3 years for Iowa residents (1 year for qualifying non-residents employed in Iowa)
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 Iowa Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Iowa notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long does an Iowa notary commission last?
An Iowa resident's commission lasts 3 years. A qualifying resident of a bordering state who is employed or practices in Iowa receives a 1-year term. You can renew for another $30 near expiration.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Iowa?
The state application fee is $30. There is no surety bond and no required course or exam, so your only other costs are a required official seal stamp and an optional journal, which vary by supplier.
Is a class or exam required to become a notary in Iowa?
No. Iowa does not require a training course or an exam for a traditional notary commission, though the Secretary of State recommends education. Training is only mandatory if you choose to perform remote online notarizations.
Who appoints notaries in Iowa?
The Iowa Secretary of State appoints and commissions notaries through its Notary Division. You file your application and $30 fee with that office, either online via Fast Track Filing or by mail.
Can Iowa notaries perform remote online notarization?
Yes. Iowa authorizes remote online notarization under Iowa Code 9B.14A. You must already hold a commission, complete a Secretary of State-approved RON training course, and file a separate (no-fee) application before notarizing online.
How much can a notary charge in Iowa?
Iowa sets no statutory maximum on the in-person notarial fee — it is whatever the notary and signer agree, disclosed before the appointment.
How much can a Iowa notary charge for online notarization?
Iowa sets no statutory cap on the fee for a remote online notarization.
When does a Iowa notary commission expire?
The Iowa commission term is: 3 years for Iowa residents (1 year for qualifying non-residents employed in Iowa). 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 Iowa 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 a 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 West 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
- Iowa Secretary of State - Notary Forms and Fees
- American Society of Notaries - Iowa State Information
- National Notary Association - Become an Iowa Notary
This guide summarizes public requirements from Iowa'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.