For Notaries · North Dakota
How to Become a Notary in North Dakota
To become a notary in North Dakota, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, able to read and write English, and a resident or worker in the state. You post a $7,500 surety bond and pay the $36 state fee for a 4-year term. No exam or class is required.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
North Dakota notaries are commissioned by the North Dakota Secretary of State, which makes this one of the simpler states to join: there is no mandatory training course and no exam. You apply online through the state's FirstStop Portal, submitting a $7,500 notary bond, a signed Oath of Office, and a $36 fee. Once approved, you obtain a stamping device using the Certificate of Authorization the state issues, return a stamp impression, and receive a 4-year commission. Eligibility is straightforward: you must be 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who reads and writes English, and either live or work in North Dakota (or a reciprocal border county). Once commissioned, you can also register to perform remote online notarization.
North Dakota Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | Be at least 18 years old; a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States; able to read and write in English; and either a North Dakota resident, have a place of employment or practice in North Dakota, or reside in a border county of a reciprocating state. The National Notary Association notes you must also not have a felony involving fraud or dishonesty within the prior five years. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Required: a $7,500 surety bond (Notary Bond form SFN 19355) covering notarial acts performed during the full 4-year commission term, obtained from an insurance company of your choice and filed with the application. |
| State filing fee | $36 application fee paid to the Secretary of State (no separate sub-fees; the stamping device is purchased separately from a vendor). |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | Not required. North Dakota does not mandate any pre-commission education or training course, though voluntary training is available and recommended. |
| Exam | Not required. North Dakota does not require a notary examination. |
North Dakota notaries must post a $7,500 surety bond and pay a $36 application fee to the Secretary of State for a 4-year commission term, with no exam or training required. — North Dakota Secretary of State — Become a Notary Public
How to Become a Notary in North Dakota: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you are eligible
Verify you are at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who reads and writes English, and either a North Dakota resident, employed/practicing in the state, or in a reciprocating border county.
- 2
Obtain your $7,500 surety bond
Purchase a $7,500 notary bond (form SFN 19355) from an insurance company of your choice, covering the full 4-year term, and sign a Notary Oath of Office before a notary public.
- 3
Submit your application and $36 fee
Complete the Notary Public Application in the FirstStop Portal, attaching the bond and signed Oath of Office, and pay the $36 state fee to the Secretary of State. No class or exam is required.
- 4
Get your stamping device
After approval, the Secretary of State issues a Certificate of Authorization; use it to buy a compliant stamping device from a vendor, then return a stamp impression on the Verification form.
- 5
Receive your commission and start notarizing
The Secretary of State issues your 4-year commission certificate. Begin notarizing on or after the commencement date, keep a journal, and optionally file an amendment to add remote online notarization.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in North Dakota
North Dakota notaries can perform Remote Online Notarization (RON) once commissioned. First hold a traditional ND commission, then file a free Notary Public Amendment through the FirstStop Portal indicating you will perform remote notarizations and naming your communication-technology provider (the provider must comply with NDCC ch. 44-06.1, including recording and retaining the audiovisual session for 10 years). No additional state bond or fee is charged by the Secretary of State for the amendment; you pay your chosen RON platform separately. North Dakota also permits In-Person Electronic Notarization (IPEN) and Remote Ink Notarization (RIN).
Online / remote notary application fee: No additional state fee for the amendment; RON platform costs vary by provider
Authorized under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, NDCC ch. 44-06.1
See how RON is authorized in North Dakota — 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 North Dakota remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in North Dakota instead? Notarize online with a North Dakota commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in North Dakota
North Dakota allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a North Dakota 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 North Dakota? | 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 North Dakota?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $36 |
| $7,500 surety bond (4-year term) | Varies by surety supplier |
| Education / exam | $0 (not required) |
| Notary stamp & journal | Varies by supplier |
| RON registration (Notary Public Amendment) | $0 state fee (platform costs vary) |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a North Dakota Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. North Dakota 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 | $5 + tech |
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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota
Commission term in North Dakota
4 years
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 North Dakota Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How North Dakota notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long does a North Dakota notary commission last?
A North Dakota notary commission term is 4 years. It begins at 12:00 a.m. on the commencement date listed on your commission certificate and ends at midnight on the expiration date. Notarizing outside that window violates state law.
How much does it cost to become a notary in North Dakota?
The state application fee is $36. You also need a $7,500 surety bond (premium varies by insurer) and a notary stamping device (cost varies by vendor). There is no fee for training or an exam because neither is required.
Is a class or exam required to become a North Dakota notary?
No. North Dakota does not require a pre-commission training course or an examination. Voluntary training is available and recommended, but it is not a condition of receiving your commission.
Who commissions notaries in North Dakota?
The North Dakota Secretary of State commissions notaries public. You apply through the state's FirstStop Portal and submit your bond, Oath of Office, and fee to that office.
Can North Dakota notaries perform remote online notarization?
Yes. After receiving your commission, you can file a Notary Public Amendment through the FirstStop Portal naming your communication-technology provider. North Dakota authorizes RON, RIN, and in-person electronic notarization under NDCC ch. 44-06.1.
How much can a notary charge in North Dakota?
North Dakota's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $5, per act or signature.
How much can a North Dakota notary charge for online notarization?
North Dakota's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $5 + tech, against $5 in person.
When does a North Dakota notary commission expire?
The North Dakota commission term is: 4 years. 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 North Dakota 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
- North Dakota Secretary of State — Become a Notary Public
- North Dakota Secretary of State — Performing Electronic and Remote Notarizations
- National Notary Association — Become a North Dakota Notary
This guide summarizes public requirements from North Dakota'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.