For Notaries · Rhode Island
How to Become a Notary in Rhode Island
To become a notary in Rhode Island, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, live or work in the state, and read and write English. No surety bond is required. Pass an online knowledge assessment, then file your application with the Department of State and pay the $80 state fee. Commissions last four years.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Rhode Island keeps its notary path refreshingly simple. Notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State through the Department of State's Business Services Division, and there is no surety bond and no formal classroom course to complete. You do, however, have to demonstrate you know the job: applicants must pass the state's online Notary Knowledge Assessment with a score of at least 80% before applying. After that you complete the application, take your oath of office before a Rhode Island notary, and mail it in with the $80 fee for a four-year commission. Rhode Island also allows remote online notarization, so once you are commissioned you can register to notarize digital documents for signers anywhere.
Rhode Island Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | You must be at least 18 years old; a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States; a resident of Rhode Island or have a place of employment or practice in the state; able to read and write English; not disqualified to receive a commission under RIGL 42-30.1-16; and able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the powers and duties of the office. Attorneys in good standing with the RI Bar and CPAs in good standing with the RI Board of Accountancy are exempt from the residency requirement. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Not required. Rhode Island does not require notaries to post a surety bond to be commissioned or to renew. The state encourages notaries to carry optional errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance to cover legal fees and damages from an unintentional mistake. |
| State filing fee | $80 non-refundable application fee, payable to the RI Department of State. There are no additional state sub-fees; you supply your own notary stamp separately. |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | Not required as a formal course. Rhode Island does not mandate training, but expects applicants to review the Secretary of State's Notary Public Manual, RIGL Chapter 42-30.1, and the Standards of Conduct. The state offers free notary training, and attorneys and CPAs can earn two continuing education credits by attending. |
| Exam | No proctored exam. Applicants must take the state's online Notary Knowledge Assessment (a self-administered, multi-question tool hosted on ClassMarker) and achieve a score of at least 80% before submitting the application. |
Rhode Island issues notaries public four-year commissions, does not require a surety bond, and charges an $80 non-refundable application fee. — Rhode Island Department of State — Apply for a New Commission
How to Become a Notary in Rhode Island: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, and either a Rhode Island resident or someone with a place of employment or practice in the state. You must be able to read and write English and not be disqualified under RIGL 42-30.1-16. Attorneys and CPAs in good standing are exempt from the residency rule.
- 2
Study the material and pass the knowledge assessment
Review the Secretary of State's Notary Public Manual, RIGL Chapter 42-30.1, and the Standards of Conduct, and consider the state's free notary training. Then take the online Notary Knowledge Assessment and score at least 80% to qualify.
- 3
Complete the application and take your oath
Fill out and print both pages of the Notary Application form using original signatures. Appear before a Rhode Island notary public who will administer your Oath of Office and complete the notarial certificate. No surety bond is required.
- 4
Submit your application and $80 fee
Mail or bring your completed application with the $80 non-refundable fee (payable to the RI Department of State) to the Business Services Division/Notary in Providence. Applications are processed within 3-5 business days.
- 5
Receive your commission and get your stamp
The state mails your four-year commission certificate. Purchase a required inked notary stamp meeting Rhode Island's format rules, and consider keeping a bound journal (recommended, not required). You can then register with an approved provider to add remote online notarization.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Rhode Island
Rhode Island notaries may perform remote online notarization. You must first hold a traditional Rhode Island notary commission, then choose a state-approved solution provider (such as BlueNotary, DocMagic, SIGNiX, Stavvy, or OneNotary), obtain an electronic signature and stamp, and submit the Notary Public Information Update form with samples of your digital stamp and signature to the Department of State. There is no state fee to file the form; you pay only for your chosen platform and digital tools. You must receive an email confirmation before performing any remote notarization.
Online / remote notary application fee: No state fee to register (the Notary Public Information Update form is free to file); costs are the solution-provider subscription and digital tools.
RON was made permanent effective June 30, 2022 under HB 7363 / SB 2705, codified in RIGL Chapter 42-30.1. The notary must be physically located in Rhode Island at the time of the act.
See how RON is authorized in Rhode Island — 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 Rhode Island remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Rhode Island instead? Notarize online with a Rhode Island commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Rhode Island
Rhode Island allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island? | 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 Rhode Island?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $80 (fixed by the state, non-refundable) |
| Surety bond | Not required (no bond premium) |
| Knowledge assessment | Free (online, self-administered) |
| Notary stamp/seal | Varies by supplier (roughly $15-$40) |
| Journal (recommended) | Varies by supplier |
| RON registration | No state fee; solution-provider subscription varies |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Rhode Island Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Rhode Island caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $25 |
|---|---|
| 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
Commission term in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Rhode Island notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long is a Rhode Island notary commission valid?
Four years. About two months before your commission expires, the Secretary of State sends a courtesy renewal notice. Submitting your renewal before the expiration date preserves your original expiration day and month.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Rhode Island?
The state application fee is $80 and there is no surety bond. Beyond that, budget for a required notary stamp (typically $15-$40) and optionally a journal. The online knowledge assessment and the state's training are free.
Is a class or exam required to become a Rhode Island notary?
There is no mandatory training course and no proctored exam. However, you must pass the state's online Notary Knowledge Assessment with a score of at least 80% before applying, and you're expected to review the Notary Public Manual and Standards of Conduct.
Who appoints and commissions notaries in Rhode Island?
The Rhode Island Secretary of State, through the Department of State's Business Services Division in Providence, issues notary public commissions. You apply directly to that office by mail or in person; applications cannot be emailed.
Can Rhode Island notaries perform remote online notarization?
Yes. RON became permanent on June 30, 2022. After you're commissioned, you register by choosing a state-approved solution provider and submitting the Notary Public Information Update form with your digital stamp and signature. There's no state fee to register, and you must be physically in Rhode Island during the act.
Do Rhode Island notaries need a surety bond?
No. Rhode Island does not require a surety bond to be commissioned or to renew. Many notaries still carry optional errors-and-omissions (E&O) insurance to protect themselves against liability for unintentional mistakes.
How much can a notary charge in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $25, per act or signature.
How much can a Rhode Island notary charge for online notarization?
Rhode Island's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $25, against $25 in person.
When does a Rhode Island notary commission expire?
The Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 New England 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
- Rhode Island Department of State — Apply for a New Commission
- Rhode Island Department of State — Become an Electronic/Remote Notary
- National Notary Association — How to Become a Notary in Rhode Island
- National Notary Association — How to Become a Remote Online Notary in Rhode Island
This guide summarizes public requirements from Rhode Island'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.