For Notaries · South Dakota
How to Become a Notary in South Dakota
To become a notary in South Dakota, you must be at least 18, be a South Dakota resident (or work in-state from a bordering county), and have no felony conviction. No surety bond is required as of July 1, 2025, and there is no exam or class. File your application and oath with the Secretary of State, pay the $30 state fee, and serve a 6-year term.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
South Dakota commissions notaries through the Secretary of State, and it is one of the easier states to join. There is no training course and no exam, and as of July 1, 2025 the state eliminated the old $5,000 surety bond requirement (HB 1133), so you simply complete the application and oath, obtain a seal, and mail everything with the $30 filing fee to Pierre. You must be 18, a South Dakota resident (or live in a bordering-state county while maintaining a South Dakota place of work), and have no felony conviction. Once your commission certificate arrives, you serve a six-year term. South Dakota also authorizes remote online notarization, which you can add by notifying the Secretary of State of your e-notary platform.
South Dakota Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old; a South Dakota resident, or a resident of a county in a bordering state (Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, or Iowa) who maintains a place of work or business in South Dakota; and never convicted of a felony. The Secretary of State may not appoint anyone convicted of a felony. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | No surety bond required. Effective July 1, 2025 (HB 1133), South Dakota eliminated the former $5,000 notary surety bond requirement; a bond no longer needs to be filed with the Secretary of State. |
| State filing fee | $30.00 filing fee, payable to the Secretary of State (same fee for new applications and renewals). No sub-fees. |
| Commission term | 6 years |
| Notary education | Not required. South Dakota does not mandate any notary education or training course. |
| Exam | Not required. South Dakota does not require a notary exam. |
South Dakota notaries pay a $30 filing fee, serve a six-year commission, and as of July 1, 2025 no longer post the former $5,000 surety bond. — South Dakota Secretary of State - Notary Public Handbook
How to Become a Notary in South Dakota: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you are eligible
Be at least 18, a South Dakota resident (or a resident of a bordering-state county with a South Dakota place of work or business), and free of any felony conviction.
- 2
Obtain your notary seal
Get a rubber, electronic, or embossing seal showing your name exactly as you will be commissioned, plus the words "Notary Public" and "South Dakota" (rubber stamps must also include the word "seal").
- 3
Complete the application and oath
Fill out the Notary Application and Oath form, imprint your seal, and answer the residency, date-of-birth, and felony questions. No surety bond is required as of July 1, 2025.
- 4
Submit your application and fee
Mail the completed application and oath with the $30 filing fee (check payable to Secretary of State) to the Secretary of State, 500 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 204, Pierre, SD 57501.
- 5
Receive your commission and start notarizing
Once the Secretary of State issues your Notary Commission Certificate, you may begin notarizing for a six-year term. Add remote online notarization by notifying the office of your e-notary platform.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in South Dakota
South Dakota authorizes remote online notarization on electronic records. A commissioned notary registers by notifying the Secretary of State (filing a Notary Change Form / indicating e-notary services on the application) and naming the tamper-evident e-notary platform(s) they will use; the office then issues a certificate listing them as an e-notary. No separate state bond or fee is specified for e-notary registration. The notary must be physically located in South Dakota at the time of the act; the signer may be anywhere. Fully electronic RON requires two methods of identity proofing and an audio-visual recording retained for ten years.
Online / remote notary application fee: No separate state fee specified for e-notary registration
Full RON on electronic records effective July 1, 2024 (SB 211, SDCL 18-1-11.2); paper-based remote notarization has been allowed since 2019 (SDCL 18-1-11.1).
See how RON is authorized in South 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 South Dakota remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in South Dakota instead? Notarize online with a South Dakota commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in South Dakota
South Dakota allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a South 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 South 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 South Dakota?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State filing fee (application & oath) | $30 |
| Surety bond | Not required (eliminated July 1, 2025) |
| Education / exam | $0 (not required) |
| Notary seal & journal | Varies by supplier (about $20-$50) |
| Remote online notary registration | No separate state fee |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a South Dakota Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. South Dakota 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 South 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 South Dakota
Commission term in South Dakota
6 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 South Dakota Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How South Dakota notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long is a South Dakota notary commission?
Six years. The commission takes effect on the day the Secretary of State makes the appointment and expires exactly six years later. You may apply to renew up to 60 days before your expiration date.
How much does it cost to become a notary in South Dakota?
The state filing fee is $30, the same for new applicants and renewals. There is no bond and no course, so your main added cost is a seal (and an optional journal), typically $20-$50. Total is usually around $50-$80.
Is a class or exam required to become a South Dakota notary?
No. South Dakota does not require any education, training course, or exam. You simply complete the application and oath, obtain a seal, and pay the $30 fee.
Who appoints notaries in South Dakota?
The South Dakota Secretary of State appoints and commissions notaries public. You mail your application, oath, and fee to the Secretary of State's office in Pierre.
Is remote online notarization allowed in South Dakota?
Yes. South Dakota authorizes remote online notarization on electronic records, effective July 1, 2024 (SB 211). A commissioned notary registers by notifying the Secretary of State of the e-notary platform they will use and must be physically located in South Dakota when performing the act.
Do I still need a surety bond in South Dakota?
No. Effective July 1, 2025, House Bill 1133 eliminated the former $5,000 surety bond requirement. You may still buy a bond voluntarily, but it no longer needs to be filed with the Secretary of State.
How much can a notary charge in South Dakota?
South Dakota 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 South Dakota notary charge for online notarization?
South Dakota sets no statutory cap on the fee for a remote online notarization.
When does a South Dakota notary commission expire?
The South Dakota commission term is: 6 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 South 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
- South Dakota Secretary of State - Becoming a Notary Public
- South Dakota Secretary of State - Notary Public Handbook
- SD Secretary of State - Bond Requirement Removed (HB 1133) press release
- South Dakota Codified Law 18-1 (Notaries Public)
- SD Secretary of State - Remote Electronic Notarization
This guide summarizes public requirements from South 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.