For Notaries · Utah
How to Become a Notary in Utah
To become a notary in Utah, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, and reside or work in Utah for 30 days before applying. Pass the state's online exam, obtain a $5,000 four-year surety bond, and apply to the Lieutenant Governor. The commission lasts four years.
Need a document notarized instead? This guide covers becoming a commissioned notary in Utah. If you are looking for a notary today, compare where to get a document notarized or notarize it online in minutes.
Last updated: July 9, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Utah is one of the more accessible states for aspiring notaries, but it is also one of the states that requires you to pass an exam. Notaries in Utah are commissioned by the Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor. You will need to meet the residency and citizenship rules, study for and pass the online notary exam, post a $5,000 surety bond, and pay $95 in state fees (a $55 application fee plus a $40 exam fee). Commissions run for four years. If you want to notarize for signers over live video, Utah also has an operative remote online notarization (RON) program you can add once you are commissioned.
Utah Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | You must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident under Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and either lawfully reside in Utah or be employed in Utah for at least 30 days immediately before applying. You must be able to read, write, and understand English and pass a background check. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Utah requires a $5,000 four-year notarial (surety) bond executed by an authorized surety company. Remote online notaries must increase coverage to $10,000 — either a rider on the existing bond or an additional $5,000 bond. |
| State filing fee | $95 paid to the state — a $55 application fee plus a $40 exam fee. |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | Utah does not require a state-approved training course. You study on your own using the state's materials, then take and pass the online exam. |
| Exam | Required. Utah is one of the states that mandates a notary exam — you must pass an online exam administered through the Lieutenant Governor's notary site. The exam fee is $40 (non-refundable), and a retake within 30 days is also $40. |
Utah requires notary applicants to pass an online exam and post a $5,000 four-year surety bond; the state fees total $95 — a $55 application fee plus a $40 exam fee. — Utah Lieutenant Governor — Notary FAQs
How to Become a Notary in Utah: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Make sure you are at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, and have lawfully resided or been employed in Utah for at least 30 days before applying. You must also read, write, and understand English.
- 2
Study for and pass the online exam
Utah requires a notary exam. Review the state's notary study materials, then take and pass the online exam through the Lieutenant Governor's notary site. The exam fee is $40, and retakes within 30 days are also $40.
- 3
Get a $5,000 surety bond
Purchase a $5,000 four-year notarial bond from an authorized surety company. The bond protects the public, not you, so consider separate errors-and-omissions coverage.
- 4
Notarize your oath and submit your application
Have your Oath of Office notarized before submitting — an unnotarized oath gets your application rejected. Submit your application, bond, and oath to the Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor and pay the $55 application fee.
- 5
Receive your commission and supplies
Once the Lieutenant Governor approves you (typically in under two weeks), you receive your four-year commission. Order your notary stamp and journal, then you can begin notarizing across Utah.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Utah
Utah has an operative remote online notarization program. After you hold a Utah notary commission, you can add remote authorization: contract with a state-approved RON vendor, increase your bond to $10,000, obtain an electronic seal and signature, get your Remote Online Notary Oath and Affirmation notarized, and submit it with a $50 application fee to the Lieutenant Governor.
Online / remote notary application fee: $50 RON application fee (plus the bond increase to $10,000)
Utah's remote notarization law is in effect and RON applications are being accepted now.
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 Utah remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Utah instead? Notarize online with a Utah commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Utah
Utah allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Utah 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 Utah? | 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 Utah?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $55 (fixed by the state) |
| Notary exam fee | $40 (retake within 30 days also $40) |
| $5,000 surety bond | Premium varies by surety company (often a low one-time cost) |
| Stamp, journal & supplies | Varies by provider |
| Remote online notary application (optional) | $50 + bond increase to $10,000 |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Utah Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Utah caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $10 |
|---|---|
| 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 Utah 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 Utah
Commission term in Utah
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 Utah Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Utah notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states · compare RON platforms
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
Does Utah require a notary exam?
Yes. Utah is one of the states that requires you to pass an exam before you can be commissioned. You take the exam online through the Lieutenant Governor's notary site, and the exam fee is $40 (a retake within 30 days is also $40).
How much does it cost to become a notary in Utah?
You pay $95 to the state — a $55 application fee plus a $40 exam fee. You also need a $5,000 four-year surety bond (typically a low one-time premium) and supplies such as a stamp and journal.
How long is a Utah notary commission valid?
A Utah notary commission lasts four years, and your $5,000 notarial bond covers the same four-year term. You must reapply and pass the exam again to renew.
Who commissions notaries in Utah?
The Office of the Utah Lieutenant Governor commissions notaries. You apply online, and the Lieutenant Governor's office reviews your application, background check, bond, and oath before issuing your commission certificate.
Can I be a remote online notary in Utah?
Yes. Utah has an operative remote online notarization program. Once you hold a Utah commission, you can add remote authorization by contracting with an approved RON vendor, increasing your bond to $10,000, obtaining an electronic seal and signature, and paying a $50 application fee to the Lieutenant Governor.
Do I have to be a traditional notary before becoming a remote notary in Utah?
Yes. You must already be a commissioned Utah notary public before you can apply for remote online notary authorization. There is no remote-only path in Utah.
How much can a notary charge in Utah?
Utah's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $10, per act or signature.
How much can a Utah notary charge for online notarization?
Utah's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $25, against $10 in person.
When does a Utah notary commission expire?
The Utah 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 Utah 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 Mountain 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
- Utah Lieutenant Governor — Notary Qualifications & Process
- Utah Lieutenant Governor — Notary FAQs
- Utah Lieutenant Governor — Remote Online Notary (RON) Application Process
- American Society of Notaries — Utah Notary Requirements
This guide summarizes public requirements from Utah'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.