For Notaries · Washington
How to Become a Notary in Washington
To become a notary in Washington, you must be at least 18, able to read and write English, and either live or work in the state. Get a $10,000 surety bond, then file your application and $40 fee with the Department of Licensing. No exam is required, and commissions last four years.
Need a document notarized instead? This guide covers becoming a commissioned notary in Washington. If you are looking for a notary today, compare where to get a document notarized in Washington or notarize it online in minutes.
Last updated: July 9, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Washington makes it relatively easy to become a notary public: there is no state exam and no mandatory training course. The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) commissions notaries, and you will need a $10,000 surety bond, a $40 application fee, and to meet basic eligibility rules. Commissions run four years, with the exact expiration tied to your bond term. If you want to notarize electronic documents or perform remote online notarizations for signers who appear by live audio-video, you add the $15 electronic records notary endorsement.
Washington Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old, able to read and write English, and either living in Washington or having a place of employment or practice in Washington. Washington does not require U.S. citizenship, and there is no exam. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Required — a $10,000 surety bond obtained for the four-year commission term from any insurer or bonding company licensed to do surety business in Washington. The bond protects the public, not you, so consider separate errors-and-omissions coverage. |
| State filing fee | $40 application fee (payable to the Department of Licensing) |
| Commission term | 4 years (expiration is tied to your surety bond term) |
| Notary education | Optional — no course is required, though the Department of Licensing strongly recommends taking an education class. |
| Exam | Not required — Washington does not require a notary exam. |
Washington's notary application fee is $40, and adding the electronic records notary endorsement — required to notarize electronic documents and perform remote online notarizations — costs an additional $15. — Washington State Department of Licensing — Notary Public Fees
How to Become a Notary in Washington: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
You must be at least 18, able to read and write English, and either live in Washington or have a place of employment or practice in the state. Washington does not require U.S. citizenship, and there is no exam to pass.
- 2
Get a $10,000 surety bond
Purchase a four-year, $10,000 notary surety bond from any insurer or bonding company licensed to do surety in Washington. Your commission's expiration is tied to the bond term, so buy the full four years. Consider separate errors-and-omissions coverage to protect yourself.
- 3
Complete your application (and an optional class)
Fill out the Washington notary public application through the Department of Licensing. No exam or course is required, but DOL strongly recommends taking an optional notary education class to learn the state's notary laws and your duties.
- 4
Submit your application and $40 fee
File your application with proof of your surety bond and the $40 application fee, payable to the Department of Licensing, online through SecureAccess Washington (SAW) or by mail.
- 5
Receive your commission and start notarizing
Once DOL approves you, you receive a four-year commission. Order your notary stamp/seal and a journal, then you're ready to notarize across Washington — and you can add the $15 electronic records endorsement to notarize electronic documents and perform remote online notarizations.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Washington
Yes. Washington authorizes remote online notarization. A commissioned Washington notary who adds the electronic records notary endorsement can be authorized to perform remote notarial acts — notarizing for signers who appear over live audio-visual communication technology instead of in person. Remote acts require identifying your technology provider to DOL and retaining an audiovisual recording of each session for at least ten years.
Online / remote notary application fee: $15 (electronic records notary endorsement; remote acts require no extra state fee)
Remote online notarization is operative now in Washington under chapter 42.45 RCW; you need the $15 electronic records endorsement plus remote authorization before performing remote acts.
See how RON is authorized in Washington — 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 Washington remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Washington instead? Notarize online with a Washington commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Washington
Washington allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Washington 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 Washington? | 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 Washington?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee | $40 (fixed by the state) |
| $10,000 surety bond (4-year) | Premium varies by bonding company |
| Electronic records notary endorsement | $15 (fixed by the state) |
| Stamp/seal & journal | Varies by supplier |
| Optional education class | Varies by provider |
See what USA Notary costs a Washington notary for platform-side details.
What a Washington Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Washington caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $15 |
|---|---|
| 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 Washington compares with every other state in the how Washington fees compare across all 50 states.
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 Washington
Commission term in Washington
4 years (expiration is tied to your surety bond term)
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 Washington Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Washington notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states · compare RON platforms for Washington notaries
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long is a Washington notary commission valid?
A Washington notary public commission lasts four years, but its expiration is tied to your surety bond — if you buy a shorter bond, your commission ends when the bond does. Renew before it expires to keep notarizing.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Washington?
The Department of Licensing application fee is $40. You also need a $10,000 four-year surety bond (premium set by your bonding company) plus a stamp and journal. Adding the electronic records notary endorsement to notarize electronically or remotely costs an extra $15.
Does Washington require a notary exam or training course?
No. Washington does not require a notary exam, and no training course is mandatory. The Department of Licensing strongly recommends an optional education class to understand your legal duties, but it isn't required to get commissioned.
Does Washington allow remote online notarization?
Yes. A Washington notary can perform remote notarial acts for signers who appear over live audio-visual technology. You first add the $15 electronic records notary endorsement, then obtain remote authorization and identify your technology provider; remote acts require keeping an audiovisual recording for at least ten years.
Do I have to be a traditional notary before I can notarize online in Washington?
You need an active Washington commission plus the electronic records notary endorsement. You can apply for the endorsement at the same time as your commission, or add it later if you're already commissioned. Remote notarization also requires remote authorization on top of the endorsement.
Can you make money as a notary in Washington?
Yes. Beyond per-notarization fees, many Washington notaries earn from loan signings and remote online notarizations. Once you're commissioned with the electronic records endorsement, you can join USA Notary to receive assigned, paid remote signings.
How much can a notary charge in Washington?
Washington's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $15, per act or signature.
How much can a Washington notary charge for online notarization?
Washington's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $25, against $15 in person.
When does a Washington notary commission expire?
The Washington commission term is: 4 years (expiration is tied to your surety bond term). 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Pacific 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
- Washington State Department of Licensing — Get your notary license
- Washington DOL — Notary public fees
- Washington DOL — Electronic records notary public endorsement
- Washington DOL — Notaries public FAQ
This guide summarizes public requirements from Washington'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.