New York Notary Public Requirements
New York’s process looks like most other states on the surface — an exam, an application fee, a commission from the state — but it skips the surety bond that California, Texas, and Florida all require, and adds a county-clerk filing step of its own.
- Quick facts
- Who needs it
- Steps to get commissioned
- Renewal
- Electronic Notary (RON)
- FAQ
Quick facts
| Regulator | New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (commission is then filed with your county clerk) |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Residency | Must be a New York resident, or a non-resident with an office/place of business in New York (attorneys with a New York law office may reside in an adjoining state) |
| Exam | Required written exam, $15 fee — waived for New York-admitted attorneys and Unified Court System court clerks |
| Bond | Not required by New York State (unlike California, Texas, and Florida) |
| Application fee | $60, paid to the Division of Licensing Services (covers the appointment and filing of the oath of office) |
| Commission term | 4 years |
Who needs it
Anyone who needs to administer oaths, take acknowledgments, or certify documents in New York — real estate closings, legal and financial paperwork, and countless everyday business transactions — needs an active New York notary commission. Because New York doesn’t require a bond, the barrier to entry is lower than in bond-required states, but the exam requirement (for non-exempt applicants) means it’s not purely a paperwork process either.
Steps to get commissioned
- Confirm eligibility. You must be 18 or older and either a New York resident or maintain an office/place of business in the state.
- Take the written exam, unless exempt. New York-admitted attorneys and Unified Court System court clerks skip this step; everyone else pays a $15 exam fee and must pass.
- Submit your application and $60 fee to the Division of Licensing Services. No bond is required.
- File your signed oath of office with your county clerk. Your commission is issued by the state but held on file with the clerk of the county where you reside or do business — you can’t legally act as a notary until this filing is complete.
Renewal
A New York notary commission lasts 4 years. Reappointment isn’t automatic: unless you’re exempt (attorney or UCS court clerk), you need to pass the exam again and pay the same $60 fee before your current commission expires, then re-file your oath with the county clerk.
Electronic Notary (RON)
New York has allowed Remote Online Notarization since January 31, 2023. It’s a distinct application type, not an add-on to an existing commission — when you apply through NY Business Express, you choose either “traditional notary” or “electronic notary” as separate paths. New York doesn’t require a surety bond for a standard commission, and no separate bond applies to electronic notaries either. The application and exam fees are the same as the traditional path ($60 application, $15 exam where required) — the state doesn’t publish a separate, higher fee specifically for electronic notary applicants. What electronic notaries do need: compliant two-way audio-video technology with two-factor identity verification for the signer, and a journal plus a retained audio-visual recording of each session for 10 years. Confirm the current application process directly at dos.ny.gov, since electronic notary technology and vendor requirements can change.
Does New York require a notary bond like California or Texas?
No. New York is one of the states that doesn’t require a surety bond to become or remain a notary. Many New York notaries still choose to carry errors & omissions (E&O) insurance voluntarily, since a bond in other states protects the public rather than the notary personally — New York notaries have no equivalent public-facing bond either way.
Can I become a New York notary if I live in another state?
Only if you maintain an office or place of business in New York — residency in the state isn’t strictly required as long as that’s true. There’s also a specific exception for attorneys with a New York law office, who may become and remain a notary even while residing in an adjoining state.
Why do I need to go to the county clerk if the state issues my commission?
New York splits the process: the Department of State approves and appoints you, but your oath of office has to be signed and filed with the county clerk of the county where you reside or do business before you can actually notarize anything. Skipping this step means you technically hold a commission but can’t yet use it.