Illinois Notary Public Requirements
Illinois overhauled its notary law in 2022, and since January 2024 every new applicant — not just first-timers in a general sense, but nearly every renewal too — has to pass a real course and exam, not just file paperwork.
- Quick facts
- Steps to get commissioned
- The course and exam
- Electronic and remote notarization
- Renewal
- FAQ
Quick facts
| Regulator | Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Residency | Illinois resident for 30+ days, or a resident of a bordering state employed in Illinois for 30+ days |
| Education course | 3-hour state-approved course, required for nearly all new and renewing applicants |
| Exam | 50-question final exam, must score at least 85% (43/50) to pass; up to 2 retakes with different questions before the course itself is considered failed |
| Bond | $5,000 surety bond, filed with the application |
| Application fee | $15 (covers Notary Public, or Notary Public plus Electronic Notary Public together) |
| Commission term | 4 years for Illinois residents; 1 year for qualifying non-resident (bordering-state) applicants |
Steps to get commissioned
- Check your eligibility. At least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, able to read and write English, no felony conviction, and no notary commission suspended or revoked within the past 10 years.
- Complete the 3-hour approved course and pass the 50-question exam with a score of at least 85%.
- Purchase your $5,000 surety bond.
- Apply online through the Secretary of State’s notary system, submitting your bond, course completion certificate, and the $15 filing fee. Choose Electronic Notary Public too if you plan to notarize documents remotely.
The course and exam
Illinois used to let most applicants get commissioned with paperwork alone. That changed with Public Act 102-0160: since January 1, 2024, nearly every new applicant and most renewing notaries must complete a 3-hour state-approved course and pass a 50-question exam, scoring at least 85% (43 of 50 correct) to pass. A candidate who scores below 85% can retake the exam with a different question set, but failing three times means failing the course outright and having to start the education requirement over. A narrow exemption applies only to renewal applicants who are licensed attorneys in good standing, sitting Illinois or federal judges, or employees of such an attorney or court.
Electronic and remote notarization
Illinois notaries can add authorization to notarize electronically, and — separately — to perform full Remote Online Notarization (RON) using audio-video technology; Illinois’ statewide Electronic Notary System went live in April 2024. Both are add-ons under the Illinois Notary Public Act (5 ILCS 312/2-105), on top of your standard commission, not a replacement for it. The bond requirement gets specific here: the standard notary bond is $5,000, but a notary who performs remote/electronic notarization by audio-video must carry an additional $25,000 bond — where both apply, a single combined $30,000 bond satisfies the statute instead of two separate bonds. As of July 27, 2026, the Illinois Secretary of State eliminated the extra $25 fee that used to apply specifically to the electronic notary commission, so there’s no additional filing fee beyond the standard $15 application fee described above. You’ll also need an unexpired government ID or personal knowledge of the signer for identity verification during a remote session. Confirm current requirements directly with the Illinois Secretary of State, since ilsos.gov’s own pages weren’t reachable for direct verification during this review.
Renewal
Illinois-resident commissions run 4 years; non-resident commissions from bordering-state applicants employed in Illinois run 1 year. Renewal generally requires going through the course and exam again, unless the attorney/judge exemption applies — this is a heavier renewal burden than states that only require education and testing for first-time applicants.
Do experienced notaries still have to take the course and exam to renew?
Yes, in almost all cases. Since the 2024 change, renewing notaries generally have to retake the 3-hour course and pass the 50-question exam again, just like new applicants. The only exemption is for renewal applicants who are licensed attorneys in good standing, Illinois or federal judges, or their employees.
What happens if I fail the exam?
You can retake it with a different set of questions. Fail three times, though, and you’re considered to have failed the course entirely — meaning you’d need to complete the education course again before another attempt.
Can I become an Illinois notary if I live in a neighboring state?
Yes, if you’re a resident of a state bordering Illinois and have been employed in Illinois for at least 30 days. Non-resident commissions run for 1 year instead of the standard 4-year term Illinois residents get.