Notary Public
North Dakota
Notary Public Commission Requirements
4 years
Commission Term
before renewal
No
Education Required
no course needed
No
Exam Required
no exam needed
$7,500
Bond Required
surety bond
Application Process
VerifiedComplete the Notary Public Application in the FirstStop Portal (online)
Provide your name exactly as you will sign when performing notarial acts
Obtain a $7,500 surety bond for the 4-year commission term
Pay the $36 application fee
Receive and set up your notary stamping device meeting state specifications
Return an impression of the notary stamping device on the Verification of Notary Public Stamping Device form by the indicated date
Secretary of State reviews and issues commission certificate after approval
Begin performing notarial acts
Basic Requirements
Minimum Age
18 years old
Residency
Must be a North Dakota resident, have a place of employment or practice in ND, or reside in a bordering county of a state granting reciprocity to ND border-county notaries
Citizenship
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
Background Check
Not required
Education & Exam Requirements
Education
Not RequiredNo formal education or training is required. NNA offers optional training courses.
Exam
Not RequiredNo exam is required to become a North Dakota notary public.
Bond, Insurance & Seal
Surety Bond
Required$7,500
A $7,500 surety bond covering notarial acts performed during the 4-year commission term is required.
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Not RequiredE&O insurance is not legally required but is recommended.
Seal / Stamp
RequiredPhotographically reproducible stamp with border. Must include: 'Notary Public', 'State of North Dakota', notary's exact name, and commission expiration date. Size limits: circular up to 1 5/8 inches diameter, or rectangular up to 7/8 x 2 5/8 inches.
Fee Breakdown
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $36 |
Bond Premium Approximate cost of a $7,500 surety bond from commercial providers | $50 |
Stamp / Seal Purchased from private vendors | $30 |
Total Estimated Cost Application fee ($36) + Bond (~$50) + Seal (~$30) + notarization fee ($5). No education costs. | $121 |
Commission Term & Renewal
Commission Term
4 years
Renewal Process
Submit a renewal application through the FirstStop Portal before commission expiration. Must obtain a new surety bond for the renewal term.
Renewal Fee
$36
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
North Dakota notaries are eligible to perform remote notarizations on electronic documents. Only acknowledgments are permitted on remote paper documents.
Additional Requirements
Only acknowledgments permitted for remote paper documents
Important Notes
What Makes North Dakota Unique
North Dakota requires applicants to submit an impression of their notary stamp on a verification form before the commission certificate is issued, adding an extra step to the process. The state also has a unique border-county reciprocity provision allowing residents of neighboring states' border counties to become ND notaries if their state extends similar reciprocity. RON is limited to acknowledgments only for remote paper documents.
Application is completed online through the FirstStop Portal
Must return an impression of the stamping device on the verification form before commission is finalized
Border-county residents from reciprocal states may qualify
Must be able to read and write in English
RON is allowed but only acknowledgments are permitted on remote paper documents
Notary fee is $5 per notarial act