2026 state guide · FL
How to become a notary in Florida
Quick answer
- Minimum age
- 18 years; residency and other eligibility rules below
- Required fees
- $39 + variable costs
- Exam / course
- No exam required · Training required
- Bond coverage
- $7,500 (you pay a premium, not this amount)
- Commission term
- 4 years
- Remote status
- Electronic RON available
Florida notaries are appointed by the Governor for four years. You take a free three-hour course (first-timers), then apply through a state-approved bonding agency that files your $7,500 bond and collects the fixed $39 state fee — most agencies bundle everything, including your seal, for well under $150. No exam.
Florida is one of the few states where notaries are appointed personally by the Governor — and the only way to apply is through a private bonding agency, not directly to the state. First-timers complete a three-hour course (the state's own online version is free), then hand everything to an approved bonding agency, which writes the required $7,500 bond, pays the fixed $39 in state fees, files the application, and later mails your commission certificate and stamp. Since the state fee is set by law but bond and seal prices are not, it pays to compare a few agencies.
In practice, expect one payment of roughly $100 or less for a complete package and a few weeks of processing, with no exam anywhere in the process. Standard notary fees are capped at $10 per act, so most Floridians treat the commission as a job skill or pair it with signing work — plus Florida's quirk: notaries here can legally perform marriage ceremonies.
Florida was also an early mover on remote online notarization — legal since January 1, 2020. Adding RON is a separate registration with real costs: a RON course, a technology provider contract, a $25,000 bond, and $25,000 in E&O coverage, but it raises your per-act cap from $10 to $25.
Who can become a notary in Florida?
- Age: at least 18 years old.
- Residency: You must be a legal resident of Florida and stay one for the whole term. A permanent resident alien can apply but must file a recorded Declaration of Domicile with the application. There is no non-resident commission.
- Background: You must be able to read, write, and understand English. If you have a felony conviction, you can only be appointed if your civil rights have been restored — the application requires a written statement about the charges, the judgment and sentencing order, and your Certificate of Restoration of Civil Rights or pardon. Appointment is at the Governor's sole discretion.
- You swear on the application that you have read Chapter 117, Florida Statutes, and know the duties and powers of a notary public.
Your application checklist
Work through the application in order. Check off completed steps; your progress is saved only in this browser.
How long it takes: The state does not publish a fixed turnaround, and all status checks go through your bonding agency. Plan on a few weeks from submitting the application to receiving your certificate and seal.
What it costs in Florida
First-time, non-attorney applicant for a traditional commission. Government appointments, attorney exemptions, renewals and remote authorization may differ.
Known required fees: $39 + variable costs
This is an itemized starting point. Blank prices are unknown, not free. Add actual quotes below; do not count a bundled fee or supply twice.
$39 · Source
First-time traditional commission. Fee exemptions may apply to certain applicants.
No separate fee · Source
Use the official free/included option; paid alternatives may cost extra.
Get a quote · Source
Enter the premium you pay, not the bond coverage amount. Ask whether a vendor package includes the filing fee or supplies.
Get a quote · Source
Follow the guide’s seal and recordkeeping rules; journals are mandatory in some jurisdictions and optional in others. Enter only required supplies here, without double-counting a vendor package.
Quotes stay in this page and are not sent to our analytics. Optional insurance, travel, retakes and remote authorization may add costs.
Exam and training
Required course: First-time applicants must complete at least three hours of interactive or classroom notary instruction within the year before applying (s. 117.01(1), F.S.). The Department of State's online course is free; other approved providers exist. Renewing notaries are exempt.
Florida has no notary exam. The only study requirement is the three-hour education course for first-time applicants.
Remote notarization in Florida
Electronic RON available
A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below.
Authorized by HB 409 (Chapter 2019-71, Laws of Florida), in effect since January 1, 2020, with procedures in Rule 1N-7.001, Florida Administrative Code. RON notaries may charge up to $25 per online act.
You must already be an active Florida notary. Then: complete a RON-specific education course and get the certificate, contract with a Department-approved RON service provider (the technology vendor that handles identity proofing, credential analysis, and audio-video recording), obtain a $25,000 surety bond and a $25,000 errors-and-omissions policy (s. 117.225(6)-(7), F.S.), and file the online notary registration with the Department of State's Division of Corporations with a $10 fee. Your RON registration expires with your underlying commission.
Full guide: how to become a remote online notary.
After you're commissioned
Check your seal and recordkeeping requirements. A rubber-stamp seal in photographically reproducible black ink is the official seal (s. 117.05(3)(a), F.S.). It must contain the words 'Notary Public-State of Florida', your name, your commission number, and your commission expiration date. A metal impression (embosser) seal may be used in addition to — not instead of — the rubber stamp. See the new-notary supplies checklist and Florida stamp requirements before you order.
What you can charge: Florida caps notary fees at $10 per notarial act. Section 117.05(2)(a), F.S., caps charges at $10 for any one notarial act. Online notarizations are capped separately at $25 (s. 117.275). Florida notaries may also perform marriage ceremonies, with the fee capped at the rate circuit court clerks may charge.
E&O insurance: Optional for traditional notaries — the bond protects the public, while E&O protects you. Note that Florida does require a $25,000 E&O policy if you register as an online (RON) notary.
Earning more with your commission
Loan signings are one possible service after commissioning — notarizing mortgage document packages for title companies. Availability depends on local demand, hiring requirements and state restrictions. If that interests you, start with what a loan signing agent actually does and earns. Loan signing agent guide
Florida notary FAQ
Why do I have to apply through a bonding agency in Florida?
Florida routes all notary applications through state-approved bonding agencies — the state itself does not hand out applications or sell seals. The agency provides the form, writes your required $7,500 bond, forwards the fixed $39 state fee, files everything with the Department of State, and ships your certificate and seal when the Governor appoints you. Prices for the bond and seal vary, so compare agencies.
Is the Florida notary course really free?
Yes. The Department of State's online Notary Education Program satisfies the mandatory three-hour requirement for first-time applicants at no charge. You must finish it within one year before you apply. Renewing notaries do not need to repeat it.
What does it take to become a Florida online (RON) notary?
Hold an active Florida commission first. Then complete a RON education course, sign a contract with an approved RON service provider, get a $25,000 bond plus a $25,000 E&O policy, and file the registration with the Division of Corporations with a $10 fee. It's a real cost step-up from the $7,500 traditional bond, but online acts can be billed at up to $25 each instead of $10.
Can a felon become a notary in Florida?
Only with restored civil rights. The application requires a written statement about the charges, the judgment and sentencing order, and a Certificate of Restoration of Civil Rights or pardon. Even then, appointment is at the Governor's sole discretion; denied applicants may reapply after one year.
Can Florida notaries really perform weddings?
Yes — Florida is one of the few states where notaries public may solemnize marriage. The fee is capped at the rate circuit court clerks may charge, and many Florida notaries build a side business around beach weddings.
Official sources
Use these authority pages and publications to check the requirements. Review notes identify details that still need confirmation.
- Notary — Executive Office of the Governor (how to apply, RON steps) — Executive Office of the Governor of Florida
- Chapter 117, Florida Statutes — Notaries Public — Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)
- Notary Commissions — Division of Corporations — Florida Department of State
The source review date covers our earlier research. Recent checks above apply only to the named topics. Requirements and charges can change; confirm the current packet with Florida Department of State — Notary Commissions and Certifications Section (appointments made by the Governor).