How to Become a Notary in Idaho (2026): Requirements, Cost & Steps
Quick answer
- Who qualifies
- 18+ · You must be an Idaho resident or have a place of employment or place of practice in Idaho — so out-of-state residents who work in Idaho can be commissioned
- Total cost
- About $90–$190 (estimate — breakdown below)
- Exam / course
- No exam, no mandatory course
- Bond
- Yes — $10,000 surety bond
- Commission term
- 6 years
- Online notarization
- Allowed (extra registration)
Requirements verified July 19, 2026 against Idaho Secretary of State
Idaho notaries file a $30 application with the Secretary of State along with a $10,000 surety bond, with no exam and no mandatory training. The commission runs six years — one of the longest terms in the country — and the state caps notary fees at $5 per act.
Idaho keeps notary commissioning cheap and infrequent: a $30 filing fee, a $10,000 surety bond sent straight to the Secretary of State, and then you don't think about it again for six years. There's no exam, no required class, and no county courthouse step — the one formality that trips people up is that the application itself must be sworn before another commissioned notary before you submit it through the SOSBiz portal or by mail.
Here's the sequence in practice: bond first (any Idaho-licensed surety agent sells them), then the sworn application and $30 to the SOS, then wait for your Notary Certificate. That certificate is your green light to buy the stamp — an inked rectangular or circular stamp with your name, 'Notary Public', 'State of Idaho', and commission number — and Idaho considers your commission complete the moment you have it. Government employees skip the fee entirely.
Two things to know before counting on notary income here: Idaho caps charges at $5 per act (travel costs can be added), and a journal is recommended rather than required for paper work. On the technology side Idaho is permissive — since SB 1111 took effect, any commissioned notary can add electronic and remote online authority just by notifying the SOS of the technology they'll use, with no extra bond and no separate application fee through SOSBiz.
Who can become a notary in Idaho?
- Age: at least 18 years old.
- Residency: You must be an Idaho resident or have a place of employment or place of practice in Idaho — so out-of-state residents who work in Idaho can be commissioned.
- Background: Idaho Code § 51-123 gives the Secretary of State discretion to deny an application; the office reviews each applicant rather than applying an automatic felony bar. If you have a conviction or a past notary discipline record, contact the SOS notary division at (208) 334-2301 before paying.
- U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
- Able to read and write.
- The application must be sworn (or affirmed) before a commissioned notary — and you cannot notarize your own application.
How to apply: step by step
- Buy a $10,000 Idaho notary surety bond through an insurance or surety agent; it must cover your six-year commission.
- Optionally work through the Secretary of State's free online notary training course and handbook — Idaho doesn't require them, but the SOS has offered the course since July 1, 2019.
- Complete the Notary Public Application, either online through the SOSBiz portal (sosbiz.idaho.gov) or on the paper form, and swear to it in front of a commissioned notary.
- Submit the application, the bond, and the $30 filing fee to the Idaho Secretary of State (city, county, and state government employees are exempt from the fee).
- Receive your Notary Certificate from the Secretary of State — that certificate is your authority to order a stamping device.
- Purchase your inked stamp with the required wording; Idaho says your commission is complete once you have the stamp in hand.
How long it takes: The Secretary of State doesn't publish a standard turnaround. SOSBiz filings are processed in the order received; ask the notary division for current timing if you're on a deadline.
What it costs in Idaho
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State application fee | $30 | Out of pocket is the $30 state fee plus the bond premium and a stamp. Because the bond covers six years, Idaho's cost per year of commission is among the lowest anywhere. |
| Surety bond ($10,000 coverage) | Premium varies by vendor | You pay a small one-time premium, not the full bond amount. Idaho Code § 51-121 requires an assurance — a surety bond or its functional equivalent — of $10,000, submitted to the Secretary of State with your application and covering the six-year term. No county filing; everything goes to the SOS. |
| Premium on the $10,000, six-year surety bond, set by the surety company. | — | |
| Inked stamping device from a private vendor. | — | |
| Optional | $20 manual processing fee if you file the paper Authorization for Electronic Notarization form instead of using SOSBiz. | |
| Government employees (city, county, state) pay no filing fee. | — | |
| Stamp & journal | $20–$60 (typical retail) | Estimate across major suppliers — see our supplies checklist. |
| Realistic total (estimate) | About $90–$190 |
Exam and training
Idaho does not require an exam or a mandatory course. Not mandatory. The Secretary of State has been required to make an online education course available since July 1, 2019, and also publishes a notary handbook and web training chapters — free study, but completion is not a condition of commissioning.
Can you notarize online in Idaho? RON allowed
Yes — Idaho authorizes remote online notarization (RON). Idaho operates under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (Idaho Code title 51, ch. 1); remote notarization for remotely located individuals was added by SB 1111 (2019) and is codified at Idaho Code § 51-114A. There is no extra bond for remote work.
To add RON to your commission: You must already hold an Idaho commission. Before your first electronic or remote act, file an 'Addition of Electronic or Remote Online Notary' amendment in SOSBiz (or the paper Authorization for Electronic Notarization form, which carries a $20 manual processing fee), naming each tamper-evident technology and audio-video platform you will use — a separate notification for each technology. The platform must support identity verification, recording, and an electronic journal, and audio-visual recordings must be kept at least 10 years.
Full guide: how to become a remote online notary.
After you're commissioned
Get your stamp and journal. An inked stamp (not an embosser) with a serrated or milled-edge border, rectangular or circular. It must show your name exactly as commissioned, 'Notary Public', 'State of Idaho', and your commission number; adding the expiration date is allowed but optional. You buy it only after the SOS issues your Notary Certificate. See the new-notary supplies checklist and Idaho stamp requirements before you order.
What you can charge: Idaho caps notary fees at $5 per notarial act. Idaho Code § 51-133 caps charges at $5 per notarial act, plus actual and reasonable travel expenses. That makes per-stamp income minimal; mobile and loan-signing work earns on travel and package fees instead.
E&O insurance: Optional. The $10,000 bond protects people harmed by notarial mistakes and the surety can seek repayment from you, so E&O insurance is the piece that actually shields the notary.
Earning more with your commission
Most new notaries who turn the commission into real income do it through loan signings — notarizing mortgage document packages for title companies. If that interests you, start with what a loan signing agent actually does and earns. Loan signing agent guide
Idaho notary FAQ
How long does an Idaho notary commission last?
Six years — tied for the longest standard term in the U.S. There's no renewal process either: when the term is up, you file a fresh application with a new $10,000 bond and $30 fee, which the SOS accepts up to 90 days before your current commission expires.
Does Idaho make notaries take a class or test?
No. There is no exam and no required course. The Secretary of State does publish a free online training course and a notary handbook — worth an evening, since the sworn application makes you attest that you'll follow the Idaho Notary Public Act.
Can I be an Idaho notary if I live in Washington, Oregon, or another state?
Yes, if you have a place of employment or practice in Idaho. The statute requires residency or an Idaho workplace, not residency alone, and commissioned non-residents get the same six-year term.
What does the Idaho notary bond cover and where is it filed?
It's a $10,000 surety bond (or functional equivalent) protecting people harmed by improper notarial acts. Unlike bond states that use county courthouses, Idaho has you submit it directly to the Secretary of State together with your application — one filing, no county step.
How do I add remote online notarization in Idaho?
After you're commissioned, file an 'Addition of Electronic or Remote Online Notary' amendment in SOSBiz naming the tamper-evident technology and audio-video platform you'll use — one notification per technology, filed before your first electronic act. Your platform must record sessions, and recordings are kept at least 10 years. The paper route costs a $20 processing fee.
Official sources
Every requirement on this page traces to one of these official sources.
- Notary Public Instructions — Idaho Secretary of State
- Notary Information — Idaho Secretary of State
- Electronic Notary Public FAQ — Idaho Secretary of State
- Idaho Code § 51-121 — Commission as notary public; qualifications — Idaho Legislature