2026 state guide · IA

How to become a notary in Iowa

By NotaryRequirements.com · Source review July 18, 2026
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Official application ↗Your application checklist

Quick answer

Minimum age: 18 years; residency and other eligibility rules below
Required fees: $30 + variable costs
Exam / course: No exam required · No mandatory course
Bond coverage: Not required
Commission term: 3 years
Remote status: Electronic RON available

Iowa notaries apply online through the Secretary of State's Fast Track Filing system and pay a $30 fee. There is no bond, no exam, and no required training for a standard commission, which lasts three years for Iowa residents.

Iowa keeps notary commissioning about as simple as it gets: one $30 application to the Secretary of State, filed online through the Fast Track Filing portal. No bond, no exam, no training course, no county paperwork. The application doubles as your oath of office — you affirm and e-sign, pay, and wait for the approval email. Iowa residents get a three-year commission; residents of bordering states who work in Iowa can be commissioned too, but only one year at a time.

The practical version: file online, pay $30, buy a stamp for $15–$50 with the exact wording Iowa Code 9B.17 requires ('Notarial Seal', 'Iowa', your commission number, and expiration date), and you're working. Total cost usually lands under $80.

Two Iowa quirks worth knowing. First, there is no cap on notary fees — the state only asks that charges be 'reasonable', which gives Iowa notaries more pricing room than notaries in capped states. Second, Iowa has allowed remote online notarization since July 1, 2020 under Iowa Code 9B.14A: registration with the Secretary of State is free, but you must first take a $30 state-approved course and use one of the SOS's approved technology platforms — everyday video apps don't qualify.

Who can become a notary in Iowa?

Age: at least 18 years old.
Residency: You must be an Iowa resident, or have a place of employment or practice in Iowa. Under Iowa Code 9B.21(5), the Secretary of State may appoint a resident of a state bordering Iowa (Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, or Wisconsin) whose place of work or business is in Iowa — but a non-resident commission lasts only one year and expires if you stop working in Iowa.
Background: There is no automatic lifetime bar, but under Iowa Code 9B.23 the Secretary of State may deny a commission for any felony conviction or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit, or for dishonest statements on the application. If you have a record, contact the Secretary of State's office before applying.
U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States.
Able to read and write English.
You must execute an oath of office and submit it to the Secretary of State before the commission is issued (it is built into the application).

Your application checklist

Work through the application in order. Check off completed steps; your progress is saved only in this browser.

Step 1. Create an account on Fast Track Filing (filings.sos.iowa.gov), the Iowa Secretary of State's online filing portal, then go to Notary > Original Notary Commissions. A paper 'Application for Commission as Notary Public' is also available on the SOS website if you prefer to mail it.
Step 2. Complete the Application for Commission as Notary Public: your name exactly as you will notarize, home contact information, and employer information. You can ask to shield your home address from public view.
Step 3. Fill out the Qualifications, Electronic Records, Remote Notarizations, and Bilingual Notary Registry sections — you can flag interest in electronic or remote notarization here, though remote work requires a separate registration later.
Step 4. Affirm the oath statement and sign electronically by typing your full legal name (this satisfies the oath-of-office requirement in Iowa Code 9B.21(3)).
Step 5. Pay the $30 application fee at checkout and submit. The Secretary of State's office reviews the filing and emails you when it is complete.
Step 6. Buy your notary stamp from any stamp or office-supply vendor (the SOS says typical cost is $15–$50). It must show your name as commissioned, 'Notarial Seal', 'Iowa', your commission number, and your expiration date (or a blank line where you write it).

How long it takes: The state does not publish a standard processing time. Fast Track Filing applications are reviewed by the Secretary of State's office and you are notified by email when the filing is complete; you can track status on your Fast Track dashboard.

What it costs in Iowa

First-time, non-attorney applicant for a traditional commission. Government appointments, attorney exemptions, renewals and remote authorization may differ.

Known required fees: $30 + 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.

Application / commission fee (required)

$30 · Source

First-time traditional commission. Fee exemptions may apply to certain applicants.

Your actual charge (USD)

Required seal and supplies (required)

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.

Your quote (USD)

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

Iowa does not require an exam or a mandatory course. No training is required for a standard commission. The only mandatory course in Iowa is the $30 remote-online-notarization course (provided through the NNA) for notaries who register to notarize remotely.

Remote notarization in Iowa

Electronic RON available

A commissioned notary must meet the state-specific authorization, technology and recordkeeping rules below.

Authorized by Iowa Code 9B.14A, enacted by SF 475 (2019 Iowa Acts, chapter 44) and effective July 1, 2020. Details are in Iowa Administrative Code 721—43.5.

You must already hold an Iowa commission, then — within the 6 months before your first remote act — complete the state-approved RON training course (offered through the National Notary Association, $30), submit proof of completion, and file the free Application for Approval to Perform Remote Notarizations with the Secretary of State, identifying which approved technology platform you will use. Ordinary video tools like Zoom or Skype do not qualify; the SOS publishes a list of roughly two dozen approved vendors (Proof, DocuSign Notary, OneNotary, Stavvy, and others). Each remote act must be recorded, and recordings kept at least 10 years.

Full guide: how to become a remote online notary.

After you're commissioned

Check your seal and recordkeeping requirements. A stamp is required by law, and only the commissioned notary may use it. Under Iowa Code 9B.17 it must show: your name exactly as it appears on your commission, the words 'Notarial Seal' and 'Iowa', 'Commission Number' followed by your SOS-assigned number, and 'My Commission Expires' followed by the date (or a blank line where you hand-write it on every document). No shape or size is mandated, and the stamp must be able to photocopy along with the document. Report a lost or stolen stamp to the Secretary of State immediately. See the new-notary supplies checklist and Iowa stamp requirements before you order.

What you can charge: Iowa sets no dollar cap on what a notary may charge per act. The Secretary of State's handbook says a notary 'may charge a reasonable fee' for services — but you cannot refuse service because someone is not a client or customer of your employer.

E&O insurance: Not required. Since Iowa has no bond either, optional errors-and-omissions insurance is the only financial protection a notary here carries against mistake claims.

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

Iowa notary FAQ

How much does it cost to become a notary in Iowa?

The state application fee is $30, paid to the Iowa Secretary of State when you file through Fast Track Filing. Add a stamp — the SOS says $15–$50 is typical — and you're done, since Iowa requires no bond, no exam, and no training. Plan on roughly $45–$80 total.

How long does an Iowa notary commission last?

Three years for Iowa residents. If you live in a bordering state and qualify through your Iowa workplace, your commission lasts only one year. Renewal costs $30 either way, and the Secretary of State emails you a renewal notice about 60 days before your commission expires.

Can I be an Iowa notary if I live in another state?

Yes, if you live in a state that borders Iowa and your place of work or business is in Iowa. Two catches: your commission runs one year instead of three, and it expires automatically if you stop working or doing business in Iowa.

How much can an Iowa notary charge per signature?

Whatever is reasonable — Iowa has no statutory fee cap. The Secretary of State's handbook says a notary may charge a reasonable fee for services. Many employers have their staff notarize for free, but a notary cannot refuse to serve someone just because they aren't a client or customer.

How do I become a remote online notary in Iowa?

First get a regular Iowa commission ($30). Then, within the 6 months before your first remote act, take the state-approved RON course through the National Notary Association ($30), pick a technology platform from the SOS's approved list, and file the free remote notarization application with the Secretary of State. Zoom, Skype, and similar video apps are not allowed — the platform must handle identity proofing, e-signing, and recording storage.

Does Iowa require a notary journal?

No. Iowa law does not require a journal for ordinary notarizations, but the Secretary of State's handbook strongly recommends keeping one. Remote online notarizations are different: each one must be recorded on video, and the recording kept for at least 10 years.

Official sources

Use these authority pages and publications to check the requirements. Review notes identify details that still need confirmation.

Notary Forms and Fees — Iowa Secretary of State
Iowa Code § 9B.21 — Commission as notary public (qualifications) — Iowa Legislature
Iowa Code § 9B.14A — Notarial act performed for remotely located individual — Iowa Legislature
Iowa Code § 9B.17 — Official stamp — Iowa Legislature
Remote Online Notarization — Iowa Secretary of State
Stamp Information — Iowa Secretary of State
Handbook for Iowa Notaries Public — Iowa Secretary of State
How do I file an Application for Commission as Notary Public? (Fast Track Filing) — Iowa Secretary 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 Iowa Secretary of State.