How to Become a Notary in Texas (2026): Requirements, Cost & Steps
Quick answer
- Who qualifies
- 18+ · You must be a Texas resident
- Total cost
- About $80–$280 (estimate — breakdown below)
- Exam / course
- Course required, no exam
- Bond
- Yes — $10,000 surety bond
- Commission term
- 4 years
- Online notarization
- Allowed (extra registration)
Requirements verified July 18, 2026 against Texas Secretary of State
Texas notaries apply online through the Secretary of State's Notary Portal, pay a $21 filing fee, complete the state's new $20 education course, and post a $10,000 surety bond. There is no separate exam, and the commission lasts four years.
Texas moved its whole notary process online: you take the state's course, apply, pay, and receive your commission through the Secretary of State's Notary Portal, and even your $10,000 bond is filed with the state instead of a county courthouse. The big recent change is SB 693 — starting with applications filed January 1, 2026, every new and renewing notary must complete a short education course that only the Secretary of State offers ($20, two hours max). There is still no exam.
In practice you'll spend around $100–$150 and a few weeks: $21 to the state, $20 for the course, a bond premium from any Texas-licensed surety, and a stamp with your name and notary ID number. Texas caps standard notary fees at $10 per act, so the paper-notarization income is modest — the upside is volume work like loan signings and remote online notarization.
Texas was a RON pioneer — it authorized remote online notarization back in 2017, with the program running since 2018. Once you're commissioned, adding online authority costs $50 plus a digital certificate and lets you charge up to $25 extra per online session, which is where many Texas notaries find the better economics.
Who can become a notary in Texas?
- Age: at least 18 years old.
- Residency: You must be a Texas resident. Texas does not offer a non-resident commission, and you must keep Texas residency for the full term.
- Background: The Secretary of State says you qualify only if you have 'not received a final conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude or a felony.' The state runs a background check on every applicant. Deferred adjudications and pending charges are reviewed case by case — contact the SOS Notary Public Unit before paying if you have a record.
- You must sign a statement of officer and take the constitutional oath of office as part of the application.
How to apply: step by step
- Complete the mandatory notary education course through the SOS Notary Portal ($20). This is required for all applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 under SB 693; only the Secretary of State's own course counts.
- Buy a $10,000, four-year Texas notary surety bond from a bonding or insurance company licensed in Texas. The company gives you proof of the bond on Form 2301-B.
- Create an account on the SOS Notary Portal and fill out the online application (Form 2301), digitally signing the statement of officer.
- Upload your bond proof and pay the $21 state filing fee inside the portal (card payments add a small convenience fee).
- Wait for the Secretary of State to run your background check and issue your commission. Your commission certificate is delivered through the portal.
- Order your official notary seal (ink stamp or embosser) matching your commissioned name and ID number, and set up a record book — Texas requires you to log every notarization.
How long it takes: The Secretary of State does not publish a fixed turnaround. Portal applications are generally processed within a few weeks — check current processing times with the SOS before planning a start date.
What it costs in Texas
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State application fee | $21 | Realistic startup cost is roughly $100–$150: $21 filing fee, $20 course, a bond premium, and a stamp plus record book. Everything is paid through the SOS Notary Portal except the bond and supplies. |
| Surety bond ($10,000 coverage) | Premium varies by vendor | You pay a small one-time premium, not the full bond amount. A $10,000 surety bond covering the four-year term. Unlike many states, proof of the bond (Form 2301-B) is filed with the Texas Secretary of State as part of the online application — nothing is filed at the county courthouse. The bond protects the public, not you. |
| Required course | Varies by provider | New as of January 1, 2026: SB 693 (2025) requires every new and renewing applicant to complete an education course offered only by the Secretary of State (capped at two hours, $20). Private vendor courses no longer satisfy the requirement. Notaries first commissioned before September 1, 2025 complete it when they renew. |
| Mandatory SOS education course | $20 (traditional) or $20 (online notary course). | |
| $10,000 surety bond premium — priced by the bonding company; commonly well under $100 for the four-year term, but shop around. | — | |
| Seal/stamp and record book from a private vendor (prices vary). | — | |
| Online (RON) notary application, if you add it later | $50. | |
| Stamp & journal | $20–$60 (typical retail) | Estimate across major suppliers — see our supplies checklist. |
| Realistic total (estimate) | About $80–$280 |
Exam and training
Required course: New as of January 1, 2026: SB 693 (2025) requires every new and renewing applicant to complete an education course offered only by the Secretary of State (capped at two hours, $20). Private vendor courses no longer satisfy the requirement. Notaries first commissioned before September 1, 2025 complete it when they renew.
Texas has no separate proctored notary exam. The mandatory SOS education course is completed online through the Notary Portal; SB 693 caps it at two hours.
Can you notarize online in Texas? RON allowed
Yes — Texas authorizes remote online notarization (RON). Texas was one of the first states to authorize remote online notarization (HB 1217, 2017; SOS rules effective 2018 under Government Code Chapter 406, Subchapter C). RON session recordings must be retained per state rules — currently five years per the SOS FAQ.
To add RON to your commission: You must already hold an active Texas traditional commission. Then you file a separate online notary application (Form 2301ON) through the SOS Notary Portal with a $50 fee, complete the SOS online-notary education course ($20), and upload an electronic seal image plus an X.509-compliant digital certificate you buy from a third-party provider. No additional bond is required, and the RON authorization expires with your traditional commission.
Full guide: how to become a remote online notary.
After you're commissioned
Get your stamp and journal. Circular (max 2" diameter) or rectangular (max 1" x 2.5") with a serrated or milled border. It must show a five-pointed star with 'Notary Public, State of Texas', your name as commissioned, your notary ID number (required for commissions issued or renewed after January 1, 2016), and your expiration date. Embosser or indelible-ink stamp both work, but the impression must photocopy legibly. See the new-notary supplies checklist and Texas stamp requirements before you order.
What you can charge: Texas caps notary fees at $10 for an acknowledgment (first signature). Government Code §406.024 caps fees: $10 for the first acknowledgment signature and $1 for each additional, $10 for an oath or affirmation, $1 per page for certified copies, and $10 for most other acts. Online notarizations may add up to $25 on top of the standard fee (§406.111). Charging more than the maximum can cost you your commission.
E&O insurance: Not required. The $10,000 bond protects the public and the surety can recover payouts from you, so many Texas notaries buy optional errors-and-omissions insurance to protect themselves.
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
Texas notary FAQ
Does Texas require a notary exam or class?
There is no proctored exam, but as of January 1, 2026 Texas requires an education course before you apply. SB 693 says only the Secretary of State's own course counts — it costs $20, is capped at two hours, and you take it inside the SOS Notary Portal. Notaries commissioned before September 1, 2025 take it at renewal.
How much does it cost to become a Texas notary?
About $100–$150 all-in: the $21 state filing fee, the $20 SOS course, a premium on the $10,000 surety bond (bonding companies set the price — often under $100 for four years), and a stamp plus record book. The bond and supplies come from private vendors; the state fees are fixed.
Do I file my Texas notary bond with the county?
No. Texas handles everything at the state level. Your bonding company gives you proof of the $10,000 bond on Form 2301-B, and you upload it with your online application to the Secretary of State. There is no county oath or county filing step.
How do I become an online (RON) notary in Texas?
First hold a regular Texas commission. Then file Form 2301ON through the SOS Notary Portal with a $50 fee, complete the $20 online-notary course, and upload an electronic seal plus an X.509 digital certificate you purchase from a technology provider. No extra bond is needed, and you can charge up to $25 extra per online notarization.
How much can a Texas notary charge?
State law caps it: $10 for the first acknowledgment signature ($1 each additional), $10 for an oath, and $1 per page for certified copies. Online notarizations can add up to $25. Mobile notaries typically make their money on travel fees, which are separate from the notarial fee but should be disclosed and itemized.
Official sources
Every requirement on this page traces to one of these official sources.
- Notary Public — How to Apply — Texas Secretary of State
- Frequently Asked Questions for Notaries Public — Texas Secretary of State
- Notary Forms & Fees — Texas Secretary of State
- Notary Public Educational Information (fee schedule, seal, records) — Texas Secretary of State
- Getting Started as an Online Notary — Texas Secretary of State
- SB 693 (89th Legislature, 2025) — enrolled text — Texas Legislature