How to Become a Notary in Illinois (2026): Steps, Cost & 2024 Rules
This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. Illinois notary rules changed under the amended Notary Public Act and can change again, so confirm the details with the Illinois Secretary of State before you apply. We link to the official application; we never sell or submit it for you.
What does it cost to become a notary in Illinois?
Becoming an Illinois notary typically costs $105 to $175, now that a course is required. The fixed state charge is just the $15 application fee; the variable pieces are the three-hour course, the $5,000 bond premium, your stamp, and the journal that all notaries must keep. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.
How do you become a notary in Illinois?
You become an Illinois notary by completing the required course, getting bonded, and applying to the Secretary of State. The steps, in order, are:
- Confirm you are eligible. Be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and an Illinois resident for 30 days, or a border-state resident working in Illinois for 30 days.
- Complete the three-hour course and exam. Use a Secretary of State-approved provider; the exam is part of the course, and you choose which categories you want, traditional, electronic, or remote.
- Obtain your surety bond. Get a $5,000 bond for traditional acts, or a $30,000 bond if you will perform electronic or remote notarizations.
- Apply with the $15 fee. Sign the oath on the application before a current notary, attach your bond and course proof, and file online with the Secretary of State; your bonding company can submit it for you.
- Receive your commission and equip yourself. After approval in about two to four weeks, record it with the county clerk where required, then get your stamp and a record journal.
What changed for Illinois notaries in 2024?
The biggest change is that education is now mandatory: since January 1, 2024 every new and renewing Illinois notary must complete a three-hour approved course and pass its exam, where for years Illinois required no training at all. The reform also created three commission categories, traditional in-person, electronic, and remote, that you select when you apply, and it made a record journal mandatory for all notarial acts back on June 5, 2023. Attorneys and judges are exempt from the education requirement when they renew.
How much can an Illinois notary charge per notarization?
An Illinois notary may now charge up to $5 per traditional notarial act and up to $25 per electronic or remote act. This is a major increase from the old $1 cap that stood for decades, so guides still quoting $1 are out of date. Travel fees for mobile work and signing-agent fees for loan closings are separate from these regulated per-act amounts, which is how many Illinois notaries earn more.
What are the requirements to become an Illinois notary?
The Illinois requirements pair basic eligibility with the new education step. You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and an Illinois resident for 30 days, or a resident of a bordering state employed in Illinois for 30 days; you must read and write English, have no felony conviction, and not have had a commission revoked in the past ten years. On top of that you complete the three-hour course and exam, post the bond, and keep a journal of your acts.
Do you need a bond to be an Illinois notary?
Yes, Illinois requires a $5,000 surety bond for a traditional commission, and $30,000 if you will perform electronic or remote notarizations. The larger amount can be a single $30,000 bond or a $5,000 bond plus a separate $25,000 bond. The bond protects the public, not you, so many notaries also carry optional errors and omissions insurance for their own protection.
How do you renew or notarize online in Illinois?
You renew by completing the three-hour course and exam again and filing a new application with a fresh bond and the $15 fee, since the 2024 rules apply to renewals too, though attorneys and judges are exempt from the course at renewal. Illinois also authorizes remote online notarization, which has driven demand because a commissioned Illinois notary can handle remote closings for clients well beyond the state; to do it you select the remote category, carry the $30,000 bond, and use an approved platform.
Becoming an Illinois notary: frequently asked questions
- Is a course required to become an Illinois notary?
- Yes. Since January 1, 2024 all new and renewing notaries must complete a three-hour approved course and pass its exam. Attorneys and judges are exempt at renewal.
- How much can an Illinois notary charge?
- Up to $5 per traditional act and up to $25 per electronic or remote act. This replaced the old $1 cap, so older guides are out of date.
- Do you need a bond in Illinois?
- Yes, a $5,000 surety bond for traditional acts, or $30,000 if you perform electronic or remote notarizations.
- Can you become an Illinois notary if you live in a bordering state?
- Yes, if you have been employed in Illinois for at least 30 days. Otherwise you must be an Illinois resident for 30 days.
- How long does an Illinois notary commission last?
- Four years for a traditional commission, after which you reapply, including the course and exam, to renew.
Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Illinois Secretary of State, Notary Public Division; the Illinois Notary Public Act and Public Act 102-0160 with the Secretary of State's 2023 administrative rules. Confirm current fees and steps with the Illinois Secretary of State before applying.