Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to be a California notary?

No. You must be at least 18 and a legal California resident; United States citizenship is not required, though you must clear a background check.

How hard is the California notary exam?

It is a proctored multiple-choice exam with a set passing score, and most failures come from skipping the official handbook. Our California exam practice test walks through the question style.

What happens if you miss the 30-day filing deadline?

Your commission is permanently voided and you must retake the exam and restart the process, so file your oath and bond with the county clerk as soon as the commission arrives.

Why can't California notaries call themselves notario publico?

California bans the term because in some countries a notario is a trained attorney, and using it could mislead immigrants. It is a prohibited and penalized form of advertising.

How long does a California notary commission last?

Four years from the commencement date on the certificate, with no grace period for notarizing after it expires.

How to Become a Notary in California (2026): Steps, Cost & Timeline

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. California notary rules are set by the Secretary of State and can change, so confirm the details and current fees in the official California Notary Public Handbook before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.

Quick answer: To become a notary in California you must be 18, a California resident, complete a six-hour approved course, pass the state exam, clear a Live Scan background check, and obtain a $15,000 surety bond. After you are commissioned you have a strict 30-day window to file your oath and bond with the county clerk, or the commission is voided. The whole process takes about 8 to 12 weeks. Use the checklist below to total your cost.

Open the cost checklist ↓

What does it cost to become a notary in California?

Becoming a California notary typically costs $250 to $400, making it one of the more expensive states because of the required course, exam, Live Scan, and bond. The fixed pieces are the $40 exam fee and the $20 application fee; the rest, including the six-hour course, fingerprinting, the $15,000 bond, the seal, and the required journal, varies by provider. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in California?

You become a California notary by passing the state exam and then filing your bond and oath on a tight deadline. The steps, in order, are:

Confirm you are eligible. Be at least 18 and a California resident with no disqualifying convictions; United States citizenship is not required.
Complete the six-hour education course. Use a Secretary of State-approved vendor; new applicants must finish it before the exam.
Pass the state exam. Register through CPS HR, pay the $40 fee, and pass the proctored California notary exam; see our California notary exam practice test to prepare.
Submit your application and Live Scan. Send the application, proof of completion, a passport photo, and the $20 fee, and complete Live Scan fingerprinting for the DOJ and FBI background check.
File your bond and oath within 30 days. Once commissioned, obtain the $15,000 bond and file it with your oath at the county clerk within 30 days, then get your seal and journal.

How long does it take to become a notary in California?

It usually takes about 8 to 12 weeks from starting the course to being able to notarize, and the waiting, not the difficulty, is what surprises most applicants. The course and exam can be done quickly, but Live Scan results take two to three weeks and the state takes six to eight weeks to review the application and mail the commission, stretching to twelve if your background needs manual review. California will not expedite, so plan for the wait.

What is the 30-day filing deadline in California?

California gives you exactly 30 calendar days from your commission's start date to file your oath of office and $15,000 bond with the county clerk, and missing it permanently voids the commission. This is the single most costly mistake new California notaries make, because a missed deadline means retaking the exam and restarting the entire process, even if your exam score is still valid. File as soon as your commission arrives rather than waiting.

What are the requirements to become a California notary?

The California requirements are among the most demanding in the country. You must be at least 18 and a California resident, complete a six-hour approved course, pass the state exam, clear a Live Scan background check through the DOJ and FBI, and maintain a $15,000 surety bond for the full term. California also requires a sequential bound journal and thumbprints in the journal for real property documents, and it strictly forbids notaries from advertising as a "notario publico," a rule meant to prevent immigration fraud.

How do you renew a California notary commission?

You renew by retaking the exam and completing a shorter course, ideally starting about six months before your commission expires. If you apply before your current commission ends you may take the three-hour refresher course instead of the full six hours, but you must still pass the exam again and file a new application, bond, and oath. If your commission lapses first, the refresher no longer counts and you must take the full six-hour course.

Can you be a mobile or online notary in California?

You can be a mobile notary in California, but you cannot yet perform remote online notarization yourself. A mobile notary is a commissioned California notary who travels to clients and may charge a separate, disclosed travel fee on top of the per-act fee, which California currently caps at $15 per signature under Government Code section 8211; a 2025-2026 bill, AB 1597, proposes raising that cap to $20 but had not been enacted as of 2026. On the online side, California has authorized remote online notarization through Senate Bill 696 but is still building the system for its own notaries, with full use expected by 2030. In the meantime, California generally recognizes online notarizations performed for its residents by notaries commissioned in other states, so you can still use an out-of-state remote online notary for a California document even though you cannot be one in California yet.

Becoming a California notary: frequently asked questions

Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to be a California notary?: No. You must be at least 18 and a legal California resident; United States citizenship is not required, though you must clear a background check.
How hard is the California notary exam?: It is a proctored multiple-choice exam with a set passing score, and most failures come from skipping the official handbook. Our California exam practice test walks through the question style.
What happens if you miss the 30-day filing deadline?: Your commission is permanently voided and you must retake the exam and restart the process, so file your oath and bond with the county clerk as soon as the commission arrives.
Why can't California notaries call themselves "notario publico"?: California bans the term because in some countries a "notario" is a trained attorney, and using it could mislead immigrants. It is a prohibited and penalized form of advertising.
How long does a California notary commission last?: Four years from the commencement date on the certificate, with no grace period for notarizing after it expires.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: California Secretary of State, 2026 California Notary Public Handbook and Notary Public Program; California Government Code (notary public provisions). Confirm current fees and steps with the California Secretary of State before applying.