Do you need a bond to be a North Dakota notary?

Yes, a $7,500 surety bond for the commission term, usually $35 to $55. Errors and omissions insurance is optional and protects you instead.

Is there an exam to become a North Dakota notary?

No. North Dakota requires no exam and no training course; you take a written oath of office on the application itself.

Why is the stamp verification a separate step?

A vendor cannot make your stamp without the state's Certificate of Authorization. You then verify the imprint before your commission is issued.

How long does a North Dakota notary commission last?

Four years. You renew with a new application and bond before it expires, repeating the stamp verification with an updated device.

Can you use an embosser in North Dakota?

No, not on its own. A rectangular ink stamp that is photographically reproducible is required, and the stamp must be destroyed when your commission ends.

How to Become a Notary in North Dakota (2026): The Stamp Verification, Bond & Cost

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. North Dakota notary rules are set in N.D.C.C. Chapter 44-06.1 and can change, so confirm the details with the North Dakota Secretary of State before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.

Quick answer: To become a notary in North Dakota you must be 18 and live or work in the state. There is no exam. You post a $7,500 bond and apply through FirstStop with a $36 fee. Unlike most states, you cannot buy your stamp until the Secretary of State authorizes it, then you verify it before your commission issues. The term is four years. Use the checklist below to total your cost.

Open the cost checklist ↓

What does it cost to become a notary in North Dakota?

Becoming a North Dakota notary usually costs $90 to $130. The fixed state charge is the $36 filing fee, and the $7,500 bond runs about $35 to $55 for the four-year term. The rest is your required ink stamp and an optional journal. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in North Dakota?

You become a North Dakota notary through a two-stage process: apply and bond first, then verify your stamp. The order is:

Complete the FirstStop application. Apply on the Secretary of State's online portal, using your name exactly as you will sign when notarizing, and take the oath of office on the form.
Get a $7,500 bond. Obtain the surety bond from an insurer of your choice to cover your commission term.
Mail the application, bond, and $36 fee. Send the printed application with your bond and fee to the Secretary of State in Bismarck.
Buy your stamp after authorization. The state issues a Certificate of Authorization and a Verification of Notary Stamping Device form; a vendor cannot make your stamp without the authorization.
Verify the stamp and get commissioned. Imprint your stamp on the verification form, return it by the deadline, and once the state approves it, your commission certificate is issued.

Why can't you buy your stamp until the state approves it?

North Dakota controls stamp manufacturing to prevent fraud, so a vendor is legally barred from making your notary stamp until you present the Certificate of Authorization the Secretary of State issues after your application and bond are received. You then imprint that stamp on the Verification of Notary Stamping Device form and return it, and only after the state reviews and approves the imprint does it issue your commission certificate. This extra loop is why North Dakota takes a step longer than states where you buy a stamp the moment you are approved.

Do you need a bond or an exam in North Dakota?

North Dakota requires a $7,500 surety bond but no exam and no training course, which keeps the process simple. The bond covers the public against losses from your notarial mistakes and is filed with your application, while errors and omissions insurance is optional and protects you instead. You take a written oath of office on the application itself, swearing to support the U.S. and North Dakota Constitutions and to discharge your duties faithfully, rather than appearing before a separate official.

What are the requirements to become a North Dakota notary?

The North Dakota requirements are short but have a few specifics. You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, able to read and write English, and either a North Dakota resident, employed in the state, or living in a reciprocal border county. Your seal must be a rectangular ink stamp, no larger than seven-eighths by two and five-eighths inches and photographically reproducible; embossers are prohibited on their own. North Dakota caps your fee at $5 per signature, and when your commission ends you must destroy your stamp.

How do you renew or notarize online in North Dakota?

You renew by filing a new application and a fresh $7,500 bond before your four-year commission expires, repeating the stamp verification with an updated device, and paying the $36 fee. North Dakota also authorizes remote online notarization: you first obtain Electronic Notary Authorization, then file a separate RON application naming an approved technology provider, and you must keep a journal and an audio-video recording of every remote act while physically in North Dakota.

Becoming a North Dakota notary: frequently asked questions

Do you need a bond to be a North Dakota notary?: Yes, a $7,500 surety bond for the commission term, usually $35 to $55. Errors and omissions insurance is optional and protects you instead.
Is there an exam to become a North Dakota notary?: No. North Dakota requires no exam and no training course; you take a written oath of office on the application itself.
Why is the stamp verification a separate step?: A vendor cannot make your stamp without the state's Certificate of Authorization. You then verify the imprint before your commission is issued.
How long does a North Dakota notary commission last?: Four years. You renew with a new application and bond before it expires, repeating the stamp verification with an updated device.
Can you use an embosser in North Dakota?: No, not on its own. A rectangular ink stamp that is photographically reproducible is required, and the stamp must be destroyed when your commission ends.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: North Dakota Secretary of State, Notary Public and Apostille program; North Dakota Century Code Chapter 44-06.1 (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts). Confirm current fees and steps with the North Dakota Secretary of State before applying.