Do you need a bond to be an Alaska notary?

Yes, a $2,500 surety bond for the four-year term, usually $45 to $50, and it must be notarized. Government-employee notaries use an employer approval form instead.

Is there an exam to become an Alaska notary?

No. Alaska requires no exam and no training course, though the Lieutenant Governor recommends reviewing the Alaska Notary Statutes.

How long does an Alaska notary commission last?

Four years for a regular commission. You reapply from scratch with a new bond and oath about a month before it expires.

Becoming an Alaska Notary (2026): The Lieutenant Governor, Bond & Cost

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. Alaska notary rules are set in Alaska Statutes Chapter 44.50 and can change, so confirm the details with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.

Quick answer: To become a notary in Alaska you must be 18 and an Alaska resident. There is no exam. You post a $2,500 bond, apply through your myAlaska account, take a notarized oath, and pay a $40 fee. The Lieutenant Governor, not the Secretary of State, commissions you, and the term is four years. Government employees can apply bond-free. Use the checklist below to total your cost.

Open the cost checklist ↓

What does it cost to become a notary in Alaska?

Becoming an Alaska notary usually costs $100 to $205. The fixed state charge is the $40 application fee, and the $2,500 bond runs about $45 to $50 for the four-year term. The rest is a small fee to notarize your oath, your required seal, and an optional journal. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in Alaska?

You become an Alaska notary by bonding first, then applying online through myAlaska. The order is:

Get a $2,500 bond. Obtain the four-year surety bond, which must be notarized, or, if you are a government employee, an Employer Approval Form instead.
Apply in the Notary Database. Log in to your myAlaska account, choose your commission type, and upload your bond or employer approval form.
Take the emailed oath. The system emails you a customized Oath of Office; print it, swear it before a current notary, and have it notarized.
Upload the oath and pay $40. Upload your signed, notarized oath and pay the application fee through the emailed link; the fee is waived for state government applicants.
Get your seal. After the Lieutenant Governor approves you and emails your commission, buy a compliant seal and a journal before notarizing.

Who commissions notaries in Alaska?

The Lieutenant Governor commissions notaries in Alaska, not the Secretary of State as in most states, through the Office of the Lieutenant Governor's Notary Public Office in Juneau. The office runs the online Notary Database, approves applications, issues commission certificates, and maintains a central registry, so there is no county recording step. After approval, you receive your commission certificate and a copy of the Alaska Notary Statutes by email, with a physical certificate mailed about two weeks later.

How much can an Alaska notary charge?

Alaska does not set a maximum fee for a regular notary, which is unusual, so you may charge a reasonable fee for your acts as long as you give the signer a fee schedule beforehand. This contrasts with most states that cap acts at $5 to $25. Limited Governmental notaries, who work for federal, state, or municipal agencies, may not charge a fee at all, since their commission covers only their employer's official business. Travel fees are allowed by separate agreement when you go to the signer.

What are the requirements to become an Alaska notary?

The Alaska requirements center on residency and a bond rather than testing. You must be at least 18, legally residing in the U.S., and an Alaska resident, which the state defines as being physically present with the intent to remain indefinitely and make a home in Alaska. You cannot have a felony conviction or incarceration, or a revoked commission, within the past ten years. A $2,500 bond is required for a regular commission, though government employees use an employer approval form instead, and your seal may be an ink stamp or an inked embosser.

How do you renew or notarize online in Alaska?

You renew by reapplying from scratch about one month before expiration, with a new $2,500 bond, a new notarized oath, and the $40 fee, since Alaska has no separate renewal track and issues a new commission number. To perform remote online notarization, allowed since January 2021, you obtain separate authorization from the Lieutenant Governor for a $100 fee, contract with an approved technology provider, and keep a journal of every remote act, which is required even though a journal is optional for paper notarizations.

Becoming an Alaska notary: frequently asked questions

Do you need a bond to be an Alaska notary?: Yes, a $2,500 surety bond for the four-year term, usually $45 to $50, and it must be notarized. Government-employee notaries use an employer approval form instead.
Is there an exam to become an Alaska notary?: No. Alaska requires no exam and no training course, though the Lieutenant Governor recommends reviewing the Alaska Notary Statutes.
Who commissions notaries in Alaska?: The Lieutenant Governor, through the Notary Public Office in Juneau, not the Secretary of State. There is no county recording step.
How much can an Alaska notary charge?: There is no state maximum for a regular notary; you charge a reasonable fee and give a fee schedule first. Limited Governmental notaries cannot charge.
How long does an Alaska notary commission last?: Four years for a regular commission. You reapply from scratch with a new bond and oath about a month before it expires.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, Notary Public Office and the Alaska Notary Statutes; Alaska Statutes Chapter 44.50 (including AS 44.50.034). Confirm current fees and steps with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor before applying.