Becoming an Idaho Notary (2026): No Exam, the 6-Year Term & Cost

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. Idaho notary rules are set in Idaho Code Title 51 and can change, so confirm the details with the Idaho Secretary of State before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.

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What does it cost to become a notary in Idaho?

Becoming an Idaho notary usually costs $60 to $110, and that covers a full six years, so the yearly cost is low. The fixed state charge is the $30 filing fee, and the $10,000 bond runs about $30 to $60 for the six-year term. The rest is a small fee to notarize your oath and your required stamp. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in Idaho?

You become an Idaho notary entirely by mail to the state, with no county step. The steps, in order, are:

1. Complete the application online. Fill out the Notary Public Application through the Secretary of State's SOSbiz system, matching the exact name on your bond.
2. Get a $10,000 bond. Buy the six-year surety bond from a licensed company before you finish.
3. Print and notarize the oath. Print the application, sign it, and have the Oath of Office notarized by a current Idaho notary.
4. Mail it with the $30 fee. Send the notarized application, the original bond, and the fee to the Secretary of State within 30 days of printing.
5. Get your stamp. Once your commission certificate arrives, buy a compliant stamp; you cannot notarize until you have it.

How long does an Idaho notary commission last?

An Idaho notary commission lasts six years, one of the longest terms in the country, so you reapply far less often than in a four-year state. There is no true renewal and the Secretary of State does not send reminders, so tracking your own expiration date is essential. You can reapply up to 90 days before your commission lapses, and if you already have a stamp with no date change, you can keep using it for the next term.

Do you need a bond or an exam in Idaho?

Idaho requires a $10,000 surety bond but no exam, which makes it one of the simpler states to enter. There is no mandatory training either, though the Secretary of State offers a free online course that is worth taking to understand your duties. The bond must run the full six years and protects the public, not you, so many notaries add optional errors and omissions insurance for their own protection against claims.

What are the requirements to become an Idaho notary?

The Idaho requirements are short and handled entirely at the state level. You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, able to read and write English, and either an Idaho resident or primarily employed in Idaho, with no disqualifying convictions. Unlike many states, there is no county recording step; everything goes to the Secretary of State. Your seal must be an inked stamp with a serrated border showing your name, "Notary Public," "State of Idaho," and your commission number, and Idaho caps your fee at $5 per act.

How do you renew or notarize online in Idaho?

You reapply rather than renew, up to 90 days before expiration, by submitting a new application, a new $10,000 bond, and the $30 fee, since Idaho sends no reminders and has no separate renewal process. To perform remote online notarization, authorized since January 1, 2020, you keep your traditional commission, file the Addition of Electronic or Remote Online Notary amendment with a $20 fee, use approved technology, and retain an audio-video recording of each remote act.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Idaho Secretary of State, Notary Public program and the Idaho Notary Handbook; Idaho Code Title 51 (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts). Confirm current fees and steps with the Idaho Secretary of State before applying.