Do you need a bond to be a New Mexico notary?

Yes, a $10,000 surety bond that must be notarized, for the four-year term, usually about $45. Your oath of office must also be notarized.

Is there training and an exam in New Mexico?

Yes, first-time applicants complete a state-approved course and pass its exam, paid to the provider. Some timely renewals can reuse their certificate.

What is the 45-day stamp rule?

You must register your official stamp with the Secretary of State within 45 days of approval. Missing it means a referral to the State Ethics Commission.

Does New Mexico require a notary journal?

Yes. A journal of all notarial acts is required, in tangible or electronic form, alongside your registered stamp.

How much can a New Mexico notary charge?

Up to $5 per act, with copy certifications at fifty cents per page and a $5 minimum, plus up to $25 for electronic technology.

How to Become a Notary in New Mexico (2026): Training, the 45-Day Stamp Rule & Cost

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. New Mexico notary rules are set in the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, NMSA Chapter 14, and can change, so confirm the details with the New Mexico Secretary of State before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.

Quick answer: To become a notary in New Mexico you must be 18 and live or work in the state. You complete a training course and pass an exam, post a $10,000 notarized bond, and notarize your oath. You apply online with a $30 fee, uploading three documents. After approval you have 45 days to register your stamp, or you are referred to the State Ethics Commission. The commission lasts four years. Use the checklist below to total your cost.

Open the cost checklist ↓

What does it cost to become a notary in New Mexico?

Becoming a New Mexico notary usually costs $120 to $170. The fixed state charge is the $30 application fee, the training course runs about $30 to $50 paid to the provider, and the $10,000 bond is roughly $45. Add notarizing your oath and bond, your stamp, and the required journal. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in New Mexico?

You become a New Mexico notary by training first, then applying online with three uploads. The steps, in order, are:

Take the course and pass the exam. Complete a state-approved notary education course and its exam, paying the provider directly, and save your certificate.
Get a $10,000 notarized bond. Buy the four-year surety bond, have it notarized, and keep the power of attorney from the bonding company.
Notarize your oath of office. Sign the Oath of Office before a current New Mexico notarial officer, who notarizes it; you cannot notarize your own signature.
Apply online with $30. File at the Secretary of State's portal, uploading your course certificate, notarized oath, and notarized bond as PDFs, and pay the fee.
Register your stamp within 45 days. After approval, buy your stamp and file the Stamp Registration with the Secretary of State before performing any acts.

What is the 45-day stamp registration in New Mexico?

New Mexico requires you to register your official stamp with the Secretary of State within 45 days of your commission being approved, and before you perform any notarial act. You do this by buying your stamp once your commission certificate arrives, then filing a Notary Public Stamp Registration that includes an imprint of the seal. Missing the 45-day window is serious: the Secretary of State refers notaries who fail to register on time to the State Ethics Commission, so treat this final step as part of getting commissioned, not an afterthought.

Do you have to take training and an exam in New Mexico?

Yes, New Mexico requires first-time applicants to complete a state-approved education course and pass its exam, and you pay the course provider directly rather than the state. Renewing notaries who took the course and exam on or after January 1, 2022 and renew within one year of expiration can reuse their original certificate, but anyone whose commission has lapsed for more than a year must take it again. The course covers New Mexico notary law and duties, and the certificate is one of the documents you upload with your application.

What are the requirements to become a New Mexico notary?

The New Mexico requirements pair education with notarized paperwork. You must be at least 18, able to read and write English, and either a New Mexico resident or employed in the state, with no felony or crime of fraud or dishonesty in the past five years and no commission revoked elsewhere. Both your $10,000 bond and your oath of office must be notarized. New Mexico also requires a journal of all your notarial acts, and it caps fees at $5 per act, with copy certifications at fifty cents per page and a minimum of $5.

How do you renew or notarize online in New Mexico?

You renew with the same online process, a new $10,000 bond, a notarized oath, and the fee, reusing your course certificate only if you qualify under the post-2022 rule, then registering your stamp again within 45 days. To perform remote online notarization you must already hold a commission, complete the separate Remote Online Notary education course and exam, pay a $75 filing fee, and upload a PDF of your electronic stamp for remote use.

Becoming a New Mexico notary: frequently asked questions

Do you need a bond to be a New Mexico notary?: Yes, a $10,000 surety bond that must be notarized, for the four-year term, usually about $45. Your oath of office must also be notarized.
Is there training and an exam in New Mexico?: Yes, first-time applicants complete a state-approved course and pass its exam, paid to the provider. Some timely renewals can reuse their certificate.
What is the 45-day stamp rule?: You must register your official stamp with the Secretary of State within 45 days of approval. Missing it means a referral to the State Ethics Commission.
Does New Mexico require a notary journal?: Yes. A journal of all notarial acts is required, in tangible or electronic form, alongside your registered stamp.
How much can a New Mexico notary charge?: Up to $5 per act, with copy certifications at fifty cents per page and a $5 minimum, plus up to $25 for electronic technology.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: New Mexico Secretary of State, Notary and Apostille Division; the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, NMSA 1978 Chapter 14 (including 14-14A-28). Confirm current fees and steps with the New Mexico Secretary of State before applying.