One of the five easiest states in the US to become a notary. No exam, no required training, six-year term.
To be commissioned as a notary public in Idaho, you must meet all of the following requirements:
Source: Idaho Code Title 51 (Idaho Notary Public Act, effective July 1, 2017). The full statute is published by the Idaho Secretary of State, Notary Public Division.
Most Idaho notaries spend between $130 and $195 total to get commissioned. Here's the line-item breakdown.
| Item | Cost | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10000 surety bond | $30–$60 | Yes | Six-year term. Protects the public, not you. |
| Application fee | $30 | Yes | Check or money order to Idaho SOS. |
| Application notarization | $0–$10 | Yes | Often free at your bank. |
| Notary stamp/seal | $20–$35 | Yes | Must match Idaho requirements exactly. |
| Notary journal | $15–$30 | Recommended | Required for RON acts. |
| E&O insurance | $40/yr | Optional | Protects you from honest mistakes. |
| Paper filing fee | $20 | If filing paper | Filing online avoids this. |
| Realistic total | $130–$195 | Including optional E&O. |
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Start to finish, expect 2–6 weeks. Most of that is waiting on the SOS to process your packet — the active work is under 2 hours.
Idaho requires every notary to be bonded for $10,000 for the full six-year term. The bond protects the public — not you — from financial harm caused by notarial misconduct.
You can purchase the bond from any Idaho-licensed surety company or insurance agent. Online providers like SuretyBonds.com, NNA, and Notaries.com sell them instantly. Expect to pay $30–$60 for the six-year term. Most providers will also offer optional Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance for $20–$40 more per year — this protects you personally from honest mistakes, which the bond does not.
Buy the bond before starting your application. You'll need the original bond document mailed to you to file with the Secretary of State.
Idaho's notary application is filed online through the Secretary of State's SOSbiz portal. The form takes 15–20 minutes to complete.
Go to sosbiz.idaho.gov, create a free account, and start a new Notary Public Application. You'll enter your legal name (which must match your bond exactly), residential address, business address if different, and contact information. When you finish, the system generates a printable application form.
The name on your application must match the name on your bond and will appear on your official stamp. Pick the version of your name you actually want forever — most people regret using initials.
Yes, you need an existing Idaho notary to notarize your notary application. This is the most absurd step but a hard requirement.
Print the completed application from SOSbiz, take it to any commissioned Idaho notary along with a government-issued photo ID, and have them notarize your signature. Banks, credit unions, UPS Stores, AAA offices, and most title companies have a notary on staff. This must happen within 30 days of printing the application or you'll need to start over.
Many banks and credit unions notarize for free for account holders. Wells Fargo and the local credit unions in Boise (Idaho Central, Pioneer FCU) typically do this without an appointment.
Mail your notarized application, the original signed bond, and a $30 check or money order to the Idaho Secretary of State.
Send to: Idaho Secretary of State, Notary Public Division, PO Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0080. Use certified mail with tracking if you want peace of mind. Processing is typically 7–10 business days but can stretch to 4–6 weeks during high-volume periods (January and post-July).
The $30 fee must be a check or money order — no credit cards by mail. Idaho state employees using the commission for state work are exempt from the fee but must follow a different submission process through the Department of Administration.
Once your commission certificate arrives, order an Idaho-compliant stamp. A journal isn't required for in-person acts but is required for RON acts and strongly recommended for all notaries.
Your stamp must include your name (matching your commission), the words 'Notary Public' and 'State of Idaho,' and your commission expiration date. Most suppliers (NNA, Notary Rotary, Notaries.com) will manufacture an Idaho-compliant stamp for $20–$35 and ship within 3–5 days. A journal — paper or electronic — runs $15–$30.
Don't order your stamp before your commission arrives — the expiration date on the stamp must match the date issued by the SOS, which you won't know until the certificate is in hand.
An Idaho notary is a state-appointed witness whose job is to verify the identity of a signer, confirm they're signing willingly and knowingly, and create an official record that the signing happened. Notaries do not give legal advice, draft documents, or vouch for the contents of what's being signed — only that the right person signed it in their presence.
Idaho caps the per-signature notary fee at $5 for in-person acts and $25 for RON sessions. The real income comes from the layers stacked on top: travel fees, loan signing packages, and volume.
12–25 visits per month at $45–$75 each. Common starting point.
Mix of scheduled signings, walk-up requests, and RON sessions. Requires consistent marketing.
Real estate signing packages at $75–$200 each. Income tracks the local refi market.
Idaho RON commission lets you serve clients anywhere in the US (when document recognizes Idaho RON). Pure software margin.
Reasonable, no statutory cap. Most operators charge $25–$75 per mobile visit.
Idaho authorizes Remote Online Notarization (RON) under Idaho Code §51-120. Commissioned notaries can register separately to perform notarial acts by live audio-video session with a remotely located signer.
6-year term. Idaho notary commissions are not auto-renewed. The Secretary of State does NOT send reminders. To renew, follow the same five-step process: buy a new bond, complete a new application, get it notarized, mail it in with the $30 fee, and order a new stamp with the updated expiration date.
Start the renewal process at least 90 days before your commission expires to avoid any gap in your ability to notarize.
No. Idaho is one of about 20 states that requires neither a training course nor an exam. The Secretary of State offers a free non-mandatory online course, which we recommend — it takes about an hour and covers the legal duties you'll be liable for.
Yes, if you have a place of employment or practice in Idaho. The same eligibility rules apply otherwise. You'll need to satisfy all other requirements including the bond, application, and stamp.
Most new Idaho notaries spend $130–$195 total: $30–$60 bond, $30 application fee, $0–$10 to get the application notarized, $5 postage, $20–$35 for the stamp, $15–$30 for a journal, and optionally $40 for E&O insurance.
From mailing your packet, 7–10 business days is typical. During busy periods (especially January and post-July renewal waves) it can stretch to 4–6 weeks. Plan for a month.
Yes, for in-person acts performed in Idaho. The signer can be from any state, but the act itself must occur within Idaho. For RON, an Idaho-commissioned RON notary can serve signers anywhere in the US, provided the receiving document accepts Idaho RON (most do).
Idaho caps the notarial fee at $5 per signature for in-person acts and $25 per session for RON. Travel fees are separate and uncapped — most mobile notaries charge $25–$75 per visit on top of the per-signature fee.
Idaho does not require a journal for in-person notarial acts (though it's strongly recommended for legal protection). A journal IS required for RON acts and for notarizations performed for remotely located individuals under the 2020 administrative rule.
No, only the $10,000 bond is required. But the bond protects the public, not you. E&O insurance protects you from honest mistakes that lead to lawsuits. At $20–$40 per year, it's almost universally recommended.
No. Idaho specifically prohibits notarizing for immediate family members (spouse, parents, children, siblings). Doing so can void the notarization and result in suspension or revocation of your commission.
If you lose your Idaho residency AND your place of employment in Idaho, you must resign your commission within 30 days under Idaho Code §51-124. Notify the Secretary of State in writing.
Get bonded today and you can mail your packet to the Idaho SOS by the end of the week.
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