Illinois modernized its notary requirements in 2024 with mandatory education and a tough 85% exam pass score. A $5,000 bond is required ($30,000 for electronic notaries) — among the lowest bond amounts in the country.
To be commissioned as a notary public in Illinois, you must meet all of the following requirements:
Source: Illinois Notary Public Act, 5 ILCS 312, as amended by Public Act 102-0160 (SB 2664), full implementation January 1, 2024. Full requirements at the Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department.
Illinois sits in the middle of the pack on cost. $150–$300 total. The 3-hour course and tough exam are the biggest time commitments.
| Item | Cost | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-hour education + exam course | $50–$130 | Yes | Combined course and 50-question exam (85% to pass). Required by SOS rule. |
| Application filing fee | $15 | Yes | Paid to Illinois Secretary of State Index Department. |
| $5,000 surety bond (traditional) | $50–$100 | Yes | Four-year term. $30,000 bond required separately for electronic/RON notaries. |
| Notary stamp/seal | $20–$40 | Yes | Must include name, "Notary Public," "State of Illinois," and commission expiration date. |
| Notary journal | $15–$30 | Yes | Mandatory in Illinois since June 5, 2023. Paper or electronic format. |
| E&O insurance | $30–$80/yr | Optional | Strongly recommended given Illinois's tough liability environment. |
| Realistic total | $150–$300 | Lower end for resident applicants who pass the exam on first attempt. Non-residents (qualifying bordering states) pay similar but get a 1-year term instead of 4-year. |
Three providers for Illinois notaries. All can issue the $5,000 traditional or $30,000 RON bond.
Disclosure: the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Smoothquill may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We only recommend providers we'd use ourselves.
Illinois's process post-2024 is more rigorous than it used to be. Start to finish, expect 4–6 weeks. The 85% exam pass score is among the strictest in the country — be prepared.
Illinois requires a 3-hour course from a Secretary of State-approved provider, followed immediately by a 50-question final exam. Passing score is 85% (one of the strictest in the nation). Maximum 3 attempts.
The course covers notary duties, RULONA-style framework, electronic notarization rules, and Illinois-specific journal requirements. Approved providers include NNA, the Notary Public Underwriters of Illinois, and several online providers. Combined course + exam fee is typically $50–$130.
Illinois requires a $5,000 surety bond for traditional notaries (or $30,000 if you'll perform electronic/RON notarizations). The bond protects the public from financial loss caused by your notarial misconduct.
Premiums typically run $50–$100 for the 4-year term ($5,000 bond) or $200–$400 for the $30,000 RON bond. The bond must be issued by a company qualified to write surety bonds in Illinois. The Illinois SOS does NOT accept Public Official Bonds or E&O Policies in place of the required surety bond.
See bond options →Illinois requires that your notary application be notarized by another current Illinois notary. Your bank, a workplace notary, or any commissioned IL notary can do this for the standard fee ($5 or less).
Make sure your name and address on the application match your Illinois driver's license or state ID exactly. Mismatches are the most common cause of rejection. The Illinois SOS website provides the application form (i160 for residents, separate form for non-residents).
Mail your completed application, signed bond, course completion certificate, exam results, and $15 fee to the Illinois Secretary of State Index Department in Springfield. Processing typically takes 3–4 weeks.
Address: Illinois Secretary of State, Index Department, 111 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62756. Make the check or money order payable to "Secretary of State." Your commission date is assigned by this office — not by your bond company. Don't order your stamp until your commission certificate arrives.
Once your commission certificate arrives by mail, order your official Illinois notary stamp. Begin maintaining your journal immediately — Illinois requires journal entries for every notarial act since June 5, 2023.
Illinois stamps must include your name, "Notary Public," "State of Illinois," and your commission expiration date. Maximum fee per traditional notarial act in Illinois is $5. Electronic/RON acts can be charged at $25 per act. If you plan to add RON capability, register separately with the Secretary of State and upgrade your bond to $30,000.
Apply to Smoothquill →Illinois notaries perform acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, copy certifications, and protests. The Chicago metro is one of the largest notary markets in the country, with strong demand from the financial services, real estate, and immigration legal sectors. Illinois has been pushing modernization since 2024, with mandatory journals (paper or electronic) and full RON authorization. Non-resident notaries (from bordering states who work in IL) get 1-year terms instead of the standard 4-year.
Illinois's $5 per-act cap is modest, but the Chicago loan signing market is among the strongest in the country ($100–$200 per signing). Electronic/RON notaries can charge $25 per online act, opening significant additional revenue with the upgraded $30,000 bond.
Income estimates are based on the National Notary Association's annual notary income surveys, BLS data for legal services workers, and reported earnings from active notary marketplaces. Your actual income depends on market density, hours worked, and whether you certify as a Notary Signing Agent (NSA) for loan signing work.
Illinois authorizes both Electronic Notarization and Remote Online Notarization. Both require an upgraded $30,000 surety bond (instead of the $5,000 traditional bond) and separate authorization from the Secretary of State. Illinois RON notaries can serve signers nationwide and charge up to $25 per online act. A combined $30,000 bond can cover both traditional and RON acts.
Illinois commissions last 4 years for residents, 1 year for qualifying non-residents. Renewal follows the same process as initial application — including the 3-hour education course AND the 85% exam. Renewals can be filed in the months leading up to expiration; there is no grace period after expiration.
Illinois set the 85% pass score (much higher than the 70% standard in most states) when modernizing its notary law via Public Act 102-0160. The legislative intent was to ensure notaries genuinely understand their duties. The pass rate is lower than most states — preparation matters.
Traditional notaries need a $5,000 bond. If you want to perform electronic notarizations or Remote Online Notarization (RON), you need a $30,000 bond. Many IL notaries upgrade to the $30,000 bond upfront since the RON market is growing fast.
Yes, if you live in a qualifying bordering state. Non-resident Illinois notaries get a 1-year commission term (instead of 4-year) and must use a different application form (i264 or similar).
As of June 5, 2023, Illinois notaries must record every notarial act in a journal. Required entries: date, time, type of act, document description, signer name and signature, identification method (type/issuer/number), and fee charged. Paper or electronic format. Attorneys/law firms maintaining copies are exempt for employment notarizations.
Illinois is one of the states that requires your application to be notarized by another current notary. This serves as a basic identity verification step. Any IL notary can do this for the $5 standard fee — often free at your bank.
No. Illinois does not exempt attorneys from the education, exam, or bond requirements. All notary applicants follow the same process.
Illinois doesn't have to be complicated. Buy the bond, complete the steps, and you're commissioned in 4–6 weeks.
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