Minnesota has a high application fee ($120) but otherwise low barriers — no bond, no exam, no course required. The commission term ends January 31 of the fifth year, which is unusual.
Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 359, the eligibility requirements are:
Minnesota's $120 application fee is the highest of any state — but you save on bond/exam/course costs that other states require. The total tends to be moderate.
| Item | Required? | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State application fee | Required | $120 |
| County recording fee | Required | $20 |
| Notary stamp/seal | Required | $20–$40 |
| Surety bond | Not required | $0 |
| Education course | Not required | $0 |
| Written exam | Not required | $0 |
| Notary journal | Optional but recommended | $10–$25 |
| E&O insurance (recommended) | Optional | $25–$50/yr |
| Total to get commissioned | $160–$205 |
Minnesota allows residents of bordering states (Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin) to become Minnesota notaries. If you're a non-resident, you must designate a Minnesota county for filing and appoint the MN Secretary of State as your agent for service of process. This is unusual and useful for cross-border professionals.
Minnesota's process is straightforward — no exam or course required.
Apply online or by mail to the Minnesota Secretary of State. Include the $120 application fee. Non-residents must designate a Minnesota county for filing and appoint the SOS as agent for service of process.
The SOS issues your commission certificate, typically within 2 weeks. Your commission is effective when issued and expires January 31 of the 5th year following issuance.
Take your commission certificate to your designated county recorder's office (where you reside, or where you filed if non-resident). Pay the $20 county recording fee. The county recorder will record your commission in the county records.
Order an inked rubber stamp containing your name, "Notary Public," "Minnesota," and your commission expiration date. The stamp must be reproducible (photocopiable).
Although a journal isn't legally required, MN's Secretary of State strongly encourages it as best practice. Without a journal, you have no defense if a notarization is later challenged.
Minnesota notaries can perform these acts statewide under Minn. Stat. Ch. 359:
Minnesota uses fee guidelines rather than hard caps — notaries can set reasonable rates:
Minneapolis-St. Paul metro is the dominant market — strong real estate transaction volume, high concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters (3M, Target, U.S. Bank, UnitedHealth), and a large population of retirees and immigrants requiring notary services. Rochester (Mayo Clinic) is also a strong specialty market for medical document notarizations.
Minnesota authorized remote online notarization in 2019. To perform RON:
Your Minnesota commission is valid for 5 years, expiring January 31 of the 5th year following issuance.
Renewal is the same process as initial application — new $120 fee, new commission. The Secretary of State sends a reminder typically 90 days before expiration. Start the renewal process at least 30 days before January 31 of your expiration year to avoid a gap in your commission.
Minnesota's notary law was designed to accommodate cross-border professionals — particularly in the Twin Cities metro, which has significant overlap with western Wisconsin (Hudson, River Falls), and in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Allowing IA/ND/SD/WI residents to be commissioned in MN supports legitimate cross-border business activity.
Minnesota's fee reflects the cost of administering the program without the typical revenue from bond filings, education provider partnerships, or exam fees that other states charge. The total cost to applicants ($160-$220) is comparable to other states once you include the costs MN doesn't charge separately.
Legally yes, but practically no. The MN Secretary of State strongly recommends maintaining a journal. Without one, if a notarization is later challenged in court ("I never signed that — that's not my signature"), you have no records to defend your work. E&O insurance often requires a journal as a condition of coverage.
Minnesota's commission term is fixed: it expires January 31 of the 5th year following issuance. So if you're commissioned in March 2026, your commission expires January 31, 2031 — about 4 years and 10 months later. This is unusual but creates a predictable annual renewal cycle for the state.
Yes. Your commission is statewide regardless of which county you're registered in. You can notarize anywhere in MN.
No. Your MN commission only authorizes you to notarize while physically present in Minnesota. If you're a Wisconsin resident with a MN commission, you can't use the MN commission to notarize documents while you're in WI. You'd need a separate WI commission for that.
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