New York is one of the few states with mandatory exams but no bond requirement. The $2 maximum fee per acknowledgment is the lowest in the country — but the New York market is enormous.
To be commissioned as a notary public in New York, you must meet all of the following requirements:
Source: New York Executive Law Article 6 (§§130–146). Full requirements at the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services. Note: NY attorneys and court clerks of the Unified Court System are exempt from the examination.
New York is cheaper than expected — no bond is required. Plan for $120–$200 total. The exam ($15) and application ($60) are the main hard costs.
| Item | Cost | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $15 | Yes | Paid at exam registration. Walk-in proctored exam. |
| Application fee | $60 | Yes | Payable to NY Department of State by check or credit card. |
| Surety bond | Not required | No | New York is one of about 20 states with no bond requirement. |
| Notary stamp/seal | $20–$40 | Yes | Must include name, "Notary Public," "State of New York," county, expiration date, and registration number. |
| Notary journal | $15–$30 | Yes | Mandatory in NY since January 2023. Records must be kept for 10 years. |
| Exam study materials | $10–$30 | Optional | Strongly recommended — NY exam has a reputation for being harder than expected. |
| E&O insurance | $30–$80/yr | Optional | Strongly recommended since there's no bond protection. |
| Realistic total | $120–$200 | Including journal, stamp, and modest E&O. Attorneys (exam-exempt) pay just $60. |
Since New York doesn't require a bond, your main purchases are exam prep, stamp, journal, and optional E&O. Three providers we'd use:
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.
New York's process is longer than most: 6–8 weeks start to finish. The bottleneck is exam scheduling — walk-in exams are offered in major cities but slots fill weeks in advance.
New York's 40-question exam (70% passing) covers Executive Law Article 6, the $2 fee cap, geographic jurisdiction rules, acknowledgments vs. jurats, and identity verification. It's harder than most candidates expect.
Most successful candidates spend 10–20 hours studying. The exam is administered in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Russian, and Chinese. Free study materials are available through the NY Department of State, but most candidates buy a prep course ("$10–$30") for higher first-attempt pass rates.
NY exams are offered at walk-in testing locations across the state (heavy concentration in NYC, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester). The exam fee is $15 paid at registration. There's no limit on retakes, but each attempt costs $15.
Bring two forms of ID. The exam is 40 multiple-choice questions, 70% to pass (28/40 correct), proctored. Most candidates receive their score the same day. Exam results are valid for 2 years — if you don't apply within 2 years of passing, you'll need to retake.
Once you've passed the exam, submit the notary application to the NY Department of State with the $60 application fee. The application includes personal info, residency confirmation, and conviction disclosure.
Payment must be by check, money order, or credit card (no cash). Address: NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, P.O. Box 22001, Albany, NY 12201. Processing typically takes 4–6 weeks. The DOS conducts a background check and may request additional information for any disclosed convictions.
When approved, the NY Department of State mails you a commission certificate. Your commission ID number is on this certificate — you'll need it for your stamp and for all future notarial acts.
Your commission certificate must be filed with the county clerk in the county where you have your principal place of business. The county clerk maintains the official record of your commission. There is typically a small filing fee at the county clerk level (varies by county, usually $10–$15).
NY notary stamps must include your name, "Notary Public," "State of New York," your county, commission expiration date, and your commission registration number. Order from any approved vendor.
As of January 2023, NY notaries must also maintain a journal of all notarial acts. The journal must include date, type of act, type of ID provided, and signer information. Records must be kept for 10 years. Electronic notaries must also keep audio/video records of all electronic acts.
New York authorized Remote Online Notarization in 2022. To perform RON, you must separately register as an electronic notary with the Department of State, use an approved RON platform, and maintain additional records (audio/video of every session).
RON registration is separate from your traditional notary commission. NY RON notaries can perform notarizations for signers anywhere in the country, opening significant additional revenue. The maximum fee for online notarization is set higher than the $2 in-person cap.
Apply to Smoothquill →New York notaries perform acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, copy certifications, and protests of negotiable instruments. The market is enormous — Manhattan alone has more legal and financial document needs than most entire states. New York is one of the only states with strict geographic jurisdiction rules: your acts must be performed within the state, but you can notarize for signers from anywhere. Mandatory journal requirements since 2023 make recordkeeping more rigorous than in many other states.
The $2 per acknowledgment cap is the lowest in the country, which means traditional notarization is barely profitable. But the NY loan signing market ($75–$200 per signing) and the RON opportunity ($25+ per online act, served nationwide) make experienced NYC notaries some of the best-earning in the country.
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.
New York authorized Remote Online Notarization in 2022, with separate registration required. RON notaries must use approved platforms and maintain audio/video records of every notarial session. NY RON notaries can perform notarizations for signers anywhere in the United States. Registration as an electronic notary opens substantial revenue beyond the $2 in-person cap.
New York commissions last 4 years. Renewal requires re-submitting the application with the $60 fee. Renewing notaries do not need to retake the exam unless their commission has lapsed for more than 6 months. Recommended renewal timeline: file at least 60 days before expiration to avoid a gap in your commission.
New York hasn't raised the statutory acknowledgment fee since the 1970s. Most notaries make their actual income from travel fees (uncapped), loan signings ($75–$200 per closing), or RON acts (much higher cap).
Correct. New York is one of about 20 states with no bond requirement. The Department of State has determined that the exam plus background check plus mandatory journal sufficiently protect the public. E&O insurance is strongly recommended for personal protection.
Yes — your commission is statewide. But your commission certificate must be filed in your principal county, and you must indicate your commission county on every stamped document.
Harder than most candidates expect. The pass rate hovers around 60-70% on first attempts. The most-failed areas are: the $2 fee cap (people guess higher), geographic jurisdiction (where can you notarize what), and the distinction between acknowledgments and jurats. Study materials are worth the cost.
Yes, if you have an office or place of business in New York. The same eligibility requirements apply. Many NYC notaries actually live in NJ but work in Manhattan.
As of January 2023, NY notaries must keep a journal of all notarial acts. Records must include date, type of act, document description, signer name, signer ID type, and the fee charged. Records must be retained for 10 years. Electronic notaries must additionally retain audio/video of every session.
New York doesn't have to be complicated. Buy the bond, complete the steps, and you're commissioned in 6–8 weeks.
See bond options →Affiliate links — see disclosure below.