Arizona notary commission
Arizona notary public: the exam, the bond and a thumbprint journal
Since July 1, 2025, new and renewing Arizona notaries must pass a 45-question exam through Pearson ($35 per attempt, 80% to pass). Then buy a $5,000 surety bond covering the four-year term, have it signed and notarized, and send it to the Secretary of State with your signed application and the $43 filing fee. Processing takes about four weeks.
Arizona eligibility
- At least 18 (A.R.S. §41-269).
- A US citizen or permanent legal resident.
- An Arizona resident for income tax purposes, with Arizona listed as your primary residence on your state and federal returns.
- Able to read, write and understand English.
- Not disqualified under §41-271, for example by a felony conviction or a revoked commission. Applications needing further review cannot be expedited.
Source: A.R.S. §41-269; A.R.S. §41-271; Notary Public, Arizona Secretary of State.
Exam, then bond: the Arizona sequence
- Register with Pearson. Get a Candidate ID Number from Pearson before you apply. The Secretary of State's application page sends you there.
- Pass the exam. 45 open-book questions in 60 minutes, 80% to pass, taken remotely or at a Pearson site. $35 per proctored attempt. Required of new and renewing notaries since July 1, 2025.
- Keep the required manual. Arizona notaries must keep an approved manual on notary duties (§41-269). The Secretary of State publishes the Arizona Notary Public Reference Manual.
- Buy a $5,000 bond. A surety bond from a company authorized in Arizona, covering the whole four-year term. It must be signed and notarized.
- Send three items together. The original signed application, the original notarized bond, and the $43 filing fee by check or money order to "Arizona Secretary of State". The Phoenix and Tucson offices accept walk-ins.
- Wait about four weeks. The office may ask for more documents. Add a $25 civil penalty if you moved more than 30 days ago without reporting it.
- Order your stamp. After the certificate arrives. Check your name, county and commission dates on the stamp proof.
Source: Notary Public, Arizona Secretary of State; Remote & eNotary, Arizona Secretary of State; A.R.S. §41-269.
Arizona costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Notary exam (Pearson) | $35 Per proctored attempt. |
| Filing fee | $43 Check or money order; no cash by mail. |
| $5,000 surety bond premium | Set by surety Covers the four-year term. |
| Unreported address change | $25 civil penalty If you moved more than 30 days ago without reporting it. |
| Electronic or remote authorization | $0 No extra fee or bond at this time. |
| Stamp with the Great Seal image | Vendor price Ordered after the certificate arrives. |
The exam and the $43 filing are the fixed costs for a traditional commission. The bond premium, stamp and a journal with thumbprint boxes are priced by the companies that sell them.
Source: Notary Public, Arizona Secretary of State; Remote & eNotary, Arizona Secretary of State.
AZ starter kit · $29
Arizona Notary Starter Kit
Arizona's Pearson exam, bond, $43 filing and three-item application, the one-standard-fee rule, ID rules, the thumbprint journal, the Great Seal stamp rules, electronic and remote authorization, a checklist, a budget and journal pages with thumbprint boxes.
Studying for the exam?
Arizona notary exam practice
Try 20 free practice questions with answers and sources. Get ready for the 45-question, 80%-to-pass exam that new and renewing Arizona notaries have taken since July 2025.
Four years, and what happens at the end
An Arizona commission lasts four years (§41-269), and you may renew up to two months before it expires. Report an address change within 30 days; late reports carry a $25 civil penalty (§41-323).
Keep journals five years after each act. If your commission ends without reappointment, deliver your journal and seal to the Secretary of State within three months (§41-317).
Source: A.R.S. §41-269; A.R.S. §41-317.
Electronic and remote online notary authorization
Active Arizona notaries can apply for electronic and remote online notary authorization (§41-263). Review the administrative rules, contract with a technology vendor, and apply naming the vendor; the certificate follows by email, usually in one to two weeks. There is no extra fee or bond at this time.
You must be physically in Arizona; the signer may be in another state or country, with extra conditions for signers outside the US. Record the entire act and keep recordings at least five years, or seven when relying on the remote exception to the thumbprint rule. Electronic and remote seals show a commission number issued separately.
Source: Remote & eNotary, Arizona Secretary of State; A.R.S. §41-263.
One standard fee, and thumbprints for real estate
Arizona has you choose one standard fee, from no charge up to $10, for each acknowledgment or jurat, copy certification page, or oath, and charge it consistently. Electronic and remote acts carry the same cap and can't cost more than your paper fee. Post your fee schedule using the Secretary of State's template, and tell the signer before the act whether you will charge.
Your paper journal needs the signer's right thumbprint for deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, other documents affecting real property, and powers of attorney (§41-254). The stamp must include an image of the Great Seal of the State of Arizona, no more than 1.5 inches high and 2.5 inches wide.
Source: Arizona Administrative Code R2-12-1102 (Notary Rules 2018); A.R.S. §41-254; A.R.S. §41-266.
Want loan signings, not just walk-in notarizations? The Loan Signing Cheat Sheet explains the documents in a refinance or purchase package, and the Notary Marketing Kit covers getting found by title companies and local clients.
Arizona notary questions
How much is the Arizona notary bond?
$5,000, from a surety company authorized in Arizona, covering the whole four-year term. It must be signed and notarized.
Do I have to be an Arizona resident for tax purposes?
Yes. Arizona must be listed as your primary residence on your state and federal income tax returns.
Can I charge different fees to different customers in Arizona?
No. You choose one standard fee, from no charge up to the cap, and charge it consistently.
When does an Arizona journal need a thumbprint?
For deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, other documents affecting real property, and powers of attorney.
Does remote authorization cost extra in Arizona?
Not at this time. The Secretary of State lists no added fee or bond; you pay your technology vendor.
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General information from official Arizona sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Arizona Secretary of State, Business Services before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Arizona.