District of Columbia notary commission
District of Columbia notary commission: ONCA's orientation, a bond and the oath
Apply online with the DC Notary Application and a $75 nonrefundable fee. Once you're approved, the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA) emails a Provisional Commission Notice, which you use to buy a $2,000 surety bond, a seal and a journal. Then attend ONCA's New Notary Orientation and take the oath, all within 60 days of the provisional start date. The term is five years.
Who can be a DC notary
- 18 or older (D.C. Code 1-1231.19(c)).
- A US citizen or permanent legal resident; ONCA may ask for proof.
- A verifiable physical DC address that fits your commission type: business or government (your main place of business or employment is in DC, though you may live elsewhere), dual (you live and work in DC) or residential (you live in DC).
- No felony conviction and no revoked commission; either can lead to denial.
- The training class the Mayor provides: ONCA's New Notary Orientation.
Source: Notary Commissions, Office of the Secretary; D.C. Code 1-1231.19.
Application to oath in 60 days
- Apply online and pay $75. Submit the DC Notary Application with your letter of request: a supervisor's letter on letterhead for a business or government commission, or a statement of why you'll provide notarial services for dual or residential. Review takes at least five business days.
- Receive the Provisional Commission Notice. Emailed within 3 business days of approval. You use it to buy your bond and supplies.
- Buy the bond and supplies. A $2,000 surety bond (not needed if you're commissioned only on behalf of the DC government), a seal and a journal.
- Attend orientation and take the oath. ONCA's New Notary Orientation, and the oath prescribed for DC civil officers.
- Finish within 60 days. The commission window closes 60 days from the provisional start date.
Source: Notary Commissions; ONCA Frequently Asked Questions.
DC costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | $75 Nonrefundable, new or renewal. Government-only applicants are exempt. |
| $2,000 surety bond | About $50 ONCA's FAQ estimate. Not needed for government-only commissions. |
| Seal and journal | Vendor price Bought with the Provisional Commission Notice. |
| In-person electronic (IPEN) endorsement | $30 Optional, after one year as a DC notary. |
| Remote notary endorsement | $30 Optional, on top of the IPEN endorsement. |
A new DC notary pays $75 to ONCA and, by ONCA's estimate, about $50 for the bond, plus a seal and journal.
Source: Notary Commissions; ONCA Frequently Asked Questions; D.C. Code 1-1231.19.
DC starter kit · $29
District of Columbia Notary Starter Kit
DC's $75 application, Provisional Commission Notice, $2,000 bond, orientation and 60-day window in order, the $5 fee, ID rules, the required journal, the seal, IPEN and remote endorsements, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Five years, inside DC only
A DC commission lasts five years (1-1231.19(g)). Apply to renew 90 to 30 days before expiration; renewing notaries take the oath at the DC Notary Open House, and ONCA sends no reminders. The New Notary Orientation is for new applicants and anyone whose commission lapsed more than 12 months.
A DC commission works only within DC. Notify ONCA of changes within 15 calendar days. If your DC job ends, or you move out as a residential notary, you must resign and send your journal and seal to ONCA.
Source: Notary Commissions; ONCA Frequently Asked Questions.
IPEN first, then the remote endorsement
The in-person electronic (IPEN) endorsement comes first: one year as a DC notary, a $30 fee, training from a recognized IPEN vendor, and the Electronic Endorsement Oath Form with proof of your digital seal and e-signature. The remote endorsement adds another $30 fee, remote vendor training and the Remote Notary Endorsement Oath Form.
You must be in DC for every remote act. Identify the signer by personal knowledge, a credible witness, or at least two different types of identity proofing, and keep the recording at least 10 years (1-1231.13a). IPEN and remote acts need an electronic journal.
Source: Notary Commissions; D.C. Code 1-1231.13a.
The $5 fee and a journal for every act
ONCA's FAQ says a notary may charge up to $5 per notarial act, and a notary commissioned on behalf of the DC government may charge nothing. The pages our kit read state no separate fee for remote acts, so ask ONCA before setting one.
Every DC notary keeps a journal of all notarial acts (1-1231.18): a permanent bound register with numbered pages for paper, or a tamper-evident electronic journal, with each entry made at the time of the act. The seal shows your name exactly as commissioned, "District of Columbia" and your expiration date (1-1231.16).
Source: ONCA Frequently Asked Questions; D.C. Code 1-1231.18; D.C. Code 1-1231.16.
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District of Columbia notary questions
What is ONCA's New Notary Orientation?
The training class the Mayor provides through the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications. New applicants, and anyone whose commission lapsed more than 12 months, attend it before taking the oath.
How long do I have to finish my DC notary commission?
60 days from the provisional start date on your Provisional Commission Notice, for the bond, supplies, orientation and oath.
Can I live in Maryland or Virginia and be a DC notary?
Yes, with a business or government commission, if your primary place of business or employment is in DC. The commission works only within DC.
How much is the DC notary bond?
$2,000. ONCA's FAQ puts the cost at about $50. Notaries commissioned only on behalf of the DC government don't need one.
What can a DC notary charge?
Up to $5 per notarial act. Notaries commissioned on behalf of the DC government may not charge.
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General information from official District of Columbia sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the DC Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA) before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the District of Columbia government.