Idaho notary commission
Idaho notary public: no exam, a $10,000 bond and a six-year commission
Get a $10,000 surety bond and submit the completed, notarized application on SOSBiz with the bond and the $30 filing fee. The Secretary of State offers a free training course but requires no test to apply. An Idaho commission lasts six years, one of the longest terms, and the fee for any notarial act is capped at $5.
Idaho eligibility
- At least 18 years old (Idaho Code 51-121).
- A US citizen or permanent legal resident.
- An Idaho resident, or with a place of employment or practice in Idaho.
- Able to read and write.
Source: Notary Public FAQ, Idaho Secretary of State; Idaho Code 51-121.
The Idaho order: training, bond, SOSBiz
- Take the free training. Recommended. The Secretary's Notary Training Course has seven chapters with videos and optional quizzes; Idaho Code 51-122 requires the course to be offered, and the FAQ says no test is required to apply.
- Get a $10,000 surety bond. A notary may act only while a valid bond is on file (51-121).
- Apply on SOSBiz with $30. Submit the completed, notarized application with the bond.
- Buy your stamp and journal. After your certificate arrives, so the stamp matches it exactly.
Source: Notary Training Course, chapter 6; Notary Public FAQ.
What an Idaho commission costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Notary Training Course | $0 From the Secretary of State; recommended, not required. |
| Filing fee | $30 City, county and state employees using the commission at work are exempt. |
| $10,000 bond premium | Set by surety Or a functional equivalent. |
| Inked stamp | Vendor price Bought after your certificate arrives. |
| Bound journal | Vendor price Strongly recommended, not required. |
For six years the state's charge is $30. The bond premium and supplies come from vendors.
Source: Notary Public FAQ; Idaho Code 51-121.
ID starter kit · $29
Idaho Notary Starter Kit
Idaho's training, $10,000 bond and SOSBiz application in order, the $5 cap and travel rule, the three-year ID window, journal advice, stamp rules, remote notification, the required not-an-attorney statement, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
A six-year term to plan around
An Idaho commission lasts six years (51-121). Renewal is a new application, filed no earlier than 90 days before expiration, so put the expiration date and the 90-day window in your calendar the day your certificate arrives.
File the Notary Change Form for changes. Your commission ends automatically if you move out of Idaho or no longer work or practice there, and if anything on your stamp changes, replace it; handwritten corrections aren't allowed.
Source: Notary Public FAQ; Idaho Code 51-121.
Remote online notarization in Idaho
Idaho allows remote online notarization. Notify the Secretary of State that you intend to perform it, naming the technology you'll use, and make sure the technology meets the Idaho Administrative Rules for remote notarization.
The technology must let you clearly see and hear everyone and must record all parties; keep the recording at least 10 years. Identify the signer by personal knowledge or by identity proofing with knowledge-based authentication and credential checks; a credible witness stays in the recording for the whole act. The certificate says, in substance, "This notarial act involved the use of communication technology." For electronic records, register your technology before your first electronic act.
Source: Notary Training Course, chapter 7; Notary Public FAQ.
Idaho's $5 cap, ID rules and the stamp
Idaho Code 51-133 caps any notarial act at $5, with reasonable travel expenses on top. Your employer may not make you hand over fees you collect but may forbid fees for acts within your employment, and the FAQ says signing agents' notary fees to customers shouldn't exceed the statutory fees.
Accepted IDs include a passport, driver's license or government nondriver ID that is current or expired no more than three years (51-107). A journal isn't required but is strongly recommended: a bound book with chronologically numbered pages, not loose-leaf. Your inked stamp shows your name exactly as on your certificate, "Notary Public", "State of Idaho" and your commission number inside a serrated or milled border, and nothing else except an optional expiration date.
Source: Idaho Code 51-133; Notary Public FAQ.
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Idaho notary questions
Is there an Idaho notary exam?
No. The Secretary of State's FAQ says no test is required to apply. The free training course is recommended.
How long is an Idaho notary commission?
Six years (Idaho Code 51-121).
What can an Idaho notary charge?
Up to $5 per notarial act, plus reasonable travel expenses.
Does Idaho require a notary journal?
No, but the Secretary of State strongly recommends a bound journal with numbered pages. A loose-leaf notebook isn't allowed.
Can I live in Washington or Oregon and be an Idaho notary?
Yes, if you have a place of employment or practice in Idaho. The commission ends automatically if you no longer work or practice there.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Idaho sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Idaho Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Idaho.