Illinois notary commission
Illinois notary public: course, exam, a $5,000 bond and a bound journal
Take a 3-hour course from a Secretary-certified provider and pass the exam, get a four-year $5,000 bond from a surety qualified in Illinois, then apply to the Secretary of State with your course proof and the bond linked. Commissions run four years for Illinois residents and one year for bordering-state residents who work in Illinois.
Illinois eligibility
- You have lived in Illinois for 30 days before applying, or, if you live in a bordering state, worked or done business in Illinois for 30 days.
- A US citizen or lawful permanent resident, proficient in English.
- Your official name and residence address match your current driver's license or state ID.
- No prior notary application or commission revoked by the Secretary of State, and no felony conviction. From January 1, 2027, Public Act 104-0486 changes this to require completed sentences and 10 years after completion.
- Proof of the required course, and consent to verification, including a criminal background check if needed.
Source: Illinois Notary Public Act, 5 ILCS 312.
Five steps to an Illinois commission
- Course and exam. A 3-hour (180-minute) course from a Secretary-certified provider, finished within 30 days of starting, then the exam. You then have two years from the exam date to apply.
- Get the $5,000 bond. A four-year bond from a surety qualified in Illinois. The bonding company sends the bond information to the Secretary of State.
- Apply to the Secretary of State. With your course proof and the bond linked to the application. The Secretary issues a unique commission number.
- Order your stamp. A rectangular rubber stamp with the exact wording the Act requires.
- Start a bound journal. Every act goes in it at the time of notarization.
Source: 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.205; 14 Ill. Adm. Code Part 176; 5 ILCS 312/2-105.
Illinois costs and where to find the filing fee
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| 3-hour course and exam | Set by provider Secretary-certified providers set their own prices. |
| Commission application | See the Secretary's application Check the amount on the application before you budget. |
| $5,000 bond premium | Set by surety Covers the full four-year term. |
| Rubber stamp | Vendor price No more than 1 inch tall and 2½ inches long. |
| Bound journal | Vendor price Preprinted consecutive page and line numbers. |
| Remote or electronic bond | $25,000 more Or one $30,000 bond covering both. |
The bond amounts are fixed by statute (5 ILCS 312/2-105); premiums, the course and supplies are priced by the companies that sell them.
Source: 5 ILCS 312/2-105; 14 Ill. Adm. Code Part 176.
IL starter kit · $29
Illinois Notary Starter Kit
Illinois's course, exam, $5,000 bond and application in order, the $5 and $25 fee caps, ID and bound-journal rules, the stamp wording, both kinds of remote notarization, the not-an-attorney notice, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Four-year and one-year terms
Illinois residents are commissioned for four years. Residents of a bordering state who work or do business in Illinois get a one-year term (5 ILCS 312/2-101). Proof of the course stays valid for the four-year term.
Certain renewing applicants skip the course and exam: Illinois-licensed attorneys in good standing, sitting Illinois or federal judges, and their employees, with the Secretary's signed statement form. If your journal is lost or stolen, notify the Secretary of State within 10 business days.
Source: Illinois Notary Public Act, 5 ILCS 312; 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176.205.
Two kinds of remote notarization in Illinois
Remote notarization, with ink on paper over audio-video, is open to any commissioned notary. The signer must attest on the call to being physically in Illinois, signs on camera, and sends you a legible copy of the signed document by the next day; you sign it as witness and return it within 24 hours (5 ILCS 312/6-102.5).
Electronic notarization by audio-video needs an electronic notary commission (course, exam and your electronic signature with the application) and Secretary-approved technology before your first act. Remote or electronic notaries carry an extra $25,000 bond, or one $30,000 bond for both, and may charge up to $25 per electronic act.
Source: Illinois Notary Public Act, 5 ILCS 312.
The $5 cap and Illinois journal rules
Since January 1, 2026, the cap is $5 per notarial act and $25 per electronic act (5 ILCS 312/3-104, as amended by Public Act 104-0083). Overcharging is a Class A misdemeanor.
Every notary records each act in a journal at the time of notarization. Paper journals must be bound, with preprinted page and line numbers, and kept at least seven years after the last entry. Never write ID or passport numbers, Social Security or account numbers in it, and an employer may not keep your journal when you leave.
Source: 5 ILCS 312/3-104 and 3-107; 14 Ill. Adm. Code Part 176.
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Illinois notary questions
How long is an Illinois notary commission?
Four years for Illinois residents. Bordering-state residents who work or do business in Illinois get one year.
I live in Indiana and work in Chicago. Can I be an Illinois notary?
Yes, if you've worked or done business in Illinois for 30 days before applying. Your commission term is one year.
Does every Illinois notary need a journal?
Yes. Every notary records each act at the time it happens. Notaries employed by an attorney or law firm that keeps copies of the notarized documents are exempt.
What bond does an Illinois notary need?
$5,000 for the four-year term. Remote or electronic notaries add a $25,000 bond, or carry a single $30,000 bond for both.
Can an Illinois notary notarize remotely?
Yes. Any commissioned notary can do remote notarization with ink on paper while the signer is in Illinois. Electronic notarization needs a separate electronic commission.
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General information from official Illinois sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Illinois Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Illinois.