Iowa notary commission
Iowa notary commission: a $30 application, a three-year term and no bond
Apply to the Secretary of State with the $30 fee, online through Fast Track Filing or by mail, and sign and submit the oath of office. Once your commission arrives, order a stamp with the wording Iowa Code 9B.17 requires. The area requires no bond and no exam for a traditional notary, and the commission lasts three years.
Who Iowa commissions
- At least 18 (Iowa Code 9B.21(2)).
- A US citizen or permanent legal resident.
- An Iowa resident, or with a place of employment or practice in the area.
- Able to read and write English, and not disqualified under 9B.23.
Source: Iowa Code chapter 9B (2026); Handbook for Iowa Notaries Public.
Application to stamp in Iowa
- Apply with the $30 fee. Online through Fast Track Filing, or by mail. The form asks whether you'll notarize electronic records, act for remotely located individuals, or join the bilingual registry.
- Execute the oath of office. Sign it and submit it to the Secretary of State (9B.21).
- Wait for your commission. You may not notarize until you receive it.
- Order your stamp. With the wording in 9B.17, and your name exactly as on your commission, middle initial included.
- Start a journal. Not required by law, but the Secretary's Handbook strongly recommends one.
Source: Handbook for Iowa Notaries Public; Iowa Code chapter 9B (2026).
Iowa's single state fee
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | $30 Iowa Code 9B.21(1). Also the cost of reapplying after a lapse. |
| Bond | None required Handbook p. 27. |
| Stamp | Vendor price Used on every notarization. |
| Notary education course | Set by provider Recommended by the Handbook, not required. |
| Remote notarization registration | $0 Optional. The approved course and technology cost extra. |
An Iowa commission costs $30 in state fees. Your stamp, a journal and any course are bought separately.
Source: Iowa Code chapter 9B (2026); Handbook for Iowa Notaries Public.
IA starter kit · $29
Iowa Notary Starter Kit
Iowa's $30 application, oath and stamp steps, the reasonable-fee rule, the three-year ID window, the recommended journal, the 9B.17 stamp wording, remote registration and course, the bilingual list and required statement, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Three years, or one for neighbors
An Iowa commission lasts three years; residents of another state who work or do business in the area get one year (9B.21(6)). Renew before expiration; the Secretary sends a reminder two months ahead, and a lapsed commission needs a new $30 application.
Tell the Secretary of State within 30 days of any change to your application details; the Handbook says report a name change immediately. Iowa notary records are public, but on Fast Track Filing you can keep your home contact details out of public view, and you can join an optional bilingual notary list by naming the languages you speak fluently.
Source: Iowa Code chapter 9B (2026); Handbook for Iowa Notaries Public.
Remote notarization for an Iowa notary in Iowa
An Iowa notary located in the area may notarize for remotely located individuals (9B.14A). Notify the Secretary of State before your first remote act and name your technologies. The Handbook says to complete an approved remote notarization course within six months before your first remote act and submit proof; registration is free.
The signer may be in Iowa, elsewhere in the US, or abroad under 9B.14A(3)(d). Record each remote act and keep the recording at least 10 years, recording only the act, never the identity checks or knowledge-based questions. The certificate states that the act was performed using communication technology.
Source: Iowa Code chapter 9B (2026); Handbook for Iowa Notaries Public.
A reasonable fee, the three-year ID window and the stamp
Iowa Code chapter 9B sets no per-act maximum; the Handbook says a notary may charge a reasonable fee, and that you can't refuse service because a person isn't a client. Accepted IDs include a passport, driver's license or nonoperator ID, current or expired no more than three years.
Chapter 9B has no journal requirement (9B.19 is reserved), but the Handbook strongly recommends one kept 10 years, written in ink before you complete the certificate, including requests you refuse. Your stamp shows your name, "Notarial Seal" and "Iowa", "Commission Number" with your number, and "My Commission Expires" with the date or a blank line you fill in every time (9B.17).
Source: Handbook for Iowa Notaries Public; Iowa Code chapter 9B (2026).
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Iowa notary questions
Does Iowa require a notary bond?
No. The Secretary of State's Handbook says no bond is required.
How long is an Iowa notary commission?
Three years for Iowa residents and those who work or practice in Iowa. Residents of another state who work or do business in Iowa get one year.
Is there an Iowa notary exam?
Not for traditional notaries; the Handbook recommends an education course. Remote notaries take an approved course.
What can an Iowa notary charge?
Chapter 9B sets no maximum. The Handbook says a notary may charge a reasonable fee.
What is Iowa's bilingual notary list?
An optional list you can join on the application by naming the languages you speak fluently. If you advertise in those languages, the not-an-attorney statement must appear in each one.
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General information from official Iowa sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Iowa Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Iowa.