Minnesota notary commission
Minnesota notary commission: the state, then your county
Mail the Notary Application with a $120 nonrefundable fee to the Secretary of State. Once your certificate arrives, register your commission and signature with your county of residence for $20; skipping that can bring a civil penalty larger than the fee. Your commission runs until January 31 of the fifth year after it was issued.
Who Minnesota commissions
- At least 18 (Minn. Stat. 359.01), and a US citizen or resident alien.
- A Minnesota resident, or a resident of a county in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin. Nonresidents name the Secretary of State as agent for service of process and pick a Minnesota county to record in.
- For a new commission, no earlier Minnesota commission that has expired; if you had one, apply for re-appointment instead.
- You answer the application's questions on civil litigation, occupational licenses and criminal background.
Source: Become a Notary, Minnesota Secretary of State; Minn. Stat. 359.01.
From application to county registration
- Fill in the Notary Application. Check new commission or re-appointment. The form includes the oath of office statement.
- Mail it with $120. Nonrefundable, by check or money order payable to "Office of the Secretary of State".
- Receive your certificate. The Secretary of State mails it to your residential address.
- Register with your county. Record your commission and signature with your county of residence, or your designated county if you live out of state. The fee is $20.
- Order your stamp. With the state seal and the wording the statute requires.
Source: Become a Notary, Minnesota Secretary of State.
Minnesota's two fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commission application | $120 Nonrefundable; renewal is also $120. |
| County registration | $20 Skipping it can bring a larger civil penalty. |
| Rectangular stamp with the state seal | Vendor price No larger than 3/4 inch by 2 1/2 inches. |
| Name or address change | Free Report within 30 days. |
A new Minnesota commission costs $140 in state and county fees, plus the stamp.
Source: Become a Notary, Minnesota Secretary of State; Minn. Stat. 359.071.
MN starter kit · $29
Minnesota Notary Starter Kit
Minnesota's application, $120 fee and county registration steps, the January 31 term, the fee statute, the stamp rules, remote online registration, the required notice, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
A term that ends on January 31
A Minnesota commission runs until January 31 of the fifth year after it was issued (Minn. Stat. 359.02). Renew within six months before expiration; the Secretary of State says between August 1 and January 31. Re-register with the county and buy a new stamp.
Report a name or address change within 30 days, free (359.071). After a name change, re-register your signature with the county and get a new stamp.
Source: Minn. Stat. 359.02; Minn. Stat. 359.071.
Remote online notarization in Minnesota
Minnesota permits remote online notarization once you register with the Secretary of State on the Remote Online Notarization Authorization Registration Form (358.645). Registration lasts as long as your commission; register again when recommissioned.
You must be physically in Minnesota; the signer may be anywhere in the US. Record each act on audio and video and keep the recording and an electronic journal at least 10 years. Since January 1, 2023, remote acts follow the same fee section as in-person acts.
Source: Minn. Stat. 358.645; Become a Notary, Minnesota Secretary of State.
Minnesota fees, journal and stamp
Minn. Stat. 357.17 allows $5 for each oath administered and $5 per folio for an affidavit or paper not otherwise listed. It doesn't put a dollar figure on acknowledgments, so ask the Secretary of State before setting that fee.
Minnesota law doesn't require a journal for traditional acts, but the Secretary of State says keeping one is prudent. The stamp is required: the state seal, your name as commissioned, "Notary Public" and "My commission expires" with the date, on a rectangle no larger than 3/4 by 2 1/2 inches.
Source: Minn. Stat. 357.17; Minn. Stat. 359.03.
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Minnesota notary questions
What happens if I don't register my Minnesota commission with the county?
The Secretary of State warns that skipping county registration can bring a civil penalty from the Department of Commerce, usually larger than the $20 fee.
When does a Minnesota commission expire?
On January 31 of the fifth year after it was issued.
Can I live in Wisconsin and be a Minnesota notary?
Yes, if you live in a county in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin, name the Secretary of State as your agent and pick a Minnesota county to record in.
Does Minnesota require a notary journal?
Not for traditional acts, though the Secretary of State says keeping one is prudent. Remote acts require an electronic journal.
When can I renew in Minnesota?
Within six months before expiration; the Secretary of State says between August 1 and January 31.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Minnesota sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Minnesota Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Minnesota.