North Dakota notary commission
North Dakota notary commission: bond, FirstStop filing and stamp approval
Buy a $7,500 bond on form SFN 19355, sign the Notary Oath of Office before a notary, and apply on the FirstStop Portal with the $36 filing fee. After approval the Secretary of State issues a Certificate of Authorization to buy your stamp; return a stamp impression for verification, and your commission certificate follows. The term is four years.
North Dakota eligibility
- 18 or older.
- A US citizen or permanent legal resident.
- Able to read and write English.
- A North Dakota resident, or with a place of employment or practice in the area living in a bordering county of a neighboring state that extends reciprocity to the area border-county residents.
Source: Notary Public Stamp, North Dakota Secretary of State.
Bond to commission certificate
- Buy the $7,500 bond. On form SFN 19355, from an insurer of your choice. It must cover notarial acts during your commission term.
- Sign the oath of office. Sign the Notary Oath of Office in the presence of a notary public.
- Apply on the FirstStop Portal. Upload the bond and oath and pay the $36 filing fee. Use exactly the name you will sign; if you include a middle name or initial, your signature must include it too.
- Take the authorization to a stamp vendor. After approval you receive a Certificate of Authorization to Purchase a Notary Stamping Device. A vendor may not make your stamp without it.
- Return the stamp impression. Send it on the Verification of Notary Public Stamping Device form by the date shown. Once the stamp is approved you receive your commission certificate; act only on or after its commencement date.
Source: Notary Public Stamp, North Dakota Secretary of State; Notary information sheet.
North Dakota costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | $36 For a new commission and for a renewal. |
| $7,500 bond | Premium set by insurer Form SFN 19355, with each new and renewal application. |
| Stamp | Vendor price Made only with the Certificate of Authorization. |
| Legal name change | $10 Reported within 60 days with a bond rider. |
| Exam or course | None listed The Secretary of State's application and renewal pages list none. |
The state's charge is the $36 filing fee. The bond premium and stamp come from your insurer and vendor.
Source: Notary Public Stamp, North Dakota Secretary of State; Notary information sheet.
ND starter kit · $29
North Dakota Notary Starter Kit
North Dakota's bond, oath, $36 FirstStop filing and stamp authorization steps, the $5 fee, ID rules, the remote journal, the stamp layout, the three electronic and remote options, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Four years, and the commission is yours
A North Dakota commission runs four years, from 12:00 a.m. on the commencement date to midnight on the expiration date. Report an address change within 60 days, and resign in writing within 30 days and destroy the stamp if you stop serving.
Your commission and stamp are your property. An employer may not keep them, even if it paid for them.
Source: Notary Public Stamp, North Dakota Secretary of State; Notary information sheet.
Three ways to notarize electronically or remotely
Before your first electronic or remote act, file a Notary Public Amendment on the FirstStop Portal saying which you will do and naming your communication technology provider. In-person electronic notarization keeps the signer in front of you. Remote ink notarization covers acknowledgments only: the signer sends you the paper document and declaration within 3 days. Remote online notarization covers acknowledgments, verifications on oath or affirmation, and witnessing a signature on electronic records.
Identify a remote signer by personal knowledge, at least 2 different types of identity proofing, or a credible witness. Record the session and keep the recordings and a journal of remote acts for 10 years.
Source: Performing Notarial Acts, Secretary of State; Notary Journal, Secretary of State.
The $5 fee and the stamp layout
The Secretary of State puts the maximum at $5 per notarial act. Travel and technology charges are extra only if agreed in advance and kept separate from the notarial fee.
The stamp must show "Notary Public", "State of North Dakota", your name exactly as on the authorization and your expiration date inside a border, with no other words and no Great Seal. A journal isn't required by law for in-person acts, but the Secretary of State says you may keep one for your own protection. Copy certification isn't allowed for recordable documents such as birth and death certificates or college transcripts.
Source: Performing Notarial Acts, Secretary of State; Notary Public Stamp; Notary Journal.
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North Dakota notary questions
Can I buy a North Dakota notary stamp before I'm approved?
No. A vendor may not make your stamp until you have the Secretary of State's Certificate of Authorization to Purchase a Notary Stamping Device.
How much is the North Dakota notary bond?
$7,500, on form SFN 19355, from an insurer you choose. A new bond comes with each renewal application.
Does my employer own my North Dakota notary stamp?
No. Your commission and stamp are your property, even if your employer paid for them.
Can I notarize a paper document remotely in North Dakota?
Only acknowledgments, by remote ink notarization, after filing a FirstStop amendment. The signer sends the document and declaration within 3 days.
What can a North Dakota notary charge?
Up to $5 per notarial act, with travel or technology charges only if agreed in advance and listed separately.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official the area sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the North Dakota Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of the area.