Texas notary commission
Texas notary public: from the SB 693 course to your sworn commission
Finish the required education in the SOS Notary Portal, get a $10,000 bond from a Texas-licensed surety, apply in SOSPortal, then download your commission and sign it under oath before another notary or authorized official. A Texas commission runs four years and works anywhere in Texas.
Texas eligibility
- You are a Texas resident and at least 18.
- You have no felony conviction and no conviction for a crime of moral turpitude. The Secretary of State runs a background check on every applicant.
- With any conviction, you upload the court order, sentencing paperwork and a statement about each one.
Source: Notary Public, Texas Secretary of State.
The Texas order of operations
- Complete the SB 693 education. Every new and renewing applicant does this in the SOS Notary Portal: pay the nonrefundable course fee, watch all four videos, then pass the assessment within 30 minutes. You have 90 days from payment to finish.
- Get the bond. A $10,000 notary bond from a surety licensed in Texas. The surety completes Form 2301-B, your proof of bond.
- Apply in SOSPortal. Initial the agreements, answer the criminal history statement, upload Form 2301-B, sign and pay by card. A bonding agency may submit for you.
- Take the oath on your commission. Once approved, download your commission; you can download it only once, so save it. Sign it under oath before a notary or authorized official. You cannot execute your own commission.
- Order the seal and record book. Using the exact name, notary ID number and expiration date on the commission.
Source: Notary Public, Texas Secretary of State; Traditional Notary Application guide.
Texas costs, and two the state pages leave blank
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Education course (SOS Notary Portal) | Shown in the portal Nonrefundable. The Secretary of State pages we checked don't print the amount. |
| Commission application | Shown in SOSPortal Paid by card. Not stated on the pages we checked. |
| $10,000 bond premium | Set by surety Does not cap your own liability. |
| Name change | $20 filing fee Plus a rider from your surety. |
| Online notary application (optional) | $50 + 2.7% Convenience fee on top. Separate commission. |
Look up the course and application fees in SOSPortal before you budget; we only list amounts the Secretary of State publishes. Seal and record book prices are set by vendors.
Source: Notary Public Educational Information; Online Notary Getting Started; Traditional Notary Application guide.
TX starter kit · $29
Texas Notary Starter Kit
The SB 693 education and SOSPortal steps, the $10,000 bond, the full §406.024 fee schedule, the nine record book entries and seal rules, the separate online notary commission, notario rules, a checklist, a budget and record book pages with a column for each entry.
The four-year Texas term
Texas commissions last four years. The SB 693 education applies to renewing notaries as well as new ones, so plan time for the portal course before each renewal.
Report an address change within ten days. You may notarize anywhere in Texas.
Source: Notary Public Educational Information; Notary Public, Texas Secretary of State.
Texas online notary: a separate commission
Texas commissions online notaries who work by two-way audio and video, but only notaries who already hold a current traditional Texas commission. Complete the online notary education in the portal, then apply: $50 plus a 2.7% convenience fee.
You also need an X.509, PKI-based digital certificate from a third-party provider, an electronic seal, and a third party for identity proofing and credential analysis. Keep an electronic record of each act, including the recording and a backup. The Secretary of State does not recommend providers.
Source: Online Notary Getting Started.
Texas fees and the record book
Under Gov't Code §406.024, an acknowledgment is $10 for the first signature and $1 for each additional one, and an oath with certificate and seal is $10. Charging more can lead to prosecution and loss of the commission. Texas also requires a record book whether or not you charge, and you must not write ID card or passport numbers in it.
Source: Notary Public Educational Information.
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Texas notary questions
How much is the Texas notary application fee?
It's paid by card in SOSPortal, and the Secretary of State pages we checked don't print the amount. Check SOSPortal before you budget.
Can I sign my own Texas commission?
No. After you download it, you sign it under oath before a different notary or an authorized official.
How many times can I download my Texas commission?
Once. Save it as soon as you download it.
Does the $10,000 bond protect me?
No. It lets an injured party recover at least that amount, and it does not limit your own liability.
Is a Texas online notary commission separate?
Yes. You need a current traditional commission first, then the online education and a $50 application plus a 2.7% convenience fee.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Texas sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Texas Secretary of State, Notary Public Unit before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Texas.