Washington notary license
Washington notary license: your bond sets the clock
Buy a four-year $10,000 surety bond, have your Oath of Office notarized, and apply to the Department of Licensing with the $40 fee, online or by mail. No training class or test is required, though the Department strongly urges a class. The license lasts four years, but never longer than your bond.
Who Washington licenses
- At least 18.
- Able to read and write English.
- You live in Washington, or have a place of employment or practice there.
- A felony or gross misdemeanor conviction related to notary practice within the past five years could disqualify you; the Department reviews each case.
- No training class or test is required, though the Department strongly urges a class.
Source: Get your license, Department of Licensing.
Bond, oath, application: the Washington order
- Buy a four-year $10,000 surety bond. From a surety licensed in Washington. An errors and omissions policy doesn't count as the bond, and your license expires when the bond does.
- Sign the oath. Complete the Oath of Office form, have it notarized, and keep an electronic copy.
- Apply. Online through SecureAccess Washington (faster) or by mail to the Notary Public Program, with the oath, the signed bond and the $40 fee. Allow at least 30 days; there is no expedited service.
- Order your stamp. From your bonding company or a stamp vendor, who by law must see a copy of your notary license first.
- Get a bound journal. A permanent bound book with numbered pages, kept locked.
Source: Get your license, Department of Licensing; Fees, Department of Licensing.
Washington license fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | $40 Nonrefundable. |
| Renewal | $42 $57 with the electronic endorsement. |
| Electronic notarization endorsement | $15 Optional; needed before remote approval. |
| Name or address change | No fee A name change also needs a bond rider. |
| $10,000 four-year bond premium | Set by surety Buy the full four years, or the license is shorter. |
The Department's fee is $40 to start. Your bond, stamp and bound journal are bought separately, and the bond's length decides how long your license lasts.
Source: Fees, Department of Licensing; Get your license, Department of Licensing.
WA starter kit · $29
Washington Notary Starter Kit
Washington's bond, oath and $40 application steps, the $15 and $25 fee caps, ID rules, the bound journal, stamp rules, the electronic endorsement and remote approval, the required not-an-attorney disclaimer, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Four years, or as long as the bond
A Washington license runs four years, but it ends when your surety bond ends, so a two-year bond means a two-year license. Renewal costs $42, or $57 with the electronic endorsement.
Report changes to your application information in writing within 15 days (WAC 308-30-280). You may notarize only while physically in Washington (WAC 308-30-110).
Source: Fees, Department of Licensing; Chapter 308-30 WAC.
Endorsement first, then remote approval
Washington notaries can notarize remotely once they hold an electronic records endorsement and are approved for remote notarization (chapter 42.45 RCW). Get the $15 endorsement and tell the Department your software within 30 days of approval, then send the Department the name of your remote software and wait for approval.
You must be physically in Washington, using synchronous audio and video. Record the act and keep the recording at least 10 years with a backup (WAC 308-30-330). The fee is up to $25 per remote act.
Source: Get your license, Department of Licensing; Chapter 42.45 RCW; Chapter 308-30 WAC.
The $15 cap and Washington's journal and stamp rules
WAC 308-30-220 caps witnessing a signature, an acknowledgment or verification, a certified copy, an oath, and certifying an event at $15 each, and a remote act at $25. A travel fee is allowed only if agreed in advance, and you must explain it is in addition to the notarial fee and not required by law.
Since July 1, 2018, every act goes in a permanent bound journal with numbered pages, kept locked and kept 10 years after its last entry; an electronic journal may be kept only in addition. Your stamp shows "notary public", "state of Washington", your name, expiration date and commission number, and must not include the state seal. Don't keep copies or images of documents you notarize (RCW 42.45.230).
Source: WAC 308-30-220; Chapter 308-30 WAC; Chapter 42.45 RCW.
Want loan signings, not just walk-in notarizations? The Loan Signing Cheat Sheet explains the documents in a refinance or purchase package, and the Notary Marketing Kit covers getting found by title companies and local clients.
Washington notary questions
Is there a Washington notary exam?
No. No training class or test is required, though the Department of Licensing strongly urges a class.
Why would my Washington license last less than four years?
The license ends when your surety bond ends. Buy a four-year bond to get the full four-year license.
Can E&O insurance replace the Washington bond?
No. An errors and omissions policy does not count as the required surety bond.
Can a Washington notary notarize in Oregon or Idaho?
No. You may notarize only while physically in Washington.
Can I keep copies of documents I notarize in Washington?
No. Washington law says not to keep copies or images of documents you notarize.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Washington sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Washington State Department of Licensing, Notary Public Program before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Washington.