How to become a notary public in Florida

Florida notary public licenses

Florida issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Florida notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old³

Exam

Not required³

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years³⁶

From another state

Who needs a Notary Public license

Notarial acts anywhere in Florida (only while within the state), including solemnising marriages; any notary may notarise electronically without a separate appointment. Remote online notarisation requires registration as an online notary (separate record).³

Requirements for a Notary Public license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 3 clock hours²
At least 3 hours of interactive or classroom instruction covering notary duties and electronic notarisation, completed within 1 year before applying (first-time applicants only)²
Who may teach it: Any provider registered with the Executive Office of the Governor using its core curriculum; the Department of State's online Notary Education Program is free²

Background check

Background check required³
Applicants convicted of a felony, with adjudication withheld or on probation must send a written statement, the judgment and sentence, and (if convicted) proof of restoration of civil rights or pardon; appointment is at the Governor's discretion and a misdemeanor or felony is not an automatic bar.¹

Residency or citizenship

Legal resident of Florida for the whole term; permanent resident aliens may apply with a recorded Declaration of Domicile. Citizenship status is asked on the application.³

Social Security number

The application form requires a social security number³

Surety bond

$7,500³

Insurance

Errors and omissions insurance is optional (available through bonding agencies)¹

Also required

Affidavit of good character from an unrelated person who has known you at least 1 year³

Also required

Must read, write and understand English³

Also required

Apply through a Department of State-approved bonding agency (the State does not hand out applications or seals)¹

Also required

Report address, phone or criminal-record changes to the Department of State within 60 days; request an amended commission within 60 days of a legal name change³

How much a Notary Public license costs

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

Fee waivers and reductions:

• No $10 commission fee for a wartime veteran with a VA disability rating of 50% or more.³

What a notary public may charge the public:

• Maximum notary fee the public can be charged: $10 per notarial act (marriages and online notarisation have their own limits).³

How to apply

1. First-time applicants: complete the 3-hour notary education course (the Department of State online course is free) within 1 year before applying. Renewals skip this step.¹
2. Choose a Department of State-approved bonding agency; it supplies the application, pays the $39 state fees, writes the $7,500 bond and provides the seal.¹ dos.fl.gov¹
3. Complete the application (with oath and affidavit of character); if you have a felony history, attach the statement, court documents and proof of restored civil rights.¹
4. Submit the application through the bonding agency, which forwards it to the State.¹
5. If approved, you receive the commission certificate and seal from the bonding agency; check them before notarising.¹

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

4-year appointment; no automatic reappointment, so a renewal is a full new application (education course not required again).³

Renewal fee

$39¹

If it expires

Keep using the current seal until the commission expires; a new seal may be used only from the first day of the new commission.¹
A denied applicant may reapply one year after the date the application was signed; the Governor's decision is not reviewable.¹

Moving to Florida with a license from another state

These are the routes EOG publishes for the Notary Public license.

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Wartime veterans with a VA disability rating of 50% or more pay no $10 commission fee (the $25 application fee and $4 surcharge still apply). No other notary-specific military or spouse provision was found in ch. 117.³

Online Notary Public

Online notarisations by audio-video communication through a RON service provider, while physically in Florida; the principal and witnesses may be anywhere.³

Requirements

Education or training

2 clock hours³
Classroom or online course on online-notary duties, obligations and technology (a 2-hour course from a listed provider satisfies it); certificate attached to the registration³
Who may teach it: Florida Land Title Association; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar; Florida Legal Education Association; the Department of State; or a DOS-approved vendor³

Experience

Hold a current Florida notary commission (or civil-law notary / commissioner of deeds appointment)³
License you must hold first: Fl-notary-public-commission (current)³

Surety bond

$25,000³

Insurance

Errors and omissions insurance of at least $25,000³

Also required

Contract with a RON service provider before applying and file the Online Notary Public information form (DS-DOC-50) with the registration⁷

Also required

Keep the electronic journal, signature and seal under your sole control⁶

Fees

What a notary public may charge the public:

• Maximum fee for an online notarial act: $25³

How to apply

1. Confirm you hold an active Florida notary commission.¹
2. Complete the online notary training course and get the certificate of completion.¹
3. Contract with a RON service provider, then get the $25,000 bond and $25,000 E&O policy.¹
4. Mail (or deliver) the Application for Registration as an Online Notary Public, the DS-DOC-50 information form and a $10 check to the Department of State, Division of Corporations, PO Box 6327, Tallahassee, FL 32314.⁷ Form (PDF, files.floridados.gov)⁷

Renewal

When it expires

Expires the same day as the notary commission, regardless of when registered; re-register after a new commission, meeting all the same requirements.¹

Renewal fee

$10⁶

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Notary PublicNo local layer: the Governor appoints notaries statewide; the Department of State processes commissions.¹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in Florida, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Florida is on the Florida license lookup page.

Look up a license

notaries.dos.state.fl.us⁵

File a complaint

flgov.com¹

Look up a license

online-notary.sunbiz.org⁷

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Fla. Stat. ch. 117 (Notaries Public)
• Fla. Stat. 117.01
• Fla. Stat. 117.021
• Fla. Stat. 117.05
• Fla. Stat. 117.045
• Fla. Stat. 113.01
• Fla. Stat. 668.50(11)(b)
• Fla. Stat. 117.201 to 117.305 (part II, online notarizations)
• Fla. Stat. 117.225
• Fla. Stat. 117.275
• Fla. Stat. 117.295
• Fla. Admin. Code ch. 1N-7

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming