How to become a notary public in Idaho
Idaho licenses notaries statewide through the Idaho Secretary of State.1 The board lists $30 for the application2. You renew every 6 years1.
Who issues it
Idaho Secretary of State
Training and experience
An approved education program; see the requirements
Exam
Not required2
Fees the board lists
Application fee: $302
Renewal
Every 6 years1
From another state
No reciprocity route2
On this page
- Idaho notary public licenses
- Applies to every license level
- Who needs a Notary Public license
- Requirements for a Notary Public license
- How much a Notary Public license costs
- How to apply
- Renewal and continuing education
- Moving to Idaho with a license from another state
- Electronic Notary
- City and county rules
- Check a license or report a problem
- Laws and rules
- Common questions
- Notary public licenses in other states
Idaho notary public licenses
Idaho issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.
| License | What it covers | Exam | Application or license fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Notary / Remote Online Notary (Authorization for Electronic/Remote Online Notarization) | A commissioned notary who registers a tamper-evident technology may notarize electronic records. Those who also give notice of their communication technology may notarize for remotely located people by audio-video, and must keep the recording for at least ten years.2 | No2 | $203 |
| Notary Public | Performs notarial acts (acknowledgments, verifications on oath or affirmation, witnessing signatures, copy certifications) anywhere in Idaho for anyone except the notary themself, their spouse, or a person signing a document in which the notary has a beneficial interest. The signer must appear personally. The notary may charge up to $5 per notarial act plus reasonable travel expenses.2 | No2 | $302 |
Applies to every license level
These rules are the same for every Idaho notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.
Requirements
How to apply
- Apply online
- sosbiz.idaho.gov42
Renewal
- How often
- Every 6 years1
- Renew online
- sosbiz.idaho.gov4
Who needs a Notary Public license
Performs notarial acts (acknowledgments, verifications on oath or affirmation, witnessing signatures, copy certifications) anywhere in Idaho for anyone except the notary themself, their spouse, or a person signing a document in which the notary has a beneficial interest. The signer must appear personally. The notary may charge up to $5 per notarial act plus reasonable travel expenses.2
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
- Free online Notary Training Course from the Secretary of State: seven chapters, each with a video study guide, transcript and optional quiz. The SOS FAQ says no test is required to apply.4
Who may teach it: Provided free by the Idaho Secretary of State.1 - Background check
- Applicant must not be disqualified under Idaho Code 51-123: the Secretary of State may deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend or condition a commission for acts showing a lack of honesty, integrity, competence or reliability, including a conviction of any felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit, a fraudulent misstatement in the application, or discipline of a notary commission in another state.1
- Residency or citizenship
- U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident; must live in Idaho or have a place of employment or practice in Idaho. The commission ends automatically if the notary moves out of state or stops working in Idaho.1
- Surety bond
- $10,0001 (Bond amount (face value), new and renewal commissions)
- Insurance
- Errors and omissions insurance is optional; the bond protects the public, not the notary.2
- Also required
- Able to read and write.1
- Also required
- Stamp: after the certificate arrives, buy an inked stamp with a serrated or milled-edge border, rectangular or circular, showing only 'Notary Public', 'State of Idaho', the name exactly as on the certificate, the commission number and (optionally) the expiration date.2
- Also required
- A journal is not required but is strongly recommended.2
How much a Notary Public license costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $302 | Idaho Secretary of State | New and renewal commission (waived for city, county and state employees using the commission in their job). Not refundable |
| Notary Training Course | $01 | Idaho Secretary of State | – |
Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.
Fee waivers and reductions:
- City, county and state employees who will use the commission in their job pay no SOS notary filing fees; State of Idaho employees whose job requires a commission apply through Risk Management, which covers all costs except the stamp.2
How to apply
- Check the qualifications: 18 or older, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, living or working in Idaho, and able to read and write. Taking the free SOS training course is recommended.4
- Buy a $10,000 Idaho notary surety bond from an insurance or bonding agent.2
- Complete the Notary Public Application on SOSBiz. Use exactly the same name on the bond and the application.1 sosbiz.idaho.gov4
- Submit the bond and application to the Secretary of State with the $30 filing fee, which is not refundable.2
- When the certificate arrives, buy a stamp that meets Idaho's requirements. The commission is complete once you have the stamp.2
Renewal and continuing education
- When it expires
- Six-year term. To renew, submit a new application (with a new bond and the $30 fee) within 90 days before the commission expires. There are no term limits.4
- Renewal fee
- $302
- If it expires
- Commissions are not extended: a notary is recommissioned by submitting the required documents again (application, new bond and $30 fee). The SOS publishes no grace period or late fee.1
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your Idaho Notary Public license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to Idaho with a license from another state
These are the routes the Idaho Secretary of State publishes for the Notary Public license. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- No reciprocity: the SOS publishes no transfer or recognition of another state's notary commission. A non-resident who has a place of employment or practice in Idaho may apply for an Idaho commission on the same qualifications as a resident. The commission ends if the notary moves out of state and no longer works in Idaho.2
Electronic Notary
A commissioned notary who registers a tamper-evident technology may notarize electronic records. Those who also give notice of their communication technology may notarize for remotely located people by audio-video, and must keep the recording for at least ten years.2
Requirements
- Residency or citizenship
- Must already hold an Idaho notary commission (the two can be filed at the same time).2
- Also required
- Choose a tamper-evident technology (an X.509 digital certificate or similar); remote online notarization technology must meet IDAPA 34.07.01. The SOS does not vet the technology.5
- Also required
- File a separate amendment for each technology before using it.2
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $203 | Idaho Secretary of State | – |
| Manual Processing Fee for filing a paper form | $203 | Idaho Secretary of State | Paper form only (not SOSBiz online filing) |
Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.
How to apply
- Hold, or apply at the same time for, an Idaho notary commission.2
- Choose a tamper-evident electronic notarization technology. For remote online notarization, choose communication technology that meets IDAPA 34.07.01.2
- File the “Addition of Electronic or Remote Online Notary” amendment on SOSBiz (or the paper Authorization form, which costs an extra $20 manual processing fee). Include a sample notarial certificate showing your electronic stamp and signature.2 Form (PDF, archive.sos.idaho.gov)2
- Wait for the SOS authorization certificate before performing electronic acts.2
- Application form
- Form (PDF, archive.sos.idaho.gov)3
Renewal
- When it expires
- When the notary commission is renewed, the remote online notarization qualification is renewed with it; no new notice is needed.5
From another state
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- Only Idaho-commissioned notaries can be authorized.2
The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.
City and county rules
Notary PublicNo city or county notary license; the commission comes from the Idaho Secretary of State and covers every county.1
Check a license or report a problem
Before you hire a notary public in Idaho, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Idaho is on the Idaho license lookup page.
- Look up a license
- sosbiz.idaho.gov2
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
Common questions
Can I transfer my notary public license to Idaho?
No reciprocity: the SOS publishes no transfer or recognition of another state's notary commission. A non-resident who has a place of employment or practice in Idaho may apply for an Idaho commission on the same qualifications as a resident. The commission ends if the notary moves out of state and no longer works in Idaho.2 Conditions and forms.
Notary public licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- 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
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- Idaho Notary Public HandbookIdaho Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
- Notary InformationIdaho Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
- Authorization for Electronic NotarizationIdaho Secretary of StateDated July 18, 2022Checked November 7, 2026
- Notary Training CourseIdaho Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
- IDAPA 34.07.01 Rules Governing Notarial Acts Performed for Remotely Located IndividualsIdaho Office of the Administrative Rules CoordinatorDated March 31, 2022Checked November 7, 2026