How to become a notary public in Indiana
Indiana licenses notaries statewide through the Indiana Secretary of State (SOS).1 For the Notary Public license you need a passing score on the Indiana notary exam (INBiz)1 and a criminal background check1. The board lists $75 for the application1. You renew every 8 years1.
Who issues it
Indiana Secretary of State (SOS)
Training and experience
Notary education course taken online through INBiz after paying the application fee.1
Exam
Indiana notary exam (INBiz)1
Fees the board lists
Application fee: $751
Renewal
Every 8 years1
From another state
No reciprocity route1
On this page
- Indiana 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 Indiana with a license from another state
- Remote Notary
- City and county rules
- Check a license or report a problem
- Rule changes since January 2024
- Common questions
- Notary public licenses in other states
Indiana notary public licenses
Indiana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notary Public | An Indiana notary is commissioned by the state to act as an impartial witness and fraud deterrent for documents such as wills, property deeds, marriage licenses and adoption papers, verifying signers' identity.1 | Yes1 | $751 |
| Remote Notary (Remote Notary Authorization) | Signers appear before the remote notary by two-way audio-visual communication on an approved remote technology vendor platform, which records the act and signatures as an electronic record.1 | Yes1 | $1001 |
Applies to every license level
These rules are the same for every Indiana 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 old1
Fees
The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.
How to apply
- Apply online
- inbiz.in.gov1
Who needs a Notary Public license
An Indiana notary is commissioned by the state to act as an impartial witness and fraud deterrent for documents such as wills, property deeds, marriage licenses and adoption papers, verifying signers' identity.1
Other rules on who may do this work:
- Seal must show 'Notary Public', 'State of Indiana', the notary's name exactly as on the commission certificate, 'commission number' with the number, and 'My commission expires' with the date. The word 'seal' has not been required since July 1, 2024.1
- Changes of name, address, email or employer details must be reported to the Secretary of State within 30 days (commission revision fee $8.67).1
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
- Notary education course taken online through INBiz after paying the application fee.1
Who may teach it: Course is accessed through the Secretary of State's INBiz application; its cost is included in the $75 application fee.1 - Exam
- Indiana notary exam (INBiz)1
Given by: Indiana Secretary of State (via INBiz)1
When you can take it: Available after paying the application fee; the application goes to the Secretary of State for final review once the exam is passed.1 - Background check
- Background check required1
No fingerprints required1
Applicants (new and renewal) upload an Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Record no older than 30 days. A conviction or civil ruling involving deceit, dishonesty or fraud, or a conviction with a sentence over six months, disqualifies.1 - Residency or citizenship
- Must be a legal resident of Indiana or primarily employed in Indiana; non-residents upload proof of current employment.1
- Surety bond
- $25,0001 ($25,000 surety bond (bond amount); premium varies by surety)
- Insurance
- Errors and omissions insurance is listed by the Secretary of State as a possible cost ('varies'); it is not listed among the required documents.1
- Also required
- Upload a signature sample matching the name on the application.1
- Also required
- Buy a seal/stamp from a retailer or notary supply vendor; the Secretary of State does not sell seals.1
How much a Notary Public license costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $751 | SOS | Not refundable |
| Commission Revision Fee | $8.671 | SOS | Change of commission information. Not refundable |
| Notary Continuing Education fee | $501 | SOS | Every two years during the commission (years 2, 4 and 6) |
| Total Investment - Application & CE Total Cost (Traditional Notary) | $241.321 | SOS | Excludes bond, stamp, E&O insurance |
Each line is a separate charge, except the line “Total Investment - Application & CE Total Cost (Traditional Notary)”, which is the board’s own combined figure for other charges; do not add it to the other lines.
How to apply
- Check you qualify: 18 or older, Indiana resident or primarily employed in Indiana, and not disqualified (no conviction or civil ruling for deceit, dishonesty or fraud, and no conviction with a sentence over six months).1
- Get a $25,000 notary surety bond from a surety of your choice.1
- Run an Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History search online (choose reason option 4) no more than 30 days before you apply, and save the PDF.1
- Create or log in to an INBiz account, start the notary application and pay the $75 fee (Visa/Mastercard, plus a convenience fee).1
- Upload the bond certificate, signature sample, criminal history record and (if not an Indiana resident) proof of Indiana employment.1
- Take the online notary education course and pass the exam; the application then goes to the Secretary of State for review (allow 5-10 business days).1
- After the commission is issued, buy a compliant seal and complete continuing education every two years.1
- Processing time
- 5-10 business days after the exam is passed.1
Renewal and continuing education
- How often
- Every 8 years1
- When it expires
- Eight-year commission. Renewal can be filed through INBiz within 90 days before expiration, with a fresh criminal history record.1
- Renewal fee
- $751
- Required topics
- One continuing education course every two years through INBiz, $50 each, 3 courses ($150) per 8-year commission.1
- Approved courses
- Taken through the INBiz dashboard (Edit License > Continuing Education).1
- If it expires
- Missing a continuing education deadline permanently expires the commission; you must then apply for a new commission.1
- Renew online
- inbiz.in.gov1
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your Indiana Notary Public license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to Indiana with a license from another state
These are the routes SOS 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 for other states' notary commissions. Non-residents may apply only if primarily employed in Indiana, with proof of current employment.1
Remote Notary
Signers appear before the remote notary by two-way audio-visual communication on an approved remote technology vendor platform, which records the act and signatures as an electronic record.1
Requirements
- Education or training
- Online remote notary education course.1
Who may teach it: Completed through the Secretary of State's INBiz application.1 - Experience
- Must be a currently commissioned, active Indiana notary public.1
License you must hold first: Indiana Notary Public commission (in-notary-public-commission)1 - Background check
- Background check required1
- Also required
- Select at least one approved remote technology vendor; the vendor must approve you before the SOS processes the application.1
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $1001 | SOS | Not refundable |
| Total Investment - Application & CE Total Cost (Remote Notary) | $341.321 | SOS | Excludes vendor fees, bond, seals |
Each line is a separate charge, except the line “Total Investment - Application & CE Total Cost (Remote Notary)”, which is the board’s own combined figure for other charges; do not add it to the other lines.
How to apply
- Hold an active Indiana notary commission.1
- Compare approved remote technology vendors and pick at least one.1
- In INBiz, complete the remote notary online form, pay the $100 nonrefundable fee, take the remote education course and pass the remote notary exam.1
- After the vendor approves you, the Secretary of State processes the authorization.1
From another state
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- Only currently commissioned, active Indiana notaries may apply.1
The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.
City and county rules
Notary PublicStatewide commission from the Indiana Secretary of State via INBiz; no local notary license.1
Check a license or report a problem
Before you hire a notary public in Indiana, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Indiana is on the Indiana license lookup page.
- Look up a license
- inbiz.in.gov1
- File a complaint
- inbiz.in.gov1
Rule changes since January 2024
- July 1, 2024: The word 'seal' is no longer required on the Indiana notary seal from July 1, 2024.1
Common questions
Can I transfer my notary public license to Indiana?
No reciprocity for other states' notary commissions. Non-residents may apply only if primarily employed in Indiana, with proof of current employment.1 Conditions and forms.
Notary public licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- 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.
- Start a BusinessIndiana Secretary of State (INBiz)Checked November 6, 2026