How to become a notary public in Iowa
Iowa licenses notaries statewide through the Iowa Secretary of State.1 The board lists $30 for the application1. You renew every 3 years1.
Who issues it
Iowa Secretary of State
Fees the board lists
Application fee: $301
Renewal
Every 3 years1
From another state
No reciprocity route1
On this page
- Iowa notary public licenses
- Applies to every license level
- Who needs a Notary Public commission
- Requirements for a Notary Public commission
- How much a Notary Public commission costs
- How to apply
- Renewal and continuing education
- Moving to Iowa with a license from another state
- Approval to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals
- City and county rules
- Laws and rules
- Rule changes since January 2024
- Common questions
- Notary public licenses in other states
Iowa notary public licenses
Iowa 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 | Application or license fee |
|---|---|---|
| Approval to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals (remote notarization) | A notary located in Iowa may notarize for a remotely located individual using approved communication technology (simultaneous sight and sound). The notary must identify the individual by personal knowledge, a credible witness or at least two types of identity proofing, and must create an audio-visual recording of the act.1 | – |
| Notary Public (commission as notary public) | An Iowa notary public may take acknowledgments, administer oaths and affirmations, take verifications on oath or affirmation, witness or attest signatures, certify or attest copies and note protests of negotiable instruments, on paper or electronic records. A non-attorney notary may not give legal advice, draft legal records or use the term 'notario'.1 | $301 |
Applies to every license level
These rules are the same for every Iowa 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
- Background check
- No background check stated as required1
No fingerprints required1
The Secretary of State may deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend or condition a commission for a felony conviction, a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit, a fraudulent, dishonest or deceitful misstatement or omission in the application, or discipline of a notary commission in another state.1
Renewal
- How often
- Every 3 years1
Who needs a Notary Public commission
An Iowa notary public may take acknowledgments, administer oaths and affirmations, take verifications on oath or affirmation, witness or attest signatures, certify or attest copies and note protests of negotiable instruments, on paper or electronic records. A non-attorney notary may not give legal advice, draft legal records or use the term 'notario'.1
Other rules on who may do this work:
- Residents of a bordering state may be commissioned if their place of work or business is in Iowa; their term is one year, and the commission expires if they stop working or doing business in Iowa.1
- Before performing the first notarial act on an electronic record, a notary must notify the Secretary of State and identify the tamper-evident technology to be used (no separate commission).1
- The official stamp must show the notary's name, the words 'Notarial Seal' and 'Iowa', 'Commission Number' with the number assigned by the Secretary of State, and 'My Commission Expires' with the date.1
Requirements for a Notary Public commission
The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.
- High school diploma or GED
- Not required1
- Residency or citizenship
- Must be a US citizen or permanent legal resident, and either live in Iowa or have a place of employment or practice in Iowa (residents of bordering states who work or do business in Iowa may be commissioned for one-year terms).1
- Also required
- Execute an oath of office before the commission issues; the affirmation section of the Application for Appointment as Notary Public serves as the oath.1
- Also required
- Must be able to read and write English.1
How much a Notary Public commission costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $301 | Iowa Secretary of State | – |
| Duplicate or replacement license | $51 | Iowa Secretary of State | Certificate fee; plus $1 per page |
| License verification to another state | $51 | Iowa 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:
- Members of the Iowa General Assembly are appointed on request, and state agency employees may be appointed for duties of their position; these appointees do not pay the $30 application fee. A legislator's term equals the term of office; a state employee's ends with employment.1
How to apply
- Confirm you qualify: 18 or older, US citizen or permanent legal resident, living in Iowa or working/practicing in Iowa (or a bordering-state resident whose work or business is in Iowa), able to read and write English, and not disqualified under Iowa Code 9B.23.1
- Complete the Application for Appointment as Notary Public and file it with the Iowa Secretary of State. Signing its affirmation section is your oath of office.2
- Pay the $30 application fee to the Secretary of State.1
- Once commissioned, get an official stamp that meets Iowa Code 9B.17 (name, 'Notarial Seal', 'Iowa', commission number, expiration date).1
- Before notarizing electronic records, notify the Secretary of State and identify your technology; for remote (audio-video) notarizations, apply separately for remote approval.1
Renewal and continuing education
- When it expires
- Three-year term from issuance (one year for bordering-state residents). The Secretary of State sends an expiration notice and a reappointment application two months before the commission expires.1
- If it expires
- Commissions in effect on January 1, 2013 run to expiration; any renewal on or after that date is under chapter 9B.1
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your Iowa Notary Public (commission as notary public). The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to Iowa with a license from another state
These are the routes the Iowa Secretary of State publishes for the Notary Public commission. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- No reciprocity: another state's notary commission is not recognized. Out-of-state applicants qualify only through an Iowa place of employment or practice (bordering-state residents get a one-year term). Discipline of a notary commission in another state is a ground for denial.1
Approval to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals
A notary located in Iowa may notarize for a remotely located individual using approved communication technology (simultaneous sight and sound). The notary must identify the individual by personal knowledge, a credible witness or at least two types of identity proofing, and must create an audio-visual recording of the act.1
Requirements
- Education or training
- Secretary of State-approved remote notarization training course, completed within the six months before the first remote notarial act.2
Who may teach it: Course must be approved by the Secretary of State.2 - Experience
- Must already hold an Iowa notary public commission.2
License you must hold first: Iowa notary public commission (ia-notary-public-commission)2 - Also required
- Use only communication technology from a provider registered with and approved by the Secretary of State.2
- Also required
- The notary must be physically located in Iowa when performing the remote act.2
How to apply
- Hold an active Iowa notary public commission.2
- Complete a Secretary of State-approved remote notarization training course within the six months before your first remote act.2
- Choose communication technology from a provider approved by the Secretary of State.2
- File the additional remote notarization application with the Secretary of State showing you meet the training and technology requirements.2
Renewal
- When it expires
- Remote approval expires on the same date as the notary commission; the Secretary of State sends a reapproval application two months before.2
- Required topics
- Secretary of State-approved update course on remote notarization, completed within the six months before the reappointment application deadline. This applies to remote notaries applying for reappointment who completed the initial course more than 12 months before applying.2
From another state
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- Only Iowa-commissioned notaries physically located in Iowa may perform remote notarial acts under Iowa law.2
The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.
City and county rules
Notary Public (commission as notary public)Statewide commission from the Iowa Secretary of State; no city or county notary license.1
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
Rule changes since January 2024
- September 10, 2025: 721 IAC 43.9 (remote notarization technology and identity-proofing standards) amended by ARC 9482C, effective 9/10/25.2
Common questions
Can I transfer my notary public license to Iowa?
No reciprocity: another state's notary commission is not recognized. Out-of-state applicants qualify only through an Iowa place of employment or practice (bordering-state residents get a one-year term). Discipline of a notary commission in another state is a ground for denial.1 Conditions and forms.
How often do you renew a Notary Public commission in Iowa?
Every 3 years1.
Notary public licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- 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.
- Iowa Code chapter 9B, Revised Uniform Law on Notarial ActsIowa LegislatureChecked November 6, 2026
- 721 IAC chapter 43 Notarial actsIowa Legislature (Iowa Administrative Code), Secretary of State rulesDated August 6, 2025Checked November 6, 2026