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How to become a notary public in New Jersey

New Jersey licenses notaries statewide through the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES).1 For the Notary Public license you need a passing score on the New Jersey Notary Public Exam (online)1. The board lists $30 for the application (Online application)2 and $25 for the application (Paper application)1, each a separate charge. You renew every 5 years2.

Last checked · 8 official sources

Who issues it

Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES)

Training and experience

An approved education program; see the requirements

Exam

New Jersey Notary Public Exam (online)1

Fees the board lists

Application fee (Online application): $302
Application fee (Paper application): $251

Renewal

Every 5 years2

From another state

No reciprocity route1

On this page
  1. New Jersey notary public licenses
  2. Applies to every license level
  3. Who needs a Notary Public license
  4. Requirements for a Notary Public license
  5. How much a Notary Public license costs
  6. How to apply
  7. Renewal and continuing education
  8. Moving to New Jersey with a license from another state
  9. Remote/Electronic Notarization
  10. City and county rules
  11. Check a license or report a problem
  12. Laws and rules
  13. Rule changes since January 2024
  14. Common questions
  15. Notary public licenses in other states

New Jersey notary public licenses

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

LicenseWhat it coversExamApplication or license fee
Notary PublicCommissioned notaries may perform notarial acts (acknowledgments, oaths/affirmations, verifications, witnessing signatures, copy certification, protests) throughout New Jersey.1Yes1$302
Remote/Electronic Notarization (commission record update)Lets a commissioned notary perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals using communication technology, and notarial acts on electronic records using tamper-evident technology the notary selects.1––

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every New Jersey 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

Renewal

How often
Every 5 years2

Who needs a Notary Public license

Commissioned notaries may perform notarial acts (acknowledgments, oaths/affirmations, verifications, witnessing signatures, copy certification, protests) throughout New Jersey.1

Other rules on who may do this work:

  • Attorneys-at-law applying for a commission skip the commissioning application and exam.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
Course of study offered by the State Treasurer (non-attorney initial applicants). DORES says reading the NJ Notary Public Manual currently satisfies the course requirement, and applicants must also watch the Notary Public Manual Training Videos and attest to both.1
Who may teach it: Course offered/approved by the State Treasurer (DORES): the NJ Notary Public Manual and training videos.1
Alternative: Attorneys-at-law skip the commissioning application and exam.3
Exam
New Jersey Notary Public Exam (online)1
Given by: Administered online by the NJ Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (no outside vendor named)2
Retakes: A Commissioning Application gives 14 days to make 3 exam attempts; if not passed within 14 days or 3 attempts, a new Commissioning Application is needed.2
Exam waived: Attorneys and renewing notaries (expired 30 days or less) do not take the exam.3
Background check
DORES may deny an application for acts showing a lack of honesty, integrity, competence or reliability, including conviction of a crime of the second degree or above, and denial/revocation of a notary commission in another state.1
Residency or citizenship
Legal resident of New Jersey, or a nonresident with a place of employment or practice in New Jersey (including employees of a NJ-domiciled business working remotely from a home office). No citizenship requirement is stated.1
Also required
Application must be endorsed by a member of the NJ Legislature (done electronically for online applications).1
Also required
Oath of office before the county clerk within three months (90 days) of receiving the commission; failure voids the appointment.1
Also required
A notary who is not an attorney may not advertise as a lawyer and must include the 'I am not an attorney' notice in advertising.1

How much a Notary Public license costs

You pay DORES (4 fees) and County Clerk of the county of residence (other fee).

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Application fee$302DORESThe online Notary Commissions, new and renewed. Online application (new or renewal): $25 filing fee plus $5 online convenience fee. Not refundable
Application fee$251DORESPaper application. Not refundable
Other fee$152County Clerk of the county of residenceEvery new and renewed commission
Notary name change$254DORES–
Duplicate or replacement license$254DORES–

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

  1. Read the New Jersey Notary Public Manual and watch all the Notary Public Manual Training Videos.3 Form (PDF, nj.gov)3
  2. Non-attorneys: file the Notary Commissioning Application on the DORES exam portal, attest you read the manual and watched the videos, and pay for exam attempts. Attorneys skip to step 4.2 njportal.com2
  3. Pass the online Notary Public Exam (3 attempts within 14 days).2
  4. File the Notary Public Registration Application online ($25 fee plus $5 online convenience fee); it is endorsed electronically by a state legislator.2 njportal.com3
  5. When the commission packet arrives, take the oath of office before your county clerk within 90 days and pay the clerk's $15 recording fee.2
Apply online
njportal.com3

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires
Commission lasts 5 years and may be renewed for further 5-year periods; DORES mails a reminder before expiry. Renewal uses the same application as the original; the oath must be retaken before the county clerk within three months.2
Renewal fee
$302 (Online renewal: $25 filing fee plus $5 convenience fee ($25 paper))
Required topics
Continuing education course required at renewal (for notaries who passed the exam at least once, or first commissioned before P.L.2021, c.179).1
Approved courses
The State Treasurer sets procedures and issues certificates of approval online.1
If it expires
Expired more than 30 days: treated as a new applicant and must take the exam.3
Failure to take the oath within three months voids the commission; a new application and fee are required.1
Renew online
njportal.com3

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your New Jersey Notary Public license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to New Jersey with a license from another state

These are the routes DORES 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: a commission from another state is not recognized. Nonresidents who work or practice in New Jersey (or work remotely for a NJ-domiciled business) may apply for a NJ commission under the normal process.1

Remote/Electronic Notarization

Lets a commissioned notary perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals using communication technology, and notarial acts on electronic records using tamper-evident technology the notary selects.1

Requirements

Also required
Before the first remote act, notify the State Treasurer electronically and identify the technologies to be used.1

How to apply

  1. Hold an active NJ notary commission.5
  2. On the DORES Notary Public Application portal, choose Remote/Electronic Notarization, enter your commission number and date of birth, and identify the technologies you will use.5 njportal.com5

From another state

Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
Only New Jersey-commissioned notaries can register for remote/electronic notarization.5

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

City and county rules

Notary PublicAfter DORES issues the commission, the notary takes the oath before the county clerk of the county of residence (nonresidents: county of NJ office/employer) within three months and pays the clerk $15.1

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license
nj.gov6
File a complaint
nj.gov7

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

  • September 24, 2026: DORES replaced the notary exam question set.8

Common questions

Can I transfer my notary public license to New Jersey?

No reciprocity: a commission from another state is not recognized. Nonresidents who work or practice in New Jersey (or work remotely for a NJ-domiciled business) may apply for a NJ commission under the normal process.1 Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Notary Public license in New Jersey?

Every 5 years2. The renewal fee is $302.

Notary public licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. New Jersey Notary Public ManualNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesDated September 14, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  2. Notary Public Application HelpNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
  3. Notary Public Application (portal home)New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
  4. State of NJ - NJ Treasury - DORESNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesDated July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  5. New Notary Public ProvisionsNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesDated September 22, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  6. State of NJ - NJ Treasury - DORES - Notary Public SearchNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesDated August 12, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  7. DORES homeNew Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesChecked November 7, 2026
  8. Report on the Status of the State of New Jersey's Notary Education FY2026New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise ServicesChecked November 7, 2026