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New York Notary Public — Requirements & Free Practice

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Electronic Notary Public

Electronic notary public commission authorizing electronic and traditional notarial acts.

Licensing authority: New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services · Application information

Appointment of county clerk designated staff
New York State Notary Public Examination
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
County Law 534 exempts the designated staff member from the examination fee and application fee; provide the fee-exemption documentation requested in the application guidance.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Except for the statutory attorney and qualifying court-clerk exceptions, the Secretary must be satisfied of good moral character, the equivalent of a common school education, and familiarity with notarial duties and responsibilities under Executive Law 130(1).
Commission scope
An electronic notary commission authorizes both remote electronic and traditional notarial services.
County designation
Must be a staff member designated by the county clerk under County Law 534 to provide notarization to the public during normal office hours without charge.
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Electronic registration
Satisfy the notary-public appointment requirements in Executive Law 130 and 131 and register the capability to perform electronic notarial acts under Executive Law 135-c and 19 NYCRR 182.10.
Exam score
The notary examination requirement remains unless the applicant independently qualifies for an attorney or court-clerk exemption. A passing examination result is valid for two years.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Technology and exemplar
Provide the required electronic technology/provider information and an exemplar containing the digital signature, seal, and digital credential service-provider information; typed signatures are not accepted.
Term
The commission term is four years.
Electronic registration by an existing traditional notary
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Exemplar
Submit the electronic signature and seal exemplar and digital credential-provider information; typed signatures are not accepted.
Existing commission
Must already be a commissioned notary public; the existing commission is the applicant qualification for registering electronic capability.
Registration
Apply for an electronic notary commission through the electronic registration process, supplying the information required by Executive Law 135-c(3) and 19 NYCRR 182.10(b), with the $60 registration fee.
Replacement commission
Issuance of the electronic commission automatically cancels the traditional commission; use the new electronic notary identification number for all notarizations.
Scope
The electronic commission authorizes electronic and traditional notarial services.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial appointment with New York attorney examination exemption
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
Submit the prescribed application and $60 fee unless a supported fee exemption applies. Online original applications require a personal NY.gov account and credit or debit card payment.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Executive Law 130(1) excepts this qualifying applicant from the ordinary determination of character, common-school education and familiarity with notarial duties; the prescribed application and oath still apply.
Commission scope
An electronic notary commission authorizes both remote electronic and traditional notarial services.
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Electronic registration
Satisfy the notary-public appointment requirements in Executive Law 130 and 131 and register the capability to perform electronic notarial acts under Executive Law 135-c and 19 NYCRR 182.10.
Examination exemption
Must be currently admitted to practice as an attorney in New York State; the Department states that a current member of the New York State Bar may be appointed without examination.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Technology and exemplar
Provide the required electronic technology/provider information and an exemplar containing the digital signature, seal, and digital credential service-provider information; typed signatures are not accepted.
Term
The commission term is four years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial appointment with qualifying court clerk examination exemption
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
Submit the prescribed application and $60 fee unless a supported fee exemption applies. Online original applications require a personal NY.gov account and credit or debit card payment.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Executive Law 130(1) excepts this qualifying applicant from the ordinary determination of character, common-school education and familiarity with notarial duties; the prescribed application and oath still apply.
Commission scope
An electronic notary commission authorizes both remote electronic and traditional notarial services.
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Electronic registration
Satisfy the notary-public appointment requirements in Executive Law 130 and 131 and register the capability to perform electronic notarial acts under Executive Law 135-c and 19 NYCRR 182.10.
Examination exemption
Must be a court clerk of the Unified Court System appointed after taking a Civil Service promotional examination in the court-clerk series of titles. That employment examination is an applicant qualification, not a notary examination leaf.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Technology and exemplar
Provide the required electronic technology/provider information and an exemplar containing the digital signature, seal, and digital credential service-provider information; typed signatures are not accepted.
Term
The commission term is four years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial appointment by examination
New York State Notary Public Examination
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
Submit the prescribed application and $60 fee unless a supported fee exemption applies. Online original applications require a personal NY.gov account and credit or debit card payment.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Except for the statutory attorney and qualifying court-clerk exceptions, the Secretary must be satisfied of good moral character, the equivalent of a common school education, and familiarity with notarial duties and responsibilities under Executive Law 130(1).
Commission scope
An electronic notary commission authorizes both remote electronic and traditional notarial services.
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Electronic registration
Satisfy the notary-public appointment requirements in Executive Law 130 and 131 and register the capability to perform electronic notarial acts under Executive Law 135-c and 19 NYCRR 182.10.
Exam score
Must have passed the New York State Notary Public Examination; results are valid for two years from the examination date. An already valid score can satisfy this condition.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Technology and exemplar
Provide the required electronic technology/provider information and an exemplar containing the digital signature, seal, and digital credential service-provider information; typed signatures are not accepted.
Term
The commission term is four years.
New appointment after lapse beyond the ordinary renewal period
New York State Notary Public Examination
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
Submit the prescribed application and $60 fee unless a supported fee exemption applies. Online original applications require a personal NY.gov account and credit or debit card payment.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Except for the statutory attorney and qualifying court-clerk exceptions, the Secretary must be satisfied of good moral character, the equivalent of a common school education, and familiarity with notarial duties and responsibilities under Executive Law 130(1).
Commission scope
An electronic notary commission authorizes both remote electronic and traditional notarial services.
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Electronic registration
Satisfy the notary-public appointment requirements in Executive Law 130 and 131 and register the capability to perform electronic notarial acts under Executive Law 135-c and 19 NYCRR 182.10.
Exam score
A currently offered New York State Notary Public Examination must have been passed within the two-year result-validity period; a still-valid earlier passing result satisfies the examination condition.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Lapsed commission
For a prior commission expired more than six months, outside the ordinary renewal eligibility stated by the Department; apply under the original appointment requirements unless the military provision or an attorney/court-clerk exemption applies.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Technology and exemplar
Provide the required electronic technology/provider information and an exemplar containing the digital signature, seal, and digital credential service-provider information; typed signatures are not accepted.
Term
The commission term is four years.
Late reappointment following military service
New York State Notary Public Examination
Application and oath
Submit the prescribed reappointment application and executed oath of office with the applicable fee and requested supporting military documentation.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment is at the Secretary of State’s discretion.
Commission scope
An electronic notary commission authorizes both remote electronic and traditional notarial services.
Electronic reappointment
Verify all information on file and affirm compliance with Part 182 under 19 NYCRR 182.10(d).
Electronic registration
Satisfy the notary-public appointment requirements in Executive Law 130 and 131 and register the capability to perform electronic notarial acts under Executive Law 135-c and 19 NYCRR 182.10.
Exam result if not waived
If the examination qualification is not waived, satisfy the notary examination requirement with a passing result within its two-year validity period.
Filing deadline
Apply within one year after military discharge under conditions other than dishonorable; for a qualifying condition or discharged LGBT veteran as defined in Veterans’ Services Law 1, apply within one year after discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable, as Executive Law 130(1) provides.
Prior commission
Must previously have held the relevant notary public commission and failed or been unable to reapply within the ordinary renewal period because of induction or enlistment in the United States armed forces.
Technology and exemplar
Provide the required electronic technology/provider information and an exemplar containing the digital signature, seal, and digital credential service-provider information; typed signatures are not accepted.
Waiver discretion
The Secretary may waive the qualifying requirements under Executive Law 130(1). The waiver is discretionary; the named current notary examination remains represented for an applicant whose examination qualification is not waived.
Renewal or reappointment within the ordinary renewal period
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continued eligibility
Continue to meet Executive Law 130 and 131 and Part 182 requirements; a notary who has failed to comply with Part 182 is ineligible for reappointment under 19 NYCRR 182.10(e).
Disclosure
Disclose convictions and pending criminal charges since the last application and supply the explanatory documents required by DOS-0026.
Electronic reappointment
Under 19 NYCRR 182.10(d), verify the accuracy of all information on file and affirm compliance with Part 182.
Existing commission
Must hold the relevant notary commission and apply for reappointment before expiration or within six months thereafter; the application guidance identifies commissions expired six months or less as eligible for renewal.
Filing window
Online renewal is available 90 days before the commission expiration date.
No practice during lapse
The renewal form states that it is unlawful to engage in business between expiration and renewal.
Renewal application
Provide the completed renewal application, executed oath of office and $60 renewal fee unless a supported fee exemption applies.
Statutory waiver
Executive Law 130(1) permits waiver of qualifying requirements for timely reappointment; the implementing DOS-0026 renewal checklist requires the renewal form, oath and fee without examination submission.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Notary Public

Four-year traditional notary public commission.

Licensing authority: New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services · Application information

Appointment of county clerk designated staff
New York State Notary Public Examination
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
County Law 534 exempts the designated staff member from the examination fee and application fee; provide the fee-exemption documentation requested in the application guidance.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Except for the statutory attorney and qualifying court-clerk exceptions, the Secretary must be satisfied of good moral character, the equivalent of a common school education, and familiarity with notarial duties and responsibilities under Executive Law 130(1).
County designation
Must be a staff member designated by the county clerk under County Law 534 to provide notarization to the public during normal office hours without charge.
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Exam score
The notary examination requirement remains unless the applicant independently qualifies for an attorney or court-clerk exemption. A passing examination result is valid for two years.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Term
The commission term is four years.
Initial appointment with New York attorney examination exemption
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
Submit the prescribed application and $60 fee unless a supported fee exemption applies. Online original applications require a personal NY.gov account and credit or debit card payment.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Executive Law 130(1) excepts this qualifying applicant from the ordinary determination of character, common-school education and familiarity with notarial duties; the prescribed application and oath still apply.
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Examination exemption
Must be currently admitted to practice as an attorney in New York State; the Department states that a current member of the New York State Bar may be appointed without examination.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Term
The commission term is four years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial appointment with qualifying court clerk examination exemption
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
Submit the prescribed application and $60 fee unless a supported fee exemption applies. Online original applications require a personal NY.gov account and credit or debit card payment.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Executive Law 130(1) excepts this qualifying applicant from the ordinary determination of character, common-school education and familiarity with notarial duties; the prescribed application and oath still apply.
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Examination exemption
Must be a court clerk of the Unified Court System appointed after taking a Civil Service promotional examination in the court-clerk series of titles. That employment examination is an applicant qualification, not a notary examination leaf.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Term
The commission term is four years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial appointment by examination
New York State Notary Public Examination
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
Submit the prescribed application and $60 fee unless a supported fee exemption applies. Online original applications require a personal NY.gov account and credit or debit card payment.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Except for the statutory attorney and qualifying court-clerk exceptions, the Secretary must be satisfied of good moral character, the equivalent of a common school education, and familiarity with notarial duties and responsibilities under Executive Law 130(1).
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Exam score
Must have passed the New York State Notary Public Examination; results are valid for two years from the examination date. An already valid score can satisfy this condition.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Term
The commission term is four years.
New appointment after lapse beyond the ordinary renewal period
New York State Notary Public Examination
Age
Must be at least 18 years old, as asked in the May 2026 original application guidance.
Application
Submit the prescribed application and $60 fee unless a supported fee exemption applies. Online original applications require a personal NY.gov account and credit or debit card payment.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment remains within the Secretary of State’s discretion under Executive Law 130(1).
Character and education
Except for the statutory attorney and qualifying court-clerk exceptions, the Secretary must be satisfied of good moral character, the equivalent of a common school education, and familiarity with notarial duties and responsibilities under Executive Law 130(1).
Criminal and licensing history
Disclose convictions, pending misdemeanor or felony charges, and prior denial, suspension or revocation of a license, commission or registration; affirmative answers require additional information or documents. Executive Law 130(1) requires a statutory finding that a conviction is not a bar to appointment.
Exam score
A currently offered New York State Notary Public Examination must have been passed within the two-year result-validity period; a still-valid earlier passing result satisfies the examination condition.
Identification number
Provide a Social Security number or individual tax identification number if held; otherwise provide a written explanation, as the application guidance requires.
Lapsed commission
For a prior commission expired more than six months, outside the ordinary renewal eligibility stated by the Department; apply under the original appointment requirements unless the military provision or an attorney/court-clerk exemption applies.
Location
Must be a New York State resident or maintain an office or place of business in New York State; a nonresident must provide the New York business address.
Oath
Provide an executed, notarized oath of office with matching personal information and a natural handwritten signature; an online filing requires a scanned single-page PDF.
Term
The commission term is four years.
Late reappointment following military service
New York State Notary Public Examination
Application and oath
Submit the prescribed reappointment application and executed oath of office with the applicable fee and requested supporting military documentation.
Appointment discretion
Appointment or reappointment is at the Secretary of State’s discretion.
Exam result if not waived
If the examination qualification is not waived, satisfy the notary examination requirement with a passing result within its two-year validity period.
Filing deadline
Apply within one year after military discharge under conditions other than dishonorable; for a qualifying condition or discharged LGBT veteran as defined in Veterans’ Services Law 1, apply within one year after discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable, as Executive Law 130(1) provides.
Prior commission
Must previously have held the relevant notary public commission and failed or been unable to reapply within the ordinary renewal period because of induction or enlistment in the United States armed forces.
Waiver discretion
The Secretary may waive the qualifying requirements under Executive Law 130(1). The waiver is discretionary; the named current notary examination remains represented for an applicant whose examination qualification is not waived.
Renewal or reappointment within the ordinary renewal period
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continued eligibility
Continue to meet Executive Law 130 and 131 and Part 182 requirements; a notary who has failed to comply with Part 182 is ineligible for reappointment under 19 NYCRR 182.10(e).
Disclosure
Disclose convictions and pending criminal charges since the last application and supply the explanatory documents required by DOS-0026.
Existing commission
Must hold the relevant notary commission and apply for reappointment before expiration or within six months thereafter; the application guidance identifies commissions expired six months or less as eligible for renewal.
Filing window
Online renewal is available 90 days before the commission expiration date.
No practice during lapse
The renewal form states that it is unlawful to engage in business between expiration and renewal.
Renewal application
Provide the completed renewal application, executed oath of office and $60 renewal fee unless a supported fee exemption applies.
Statutory waiver
Executive Law 130(1) permits waiver of qualifying requirements for timely reappointment; the implementing DOS-0026 renewal checklist requires the renewal form, oath and fee without examination submission.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

New York State Notary Public Examination

Provider
New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services
Format
Multiple choice
Time limit
1 hour
Passing score
Pass or fail; numerical scores are not reported
Exam fee
$15 examination fee
Examination outline
  • License law
  • General terms
  • Duties and functions of a notary public
Examination sources