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New York State · Notary Public

How to become a notary in New York
7 steps, $75, about a month.

From the eligibility rules to your first notarization, checked step by step against the Department of State and the statutes. No course is required.

The short answer

To become a New York notary, you must be 18+, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and live or work in New York. Pass the State’s $15 exam (40 questions, 70% to pass). Then apply on NY Business Express (DOS-0033) with the $60 fee and a sworn Oath of Office form DOS-2201. Your commission lasts 4 years. Total State cost: $75.

WhatCostPaid to / where
Written exam$15Department of State, at the exam site
Commission application$60NY Business Express (DOS-0033)
Oath of office (DOS-2201)$0–$2Sworn before any notary; uploaded with the application
Seal / stampoptionalNot required in New York
Total to New York State$75Renewal every 4 years: $60

Last verified against the NY Department of State: September 28, 2026.

30-second check

Can I become a New York notary?

Are you 18 or older?
Are you a U.S. citizen or green-card holder?
Do you live in New York, or work at an office or business in New York?
Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
Are you a NY attorney or a Unified Court System court clerk?

The 7 steps

  1. 1. Check that you qualify

    5 minutes

    New York’s rules (Executive Law §130) are short:

    • At least 18 years old.
    • A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
    • You live in New York State, or you have an office or place of business in New York.
    • No disqualifying conviction. A conviction for a crime bars appointment unless the Secretary of State finds, under Article 23-A of the Correction Law, that it should not. The application asks; answer truthfully.

    Exempt from the exam: attorneys admitted in New York and court clerks of the Unified Court System. They still apply and pay the fee.

  2. 2. Study the law that is tested

    1–2 weeks

    The exam is 40 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour; 70% passes. It is drawn from the Department of State’s notary licensing booklet and the sections of Executive Law and Real Property Law it cites: who may notarize, acknowledgments vs. oaths, fees, what a notary must never do, the signature statement, the journal.

    Start with our free 40-question diagnostic. It scores you by topic and cites the statute behind every answer, so you know what to study. Our $25 package (101 questions, study guide, cheat sheet) is optional.

  3. 3. Take the exam ($15)

    1 morning

    12 sites outside New York City are walk-in. New York City (123 William Street) is by appointment: email exams@dos.ny.gov with the subject “Schedule Notary Public Exam”. See every date on the exam calendar.

    • Bring a current government photo ID.
    • Pay $15 by check or money order to “Department of State”, or MasterCard/Visa. No cash.
    • Arrive at least 15 minutes early; late arrivals are not admitted.
    • No dictionaries, books or notes. The exam is offered in English, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Italian and Haitian-Creole (tell the proctor).

  4. 4. Get your result by mail

    a few weeks

    The Department of State mails the result as pass or fail, with no score. A pass is valid for 2 years. If you fail, you can take the exam again on any exam date and pay another $15; there is no waiting period.

  5. 5. Swear the oath and apply online ($60)

    30 minutes
    1. Download the Oath of Office form DOS-2201 from the Department of State.
    2. Complete it and swear it before anyone authorized to administer an oath, for example any notary public. You do not go to the county clerk for this.
    3. Scan it as a PDF. DOS asks you to have it ready before you start the application.
    4. Go to NY Business Express, search DOS-0033 Notary Public Commission, fill in the application, upload the oath and pay $60 by card.
    5. Track the status in your Business Express account.

  6. 6. Receive your commission

    4-year term

    Once appointed you are a notary for four years, anywhere in New York State. The county clerk keeps the record of your commission and signature, which is how the public verifies a signature later. You can check that your commission appears in the State’s public register with our NY notary lookup.

  7. 7. Set up before your first notarization

    1 hour
    • Signature statement (Executive Law §137): under your signature, print, type or stamp your name, “Notary Public State of New York”, your county, and your commission expiration date. A seal is not required. A rubber stamp with this text is optional.
    • Journal: record every notarial act and keep the records at least 10 years (19 NYCRR 182.9).
    • Fees: no more than $2 per oath, per signer for an acknowledgment, or per witness (Executive Law §136). See notary fees.
    • Renewal: put the date 90 days before your expiration in your calendar. Renewal is $60. See notary renewal.
    • Optional: register as an electronic notary ($60, Executive Law §135-c) to notarize remotely and charge up to $25 per electronic act.

Mistakes that cost people weeks

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Questions people actually ask

How do I become a notary public in New York?

Pass the New York State notary public examination ($15), then apply online on NY Business Express (service DOS-0033, Notary Public Commission) with the $60 fee and a completed Oath of Office form DOS-2201 scanned as a PDF. Once appointed, your commission runs four years. New York attorneys and court clerks of the Unified Court System are exempt from the exam.

How much does it cost to become a notary in New York?

$75 paid to New York State: $15 for the written exam and $60 for the application. There is no required course, bond or association membership. Exam preparation, such as our $25 package, is optional.

Who can be a notary in New York?

You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and either live in New York State or have an office or place of business in New York (Executive Law 130). A prior criminal conviction bars appointment unless the Secretary of State finds, under Article 23-A of the Correction Law, that it does not.

Do I have to live in New York to be a New York notary?

No. Executive Law 130 accepts either a New York residence or an office or place of business in New York State. Someone who lives in New Jersey but works in Manhattan can qualify.

How do I apply after passing the notary exam?

Wait for your passing result by mail, then apply online on NY Business Express (businessexpress.ny.gov, search DOS-0033 Notary Public Commission). Before you start, download the Oath of Office form DOS-2201, complete it, swear it before a person authorized to administer oaths (for example another notary), and scan it as a PDF to upload. Pay the $60 fee by card. You can follow the status in your Business Express account.

How long is a passing notary exam result good for?

Two years. If you do not apply for your commission within two years of passing, you have to pass the exam again.

Do I need a notary stamp or seal in New York?

No. New York does not require a seal. Executive Law 137 requires that under your signature you print, stamp or type your name, the words Notary Public State of New York, your county, and your commission expiration date. Many notaries buy a rubber stamp with that text because it is faster, but it is optional.

Does a New York notary have to keep a journal?

Yes. Every New York notary must record each notarial act and keep the record for at least 10 years (19 NYCRR 182.9).

How much can a New York notary charge?

The statute sets the maximums: $2 for an oath or affirmation, $2 per person for an acknowledgment or proof of execution, and $2 for swearing each witness (Executive Law 136). A registered electronic notary may charge up to $25 per electronic notarial act.

How long does a New York notary commission last, and how do I renew?

Four years. Renewal is $60 and can be filed from 90 days before the expiration date. If you renew before expiration or within six months after it, you do not retake the exam; after that window you must pass the exam again.

Can I notarize anywhere in New York?

Yes. A New York notary's jurisdiction covers the whole state, not just the county on your record.

Can I become an electronic (online) notary in New York?

Yes, as an additional registration under Executive Law 135-c. The State fee is $60. Electronic notaries must keep the audio-video recording and records for at least 10 years and use identity proofing that meets the NIST IAL2 standard.

Last verified September 28, 2026. Sources: NY Department of State, Become a Notary Public (fees, NY Business Express DOS-0033, Oath of Office DOS-2201, exam exemptions) and exam schedule PDFs; New York Executive Law §§130, 131, 135-c, 136, 137; 19 NYCRR Part 182. Pass NY Notary is an independent preparation service and is not affiliated with the New York Department of State. This is information, not legal advice.

Written and kept current by Otabek Obidov — commissioned New York Notary Public (No. 01OB0050820, e-notarization authorized), licensed NY property & casualty broker, Brooklyn. Exam dates are transcribed from the NY Department of State schedule and re-checked when DOS publishes updates. Questions or a correction: connect@fireup-llc.com.