Florida Notary Application: Step by Step

Published 2026-08-13 · Updated 2026-08-13 · Becoming a Notary

Confirm you qualify

Fla. Stat. §117.01(1) sets the eligibility bar, and it is low:

• At least 18 years of age
• A legal resident of Florida — and you must remain one for the whole four-year term
• A U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident alien who files a recorded Declaration of Domicile
• Able to read, write, and understand English

Felony convictions must be disclosed on the application. A conviction is not automatically disqualifying, but civil rights must have been restored.

The six steps, in order

1. Complete the 3-hour education course. Required for first-time applicants only — three hours of interactive or classroom instruction covering notary duties and electronic notarization, from a state-approved vendor. Renewing notaries are exempt.
2. Choose a bonding agency. Florida routes applications through bonding agencies rather than direct filing. The agency issues your $7,500 bond, submits the application to the state, and usually bundles the seal, journal, and E&O. You may use any approved agency — and the bundled prices vary widely, so compare.
3. Complete the application. Personal information, the felony disclosure, and the oath of office. Your name must appear exactly as you want it on your commission and seal, because that is what you will sign as for four years.
4. Post the $7,500 bond. Required by §117.01(7)(a) before you may execute the duties of the office and throughout the term. The bond protects the public, not you.
5. Pay the fees. A $25 application fee, a $10 commission fee, and a $4 surcharge go to the state, with certain veteran exceptions. The bonding agency's own charge and the bond premium are on top of that.
6. Receive your commission and order your seal. The certificate arrives with your commission number and expiration date. Your seal must carry the words “Notary Public-State of Florida,” your name, the expiration date, and the commission number, in photographically reproducible black ink under §117.05(3)(a).

Timeline, cost, and the two decisions that matter

Timeline: the education course is one afternoon. Application processing typically runs two to four weeks after the bonding agency submits it. Budget four to six weeks from start to holding your seal, and do not accept work before the commission is in hand.

Cost: $39 in state fees, plus the bond premium, agency fee, education, seal, and journal. A bundled package generally lands between $80 and $150 depending on what is included and how much E&O you add.

Two decisions inside the process are worth thinking about rather than defaulting:

• How much E&O to buy. Florida does not require it. Title companies effectively do — commonly $25,000 minimum and often $100,000 for loan signing work. Buying $10,000 to save $30 is a false economy if you intend to do closings.
• Whether to register for RON now or later. Remote online notarization requires separate registration plus a $25,000 RON bond and $25,000 in E&O under §117.225. It is not part of the base commission and can be added at any time.

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