Please read this first

We work to keep state commissioning information current, but requirements, fees, and forms can change faster than we can update this page. Confirm every step with the North Dakota Secretary of State using the official links below before you apply. This article is a checklist, not legal advice.

Overview

North Dakota commissions notaries for a four-year term through the FirstStop Portal. Electronic notarization (IPEN), remote ink notarization (RIN), and remote online notarization (RON) are all authorized, but you must file a Notary Public Amendment naming the communication-technology provider before those acts.

Use this page as a checklist of where to go and what to complete. Follow the Secretary of State’s current instructions if anything here differs from the official site.

For a U.S. overview of remote online notary authorization, see the National Notary Association’s How to Become a Remote Online Notary. Follow the North Dakota Secretary of State’s instructions if anything differs.

Who Can Apply

To be commissioned as a North Dakota notary public, you must meet all of the following:

Age and status

Be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, and able to read and write English.

Residency or employment

Reside in North Dakota, have a place of employment or practice in North Dakota, or reside in a border county of a state that extends reciprocity to North Dakota border-county notaries.

Bond, oath, and stamp loop

File a $7,500 Notary Bond (SFN 19355), a notarized oath, and $36; then obtain a stamping device with SOS authorization and return an impression before the commission certificate is issued (Become a Notary Public).

Start Here: Commission, Then FirstStop Amendment

Complete the four-year commission, including stamp verification. Then file a Notary Public Amendment naming electronic and/or remote notarization and the provider before the first such act.

1

Read the official notary and remote pages

Open Become a Notary Public, Performing Electronic and Remote Notarizations, and Maintain Notary Commission.
2

File the Notary Public Application in FirstStop

Use FirstStop Portal. Pay $36 and upload the bond and oath.
3

If you already hold a North Dakota commission, file the amendment before the first remote or electronic session

Use FirstStop Portal as Maintain Notary Commission instructs.

Part 1: Traditional North Dakota Notary Commission

Skip this section if you already hold an unexpired North Dakota notary public commission. You still must file the amendment before electronic or remote acts.

Checklist

1

Review the official how-to

Become a Notary Public and NDCC chapter 44-06.1.
2

Complete traditional notary education

Not listed on Become a Notary Public as a required SOS course or examination.
3

Obtain a $7,500 surety bond

Obtain a Notary Bond (SFN 19355) in the amount of $7,500 covering notarial acts during the commission term. Errors and omissions insurance is optional and is not filed with the SOS.
4

Submit the traditional application

Complete the application on FirstStop Portal using the exact signing name you will use. Upload the bond and oath signed before a notary. Pay $36.
5

Obtain the stamp and wait for the commencement date

After approval, the SOS issues a Certificate of Authorization to purchase a stamping device. Return an impression on the Verification form. Begin notarial acts only on or after the commencement date on the commission certificate.

Part 2: Online (RON) Commission

IPEN, RIN, and RON are not interchangeable. RON is a remote act on an electronic document. RIN is remote ink on paper and is limited to acknowledgments. Record the audiovisual session and keep the recording and a journal of remote acts for 10 years. The SOS lists example remote-solution companies and does not endorse any provider.

Have these ready

X.509 digital certificate

Select a provider whose communication technology complies with NDCC chapter 44-06.1, including 10-year recording retention. Review the example companies on Performing Electronic and Remote Notarizations; the SOS does not endorse any provider or require you to choose from that list.

Electronic seal image

For IPEN, the official stamp may be included but is not required if the certificate contains your name, the date, jurisdiction, and title. Complete RON signature setup with your named provider.

Identity proofing capability

Confirm identity by personal knowledge; at least two different types of identity proofing; or verification on oath or affirmation from a credible witness appearing before you.

Electronic journal and recording

Maintain a notary journal for all notarial acts performed for remotely located individuals. Save audiovisual recordings and the journal for 10 years.

Checklist

1

Read the official online-notary instructions

Performing Electronic and Remote Notarizations, Maintain Notary Commission, and NDCC chapter 44-06.1.
2

Complete online notary education

Not listed on the official electronic-and-remote page as a required SOS RON course. Complete any training your provider requires. Verify the provider will record and retain the session for 10 years.
3

Start the online commission application

File a Notary Public Amendment through FirstStop Portal. Indicate electronic and/or remote notarization and name the provider.
4

Sign with a digital certificate

Obtain RON technology directly from the named provider. Provider charges are separate from the $36 commission fee.
5

Upload your electronic seal

Not applicable as a separate SOS seal-upload portal for the amendment. The amendment is the SOS filing. Complete seal setup with the provider.
6

Pay and submit

Not listed as a separate SOS dollar fee on the electronic-and-remote or maintain-commission pages for the amendment. Confirm any current FirstStop fee before you file. Do not perform electronic or remote acts until the amendment is filed.

After You Are Commissioned

Where you must be

Perform notarial acts as a North Dakota-commissioned notary. If the signer is outside the United States, the document must meet the categories on Performing Electronic and Remote Notarizations, and the act must not be prohibited in the foreign state.

Keep certificate and seal current

Keep the four-year commission, bond, and stamp current. If you change software providers, file a new amendment. You may also charge a technology fee if you incurred technology costs, the person agrees in advance, and the person understands it is separate from the notarial fee.

File the Notary Public Amendment before the first electronic, RIN, or RON act. Notarizing outside the commission term is a violation of state law.

Fees Listed by the Secretary of State

The $36 filing fee and $7,500 bond are from Become a Notary Public. The amendment is not listed with a separate SOS dollar fee on Performing Electronic and Remote Notarizations. Confirm amounts in FirstStop before you pay.

Item Listed amount
Traditional education / exam Not listed as required on Become a Notary Public
RON / electronic provider training Paid to the technology provider (not listed as an SOS course fee)
Traditional application $36
Electronic / remote amendment Not listed as a separate SOS dollar fee on the official remote page; confirm in FirstStop
Surety bond $7,500 coverage (SFN 19355; premium paid to the surety)

Official North Dakota Links

Resource Where to go
Become a notary public sos.nd.gov/notary-apostille/become-notary-public
Electronic and remote notarizations sos.nd.gov/.../performing-electronic-and-remote-notarizations
Maintain notary commission sos.nd.gov/notary-apostille/maintain-notary-commission
Secretary of State (701) 328-2900

Common Questions

Q: Can I apply for the online commission first?

A: No. Hold a North Dakota notary public commission, then file the Notary Public Amendment naming the provider before electronic or remote acts.

Q: Does North Dakota approve a list of RON platforms?

A: The SOS publishes examples of companies that provide remote notarization solutions. It is not a complete list, and the office does not endorse any provider or require you to select from the list. You must verify NDCC chapter 44-06.1 compliance.

Q: Where can I confirm a fee or form changed?

A: Use Become a Notary Public and Performing Electronic and Remote Notarizations.

Last Updated: August 26, 2026  |  Author: Customer Success Team  |  Version: v1.0

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