Notary Application: What You Need to Know

A notary application is the formal process of either applying to become a commissioned notary public or submitting documents to receive notarization services. These two meanings get confused constantly — and knowing which one applies to your situation saves you real time.

If you're trying to get a document notarized, you don't need to apply for anything. You just need to find a notary. If you're looking to become a notary yourself, there's a state-specific application process involved. This guide covers both paths clearly, including how remote online notarization has changed everything about how the process works.

What Is a Notary Application?

The term "notary application" covers two distinct things, and the difference matters.

The first meaning is the application process to become a commissioned notary public. A notary public is an official appointed by a state government to serve as an impartial witness when people sign important legal documents. To become one, you submit a formal notary application to your state's commissioning authority — usually the Secretary of State's office.

The second meaning refers to applying for notarization services — meaning you're the person who needs a document notarized, not the person becoming a notary. This usage is less formal. You're not really "applying" in the bureaucratic sense; you're requesting a service.

This guide addresses both. For most people reading this, the more relevant question is: how do I get a document notarized quickly and legally? Remote online notarization (RON) answers that question better than anything else available today.

The Two Paths at a Glance

Notary Application: Two Distinct Meanings

Each path has different requirements, timelines, and costs. The sections below walk through each one.

Who Needs to Apply for Notary Services?

Almost anyone can find themselves needing a notarized document. The list of documents that commonly require notarization is longer than most people expect.

Common situations that require notarization include:

• Real estate transactions — deeds, mortgage documents, and closing paperwork almost always require notarization
• Powers of attorney — a power of attorney (POA) document gives someone legal authority to act on your behalf and must be notarized to be valid in most states
• Wills and trusts — many estate planning documents require a notary's signature to be legally enforceable
• Affidavits and sworn statements — any sworn legal statement typically needs to be notarized before it can be filed in court
• Vehicle title transfers — buying or selling a car often requires notarized title documents
• Loan documents — refinancing a mortgage or taking out certain loans requires notarized paperwork
• Immigration documents — some USCIS forms and supporting documents require notarization

If you've been told your document needs a notary, you don't need to fill out a formal notary application. You need to find a commissioned notary and schedule a session. With remote online notarization, that session can happen the same day — sometimes within the hour.

For those looking to become a notary themselves — perhaps to serve clients professionally or to offer notarization services as part of a business — the formal notary application process is the starting point.

How to Apply for Remote Online Notary Services

Getting a document notarized through a remote online notarization platform is the fastest option available. You don't need to drive anywhere, schedule an in-person appointment, or find a notary in your area. The entire process happens over a live audio-video session.

Here's exactly how it works with BlueNotary:

1. Create your account — Go to bluenotary.us and set up a free account. This takes about two minutes.

2. Upload your document — Upload the PDF or document file that needs notarization. The platform accepts most standard document formats.

3. Verify your identity — This is where the process gets specific. Remote online notarization requires identity verification before the session begins. You'll typically go through:

   • A government-issued ID scan (driver's license or passport)
   • Knowledge-based authentication (KBA) — a series of questions drawn from your personal records that only you would know
   • In some cases, biometric verification comparing your live image to your ID photo

4. Connect with a notary — Once your identity is confirmed, you're connected with a commissioned notary public via live video. The notary reviews your document, witnesses your signature, and applies their digital seal in real time.

5. Receive your notarized document — After the session, you receive a digitally sealed, legally valid notarized document. You can download it immediately or have it sent directly to a third party.

The whole process typically takes 15 to 30 minutes from account creation to completed document. For people who have tried to schedule an in-person notary appointment and waited days, that time difference is significant.

Key Insight: Remote online notarization is currently authorized in 42 U.S. states. If your state hasn't passed RON legislation yet, you may still be able to use an out-of-state notary for certain document types — check with the receiving party first.

Notary Application Requirements and Eligibility

If you want to become a notary public — not just use notary services, but actually become a commissioned notary — the requirements vary by state. There's no single federal notary application. Each state sets its own rules.

That said, most states share a common set of eligibility requirements:

• Age — You must be at least 18 years old in most states
• Residency or employment — Most states require you to be a legal resident of the state you're applying in, or to be employed there
• No felony convictions — Most states disqualify applicants with certain criminal histories, particularly felonies involving fraud or dishonesty
• Literacy — You must be able to read and write in English
• Completion of a notary education course — Many states now require applicants to complete a state-approved training course before submitting a notary application

For remote online notarization specifically, the requirements go further. A notary who wants to perform RON sessions must typically:

• Hold an active notary commission in a state that has passed RON legislation
• Complete additional RON-specific training and certification
• Use an approved RON platform that meets state technology standards
• Maintain a secure audio-visual recording of every RON session

States like Virginia, Texas, and Florida were early adopters of RON legislation and have well-established notary application processes for remote notaries. If you're looking to become a notary specifically to offer remote services, these states have clear pathways.

Pennsylvania recently expanded its RON framework — Pennsylvania opens doors to expanded remote notarization options that weren't available just a few years ago.

How Long Does the Notary Application Process Take?

The timeline differs significantly depending on whether you're applying to become a notary or simply getting a document notarized.

Getting a document notarized

Through a remote online notarization platform, this takes 15 to 30 minutes. Identity verification adds a few minutes to the start of the session, but the overall process is fast. There's no waiting period, no appointment backlog, and no travel time.

Applying to become a notary public

This takes considerably longer. The typical timeline for a notary application breaks down like this:

• Education course — 3 to 6 hours, depending on the state and whether you take it online or in person
• Application processing — most state offices take 4 to 6 weeks to process a notary application after submission
• Background check — if your state requires one, this can add another 1 to 3 weeks
• Bond and supplies — after receiving your commission, you'll need to purchase a notary bond and notary seal before you can legally perform notarizations
• RON platform approval — if you're applying to perform remote online notarizations, you'll need to register with an approved platform, which adds another few days

Total time from starting the notary application to performing your first notarization: typically 6 to 10 weeks.

Notary renewal follows a similar process. Most states issue notary commissions for 4-year terms. A notary public renewal requires submitting a new application before the current commission expires — the process is generally faster the second time since you already have training on record.

Notary Application Costs and Fees

Costs vary by state and by which path you're taking.

Costs for getting a document notarized

In-person notary fees are capped by state law. Most states set the maximum fee between $5 and $15 per signature or notarial act. Remote online notarization typically costs more — usually in the $25 to $50 range per session — because the platform provides technology, identity verification, and a recorded session archive.

Costs for becoming a notary public

The notary application itself is inexpensive. State application fees typically run between $20 and $100. But the full cost of becoming a notary includes several components:

• State application fee — $20 to $100 depending on the state
• Notary education course — $25 to $150 for state-approved training
• Notary bond — most states require a surety bond ranging from $500 to $15,000 in coverage; the premium you pay is typically $50 to $100
• Notary seal and supplies — $20 to $60 for a stamp or embosser
• Errors and omissions insurance — optional but recommended; roughly $25 to $75 per year
• RON platform registration — platforms vary, but most charge a monthly or per-session fee

Total startup cost to become a commissioned notary: typically $150 to $400, depending on your state and whether you're setting up for remote online notarization.

Common Questions About Notary Applications

What's the difference between a notarized application and a regular application?

A notarized application is a document that has been signed in front of a commissioned notary public, who then adds their official seal and signature to certify that the signing was witnessed and the signer's identity was verified. Regular applications have no such verification. Many government forms, legal filings, and financial documents require notarization specifically because it adds a layer of identity verification and fraud prevention that a plain signature doesn't provide.

Can I complete a notary application entirely online?

Yes, in most cases. Many states now allow you to submit the notary application itself online through the Secretary of State's website. The required education course is also available online in most states. If your state requires a background check, that process may still involve some in-person steps. For RON certification specifically, the entire application and training process is typically online.

Do I need a notarized application for immigration documents?

Some USCIS forms and supporting documents require notarization, but not all. The USCIS website specifies which forms need notarization. For documents translated from another language, USCIS requires a certified translation — which is different from notarization. If you're unsure whether your specific immigration document needs a notarized application, check directly with USCIS or an immigration attorney.

What happens during a notary application background check?

Most states that require a background check for notary applicants are looking for felony convictions, particularly those involving fraud, forgery, or dishonesty. The check is typically a standard criminal history review through the state's law enforcement database. Some states also check for prior notary commission revocations. A clean background check is usually processed within one to three weeks.

Can I use a remote online notary for any document?

Most documents that can be notarized in person can also be notarized remotely, but there are exceptions. Some states have specific document types that must be notarized in person — certain real estate transactions or court filings, for example. The receiving party (a court, a bank, a county recorder's office) ultimately decides whether they'll accept a remotely notarized document. Always confirm with the receiving party before scheduling a RON session for high-stakes documents.

Is a digitally notarized document legally valid?

Yes — in states that have enacted RON legislation, a digitally notarized document carries the same legal weight as a traditionally notarized one. The Uniform Law Commission's Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts provides the model legislation that most states have used as a framework. The digital seal applied during a RON session is cryptographically secured, making it tamper-evident and legally traceable.

For anyone curious about how electronic signatures factor into this process, understanding electronic signatures and how they differ from notarized signatures helps clarify what a notarized document actually certifies.

Conclusion

Whether you need a document notarized today or you're working through a notary application to become a commissioned notary yourself, the process is more accessible than it used to be. Remote online notarization has removed most of the friction from both sides of the equation.

Notarize your documents through BlueNotary — connect with a commissioned notary in minutes, complete the session from anywhere, and receive a legally valid notarized document the same day. Ready to get started? Visit BlueNotary to learn more.