Notary Public
Arizona
Notary Public Commission Requirements
4 years
Commission Term
before renewal
No
Education Required
no course needed
Yes
Exam Required
80%
$5,000
Bond Required
surety bond
Application Process
VerifiedMeet eligibility requirements (18+, Arizona resident, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, able to read/write English, no disqualifying convictions)
Pass the mandatory notary exam administered by Prometric (45 questions, 80% passing score, $46.75 fee)
Complete the online application at azsos.gov and print/sign it
Obtain a 4-year $5,000 surety bond from an Arizona-authorized bonding company
Have the bond notarized
Submit the signed application, original notarized bond, and $43 filing fee to the Secretary of State
Await processing (typically 4-6 weeks)
Upon receipt of commission certificate, purchase notary seal and journal
Basic Requirements
Minimum Age
18 years or older years old
Residency
Must be a legal resident of Arizona
Citizenship
Must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
Background Check
Not required
Education & Exam Requirements
Education
Not RequiredNo formal education or training course is required. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Arizona Notary Public Reference Manual to prepare for the mandatory exam.
Exam
RequiredAll new and renewing Arizona notaries must pass a mandatory competency exam effective July 1, 2025. The exam consists of 45 multiple-choice questions drawn from the 2025 Notary Public Reference Manual and must be completed within 60 minutes. The exam is open-book and administered by Prometric at ten testing sites in Arizona or remotely. Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days.
Passing score: 80%
Bond, Insurance & Seal
Surety Bond
Required$5,000
A $5,000 surety bond is required for the 4-year commission term. The bond must be issued by a surety or entity licensed to do business in Arizona and submitted with the application.
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Not RequiredErrors and Omissions (E&O) insurance is not required by Arizona law but is recommended for personal liability protection.
Seal / Stamp
Requiredrubber stamp
Fee Breakdown
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $43 |
Bond Premium | $25-$50 |
Stamp / Seal | $20-$40 |
Total Estimated Cost | $155-$180 |
Commission Term & Renewal
Commission Term
4 years
Renewal Process
Renewal applications may be submitted up to 60 days before commission expiration. Renewing notaries must pass the mandatory exam (effective July 1, 2025), obtain a new surety bond, and submit the renewal application with the $43 filing fee. There is no grace period; notary authority ends at midnight on the expiration date.
Renewal Fee
$43
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
Arizona authorized remote online notarization effective June 30, 2022 (signed into law March 18, 2021 via Senate Bill 1115). Notaries must hold an active traditional Arizona commission and contract with an approved RON technology vendor. The notary must be physically located in Arizona; signers may be located anywhere. Audio-video recordings of RON sessions must be retained for 5 years.
Additional Requirements
Must contract with SOS-approved technology vendor, maintain electronic journal, verify signer identity through audio-visual technology per Arizona Administrative Rules. No additional fee or bond required for RON authorization.
Important Notes
What Makes Arizona Unique
Beginning July 1, 2025, all new and renewing notaries must pass the mandatory competency exam - this is a new requirement.
Beginning July 1, 2025, all new and renewing notaries must pass the mandatory competency exam - this is a new requirement.
Arizona requires a bound paper journal with pre-numbered pages; journals must be retained for at least 5 years after the last entry.
Only one official seal is permitted. Loss or theft of a seal must be reported to the Secretary of State within 10 days or face a $1,000 fine.
An embosser may only be used in conjunction with (not instead of) the mandatory rubber stamp seal.
Applicants must be able to read and write English.