A notary public application typically takes four to twelve weeks from start to finish. States with online filing and no exam can approve you in under two weeks; states with mandatory exams, fingerprint background checks, or heavy backlogs can push the process past three months. How long does a notary application take in your case comes down mostly to two things you don’t control: your state’s processing speed and whether a background check goes through the FBI.
Here’s how the weeks break down, and where applicants most often lose time they didn’t plan for.
Preparation and Education: One to Three Weeks
Before you file anything, confirm you qualify. Every state requires applicants to be at least 18 and a legal resident of the commissioning state, with a handful allowing residents of bordering states who work within their borders. You need to read and write English, and most states disqualify applicants with felony convictions or certain fraud-related offenses.
Roughly half of states require an approved education course before you apply. Courses cover notarial law, identification procedures, and record-keeping. Length varies from about three hours to six or more, and most are available online through state-approved providers, so you can usually finish in one sitting.
About fifteen states also require a written exam. Some administer it on a set schedule, meaning you may wait weeks for the next test date. Others offer it on demand at approved testing centers. Exam results can take up to three weeks to process, and that waiting period is where applicants most often lose time. If your state requires both a course and an exam, budget two to three weeks for this phase alone.
Filing the Application: A Few Days
Once you’ve cleared education and any exam, you submit your application package to the designated state agency, usually the Secretary of State’s office, though a few states route applications through the Governor’s office or a department of licensing. Most states now accept electronic applications, which shaves days off the process compared to mailing paper forms.
Filing fees generally run $10 to $60. States that require an exam charge a separate testing fee, typically $15 to $40. Parts of the application itself may need to be notarized by an existing notary, so plan a quick trip to a bank or shipping store. A few states have unusual requirements at this stage; one requires a state legislator’s endorsement before filing. Read your state’s specific instructions carefully before you submit.
State Processing and Background Checks: Two to Six Weeks
This is the phase you control the least, and it’s where timelines vary most. After submission, the state agency reviews your application for completeness, verifies eligibility, and starts a background check. A growing number of states require fingerprint-based checks processed through the FBI’s database. Fingerprinting adds both cost and time: expect to pay $40 to $165 for the service itself, with processing taking one to four weeks depending on the agency’s backlog.
In states with low application volume and no fingerprinting requirement, approvals can come through in a few business days. Heavier-volume states move more slowly. California, for example, was processing applications in early 2026 with exam dates from roughly three months earlier, a backlog that catches many applicants off guard. Most states land in the middle, at two to six weeks.
Incomplete applications are the single biggest cause of preventable delays. A missing signature, an outdated address, or a check for the wrong amount can send your application back to the starting line. Any issues flagged during the background check, even old dismissed charges, can also trigger additional review. If your criminal history includes anything beyond minor traffic violations, attach a written explanation and supporting documents up front rather than waiting for the state to ask. A rejection for missing information can easily add three to four weeks.
Post-Approval Steps: One to Two Weeks
Receiving your commission certificate is a milestone, but it doesn’t mean you can start notarizing. Most states require several more steps before you’re authorized to perform notarial acts, and these come with firm deadlines.
- Surety bond. Nearly every state requires a bond to protect the public against errors or misconduct. Required amounts range from $500 to $25,000, with $5,000 and $10,000 most common. You don’t pay the face amount; the premium for a standard bond runs roughly $35 to $55 for the full commission term.
- Oath of office. You’ll swear or affirm an oath, usually before a county clerk. Most states give you 30 to 90 days after commissioning to complete this step. Miss the deadline and your commission may be voided, forcing you to start the application process over.
- Filing and registration. Many states require you to file your oath, bond, and signature with a county clerk or the commissioning agency. Recording fees are modest, usually $10 to $20.
- Supplies. You’ll need an official notary seal or stamp (typically $20 to $30) and a record-keeping journal ($15 to $25). Some states mandate specific seal formats, so check requirements before ordering.
Plan for one to two weeks to finish these steps. Bond companies and seal vendors ship quickly, but scheduling the oath with a county clerk sometimes requires an appointment.
If You Want Remote Online Notarization, Add Two to Six Weeks
Performing notarizations over video requires a separate remote online notarization (RON) authorization on top of your traditional commission. Most states that allow RON require you to first hold an active traditional commission, then apply separately for RON privileges.
Additional requirements typically include a RON-specific training course, and some states require a separate exam on the technology and procedures involved. You’ll also need an electronic notary seal, a digital certificate for signing documents, and an account with a state-approved RON platform that supports two-way audio and video. A handful of states require a larger surety bond for RON notaries, and one state mandates errors-and-omissions insurance specifically for remote notarizations.
Expect RON authorization to add two to six weeks beyond your traditional commission timeline, depending on course availability and state processing speed. Technology setup is usually the fastest part; most RON platforms can onboard a new notary within a day or two once state authorization is in hand.
Realistic Total
Add the phases up and most applicants land between four and twelve weeks: one to three weeks for preparation and education, a few days to file, two to six weeks for state processing and background checks, and one to two weeks for bonding and the oath. Applicants in states with exam requirements, fingerprint-based checks, or heavy application volume should plan for the longer end. The single best thing you can do to move faster is submit a complete, error-free application the first time.