How to Become a Notary in Illinois

The Process Has Changed — Here's What Matters Now

If you tried to get commissioned before 2023, forget what you knew. Illinois moved everything to a centralized state-level system under the Secretary of State Index Department. County clerks no longer register notary commissions — that ended July 1, 2022. Now Illinois residents use a single online portal, except for out-of-state applicants and applicants with a physical or technical hardship exemption.

Here's the sequence, with the parts that trip people up.

Step 1: Complete the Mandatory 3-Hour Course

Every first-time applicant must take a state-approved course from a certified provider like the National Notary Association or American Association of Notaries. The course runs a minimum of three hours (180 minutes), available online or in person.

After the course, you take a 50-question exam. You need 85% to pass — that's 43 out of 50. You get three attempts. Fail all three and you retake the entire course before testing again.

Your certificate of completion is valid for two years from the issue date, so don't sit on it.

One exception: renewing notaries who are licensed attorneys in good standing with the ARDC, current judges, or direct employees of licensed attorneys or courts can skip the course and exam by filing Form I-279 instead.

Step 2: Buy the Surety Bond

Before you touch the application, purchase a $5,000 surety bond from a company licensed to do business in Illinois. The name on the bond must match your driver's license exactly — any mismatch and the Secretary of State rejects the application.

If you plan to do electronic or remote online notarizations, the standard bond requirement jumps to $30,000. But here's the part most commercial sites don't mention: under Public Act 104-0621 (Senate Bill 1573), the additional $25,000 electronic bond is waived through July 24, 2028. That means a standard $5,000 bond covers both traditional and electronic commissions during the waiver period.

Step 3: Submit the Online Application

Since August 1, 2024, all Illinois residents must apply online through the Secretary of State's notary portal. Paper applications are only for hardship exceptions and out-of-state applicants.

You'll upload three things:

• A copy of your current Illinois driver's license or state ID
• Your signed surety bond
• Your course completion certificate (or Form I-279 if you qualify for the exemption)

The portal includes a digital oath of office — you affirm under penalty of perjury that everything is accurate.

The filing fee is $15 for a traditional commission. If you're adding an electronic commission, the $25 e-notary fee is also waived through July 24, 2028, under the same SB 1573 legislation.

Step 4: Wait for Approval and Download Your Certificate

Online applications typically process in 1 to 3 business days. Once approved, the Secretary of State emails you a secure link to download your commission certificate. Your commission starts on the date printed on that certificate and lasts four years for Illinois residents; qualifying non-resident commissions last one year.

Paper applications, by contrast, average 5 to 8 weeks.

Step 5: Purchase Your Stamp and Journal

With your commission certificate in hand, order your official notary stamp from an authorized vendor. They'll require a copy of the certificate before manufacturing it.

Your stamp must be rectangular (maximum 1 inch by 2.5 inches), use black ink, and have a milled or serrated border. Illinois does not use round embossing seals.

You also need a journal — a bound book if you use a tangible journal, or a compliant electronic log — and this is where Illinois diverges from other states. Under 14 IAC 176.910, you cannot record driver's license numbers, passport numbers, Social Security numbers, or thumbprints in your journal. Many commercially sold journals include spaces for exactly this information, which creates an instant compliance violation if you fill them in.

What It Costs, Total

A straightforward breakdown for a traditional commission:

• State application fee: $15
• Approved course: about $29 on average, with provider pricing varying
• Surety bond ($5,000): about $30 on average, with provider pricing varying
• Stamp and journal: $25–$50

Total out-of-pocket is typically $100–$155. Adding an electronic commission during the SB 1573 waiver period costs nothing extra beyond the platform subscription and PKI certificate.

Getting It Right the First Time

The most common rejections come from name mismatches between the driver's license and application, expired course certificates, and uploading unsigned bond documents. If you line up your documents before starting the portal, the whole process can be done in under a week.

For a complete walkthrough with checklists, cost-comparison worksheets, and compliant journal templates, the Illinois Notary Commission Guide covers every step from course selection through your first notarization.

See more Illinois guides →