New York Notary Exam Cost

The Mandatory Government Fees

Two state fees are unavoidable:

Exam fee: $15. Paid at the walk-in test center on exam day. Accepted payment: check, money order, or credit card authorization form. Cash is not accepted. If you fail and retake, it's another $15 each attempt — there's no limit on retakes.

Application fee: $60. Paid online through NY Business Express when you submit your commission application (Form DOS-0033). Credit or debit card only. This fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied. If a check bounces on a mail-in application, add a $20 penalty.

Total mandatory state fees: $75.

Attorneys admitted to the New York Bar and qualifying court clerks skip the exam, so their state cost is $60.

Supply Costs

Before your first notarial act, you need a journal and must apply the required identifying information below the signature in black ink by printing, typing, or stamping it. A physical ink stamp is not mandated; a rubber stamp is one common option.

Optional rubber stamp: $15–$30. If you use one, it must display your name, "Notary Public, State of New York," qualifying county, expiration date, and UID number. Order after you receive your commission card, not before.

Notary journal: $10–$25. Must be a bound book with sequential numbered pages (no loose-leaf), or a compliant electronic journal. Records retained for 10 years.

Total supply cost with an optional rubber stamp: $25–$55.

What's Optional (Despite What Vendors Suggest)

Some commercial packages bundle items that New York does not require:

• Surety bond: Not required by the state. Some vendors include one for $30–$50. This is purely optional spending.
• Embossed seal: Not legally necessary. Required identifying information can be printed, typed, or stamped; a rubber stamp that produces a photographically reproducible imprint is a common option. Many notaries use an embossed seal as an added security layer, but it's a preference, not a mandate.
• Errors and omissions insurance: Optional. Some employers or signing services require it, but the state does not.
• Carrying case or supply kit: Convenience item, not a requirement.

The all-inclusive vendor packages that cost $100–$200 typically include several of these optional items alongside the genuine requirements.

Total Baseline Cost

That $100–$130 estimate includes an optional rubber stamp and a physical journal. No bond, no embossed seal, no training course, no E&O insurance.

Additional Fees You Might Encounter

Duplicate ID card: $10 if you need a replacement during your term.

Address or name change: $10, reported within five days of the change. Name changes due to marriage are free.

Certificate of Official Character: $5 from your home County Clerk to obtain, $10 to file in another county. Only needed if you want your signature on record in counties beyond your qualifying county.

Renewal: $60 every four years, plus any cost of updating the method you use to apply the commission information (the expiration date will change).

The RON Add-On

If you want to register as an electronic notary for Remote Online Notarization, add another $60 registration fee. Then factor in the technology costs: RON platform subscriptions run $30–$90 per month, and an X.509 digital certificate costs $60–$120. RON is financially viable only if you plan consistent transaction volume to offset the recurring costs.

For a detailed cost breakdown, supply recommendations, and step-by-step commissioning guidance, get the complete New York notary commission toolkit.

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