How to become a notary in District of Columbia
Eligibility, a course, a $2,000 bond, fees and the oath, in the order you'll do them — from the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA).
Step by step
- Check that you qualify — 18+, U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who lives in DC or has a primary place of business or employment in DC (verifiable physical DC address). Three commission types: Business/Government (may live outside DC, works in DC), Dual (lives and works in DC), Residential (lives in DC); No felony conviction; no prior revoked commission. Submit a Letter of Request explaining why you need to notarize: on employer letterhead from your supervisor for a Business/Government commission, or your own statement for a Dual or Residential commission. You must read and write the language of any record you notarize.
- Take the required notary course — New applicants must attend the ONCA New Notary Public Orientation after the application is approved and paid. Also required for anyone whose commission has been expired more than 12 months. Hours not published.
- Buy a $2,000 surety bond — $2,000 surety bond (or functional equivalent) from a surety authorized in DC, covering the whole 5-year term and dated to match the commission dates on the Provisional Commission Notice. Not required for DC government-only notaries.
- Complete the background check — No fingerprinting. Applications with a felony conviction are denied; ONCA may ask you to verify citizenship or residency.
- Apply to the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA) — Pay the $75 state fee. Other fees: Renewal $75. Electronic (IPEN) or remote endorsement $30 (renewal $30). You also pay for the bond, seal and journal. Fees waived for notaries confined to federal or DC government business.
- Take the oath and file it — After approval and payment, new applicants attend orientation. ONCA then e-mails a Provisional Commission Notice within 2 days. Within the commission window (closes 60 days after the provisional start date), buy the seal and the $2,000 bond with the matching dates. Then take the DC civil-officer oath, file your signature and a seal impression with ONCA, and receive the commission certificate. You may not notarize before taking the oath.
- Get your seal and journal — Seal: Required: circular seal, no larger than 1.75 in., with your name at the top exactly as on the commission, 'Notary Public', 'District of Columbia' and the commission expiration date. Permanent photocopiable ink. Must be applied with your signature on every notarized document. Journal: Required.
Notary packages & supplies
- National Notary Association — state packages: bond, seal, journal and any required training
Bond, stamp and journal in one order; check that the package matches District of Columbia's rules. Some links may be affiliate links.
District of Columbia notary requirements
| Commissioned by | Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia, Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA) |
| Who can apply | 18+ · U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who lives in DC or has a primary place of business or employment in DC (verifiable physical DC address). Three commission types: Business/Government (may live outside DC, works in DC), Dual (lives and works in DC), Residential (lives in DC). |
| Course | Required New applicants must attend the ONCA New Notary Public Orientation after the application is approved and paid. Also required for anyone whose commission has been expired more than 12 months. Hours not published. |
| Exam | Not required No state exam. |
| State fee | $75 |
| Other fees | Renewal $75. Electronic (IPEN) or remote endorsement $30 (renewal $30). You also pay for the bond, seal and journal. Fees waived for notaries confined to federal or DC government business. |
| Surety bond | $2,000 $2,000 surety bond (or functional equivalent) from a surety authorized in DC, covering the whole 5-year term and dated to match the commission dates on the Provisional Commission Notice. Not required for DC government-only notaries. |
| E&O insurance | Optional |
| Background check | No fingerprinting. Applications with a felony conviction are denied; ONCA may ask you to verify citizenship or residency. |
| Term | 5 years |
| Oath / filing | After approval and payment, new applicants attend orientation. ONCA then e-mails a Provisional Commission Notice within 2 days. Within the commission window (closes 60 days after the provisional start date), buy the seal and the $2,000 bond with the matching dates. Then take the DC civil-officer oath, file your signature and a seal impression with ONCA, and receive the commission certificate. You may not notarize before taking the oath. |
| Seal | Required: circular seal, no larger than 1.75 in., with your name at the top exactly as on the commission, 'Notary Public', 'District of Columbia' and the commission expiration date. Permanent photocopiable ink. Must be applied with your signature on every notarized document. |
| Journal | Required |
| Max fee per notarization | $5 per notarial act (signature witnessing, acknowledgment, verification, copy certification, oath); $25 per remote notarial act. Electronic notaries may add a reasonable technology fee agreed in advance. A travel fee is allowed if agreed beforehand and limited to actual reasonable costs. |
| Remote online notary | Allowed Optional endorsement on an existing commission. Requires at least 1 year as a commissioned DC notary, a $30 fee, training with a recognized IPEN or remote notary vendor, and an authorized technology vendor named to ONCA. Also file an endorsement oath form with your digital seal and electronic signature. The notary must be physically in DC; an electronic journal is required. The endorsement lasts as long as the commission. |
| Renewal | Apply online 90 to 30 days before expiration to keep consecutive commission dates ($75). ONCA e-mails a Provisional Commission Notice within 3 business days so you can buy a new seal and bond. Renewing notaries take the oath at the DC Notary Open House. Applications filed within 30 days of expiration or after it start a new, non-consecutive term. If expired more than 12 months, orientation is required again. |
Commissions start on the 1st or 15th of a month. Report changes to your application information within 15 calendar days. Report a lost or stolen journal within 10 business days. When the commission ends, the journal goes to ONCA. Rules are 17 DCMR ch. 24 (last amended Nov 3, 2023) under DC's RULONA (D.C. Code 1-1231.01 et seq.).
Sources: DC Office of the Secretary – Notary Commissions · 17 DCMR Chapter 24 – Notaries Public (rule list) · D.C. Code Title 1, Chapter 12A – Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts. Checked 2026-10.
Earn more as a loan signing agent
Many notaries add mortgage closings: title and escrow companies pay signing agents per loan package. It needs a notary commission plus signing-agent training and a background screening.
- Loan Signing System — loan signing agent training to earn from mortgage closings ($347)
- NNA Notary Signing Agent certification — the certification and background screening title companies ask for
- Notaries.com signing agent course — budget signing agent course ($109)
Some links may be affiliate links.
Get a District of Columbia notary checklist and renewal reminder
A printable checklist of every step and an email before your commission expires. Free.
Notary course and exam rules across the US
Other District of Columbia licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All District of Columbia insurance licenses · Mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
Questions
How much does it cost to become a notary in District of Columbia?
The state fee is $75, plus Renewal $75. Electronic (IPEN) or remote endorsement $30 (renewal $30). You also pay for the bond, seal and journal. Fees waived for notaries confined to federal or DC government business.. Add the premium for the $2,000 bond, the course, a seal and a journal.
How long does it take to become a notary in District of Columbia?
Applications reviewed in at least 5 business days (ONCA). The Provisional Commission Notice is issued within 2 days of orientation for new applicants, or within 3 business days of approval and payment for renewals..
Do I need to take a class or exam to be a notary in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia requires a course, a $2,000 bond.
How much can a notary charge in District of Columbia?
$5 per notarial act (signature witnessing, acknowledgment, verification, copy certification, oath); $25 per remote notarial act. Electronic notaries may add a reasonable technology fee agreed in advance. A travel fee is allowed if agreed beforehand and limited to actual reasonable costs..
Can I be an online notary in District of Columbia?
Yes. Optional endorsement on an existing commission. Requires at least 1 year as a commissioned DC notary, a $30 fee, training with a recognized IPEN or remote notary vendor, and an authorized technology vendor named to ONCA. Also file an endorsement oath form with your digital seal and electronic signature. The notary must be physically in DC; an electronic journal is required. The endorsement lasts as long as the commission.