Checked on October 23, 2026, against Executive Law section 135-c, the DOS rules in 19 NYCRR Part 182 as printed in the Notary Public License Law booklet (September 2026), the DOS Notary Public FAQ and the DOS press release of January 31, 2023.
This guide explains how to become an electronic notary in NY as of October 2026 and the rules that apply to every electronic act. New York does not use the term "remote online notary" in its law: an online notary in New York is a notary public registered with the Department of State (DOS) to perform electronic notarial acts under Executive Law 135-c. If you searched for how to become an online notary in New York or for remote notary NY rules, this is the process. It describes the law and DOS rules; it is not legal advice.
Who can become an electronic notary in NY
Executive Law 135-c lets a duly qualified notary public perform electronic notarial acts after registering with the Secretary of State. An electronic notary is a notary public first, so the usual rules apply: be at least 18, live or work in New York and pass the notary exam unless you are exempt. DOS's sources describe no separate electronic notary exam. The steps to a commission are in how to become a notary in NY, and the exam is covered in our NY notary exam study guide.
Registration is optional. A traditional notary keeps the in-person, ink services and does not have to register (DOS press release). As of October 23, 2026, Open Data NY listed 15,197 electronic notaries among 224,654 commissioned notaries.
How to become an electronic notary: the steps
- Hold, or apply for, a notary commission. A new applicant who has passed the exam can choose "Apply for an electronic notary" in NY Business Express; a current notary registers with DOS through NY Business Express.
- Pay the $60 registration fee (booklet, 19 NYCRR 182.11).
- Submit your exemplar. DOS's FAQ says electronic notaries submit an exemplar of their electronic signature through the online dashboard, and the signature must be a digital signature, not a typed name.
- Use your new ID number. DOS's FAQ says a traditional license is not converted: when the electronic notary license is issued, the traditional license is canceled, and you use the new electronic notary ID number from then on.
- Choose your technology. New York does not certify platforms, and DOS does not recommend any provider (DOS FAQ). The technology must meet the standards in 19 NYCRR 182.8.
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The rules for every electronic act
- The notary must be in New York. You must be physically located in New York State during the act (Executive Law 135-c).
- The signer may be elsewhere. A signer outside the United States must confirm verbally that the record relates to a matter before a U.S. court or agency, to property in the United States or to a transaction substantially connected with the United States (booklet, 19 NYCRR 182.4).
- Live audio and video. The act uses communication technology that lets the notary and the signer see and hear each other at the same time.
- Identity. A remote signer the notary does not personally know must pass identity verification, credential analysis and identity proofing (booklet, 19 NYCRR 182.5 to 182.7).
- The electronic signature must be unique to the notary, verifiable, under the notary's sole control, attached to the record and made so that any later change can be detected (Executive Law 135-c).
- The certificate must state that the person appeared through communication technology.
- The notary may refuse if not satisfied that the signer is competent or acting voluntarily, and no business may require that its customers use only electronic notarization (Executive Law 135-c).
Recordings and records: 10 years
An electronic notary keeps the audio-video recording of each electronic act for at least 10 years (Executive Law 135-c). The record of each act, which every New York notary must keep since January 25, 2023, includes the date and approximate time, the type of act, the name and address of each person served, the type of ID used, the verification method and, for electronic acts, the communication technology and providers used. Records are kept for at least 10 years too (booklet, 19 NYCRR 182.9, DOS FAQ).
A pending bill, S9775, would remove the record requirement for non-electronic acts. It would not change electronic records, and it was not law as of October 23, 2026.
Electronic notary fees in New York
Executive Law 136 lets the Secretary of State set the fee for electronic notarial services, and the DOS rule sets it at $25 per electronic notarial act, inclusive of all costs (booklet, 19 NYCRR 182.11, Executive Law 136). Papering out (making a certified paper copy of an electronic record with a certificate of authenticity) is a notarial act, and DOS's FAQ gives its charge as $2.
Bills such as S10280 and A3360 would raise the $2 notary fees in Executive Law 136 to $5. They were pending in committee as of October 23, 2026, and are not law.
Keeping your registration current
Report a change of email address within 5 days (Executive Law 135-c); the DOS rules give the same 5 days for a change of name or address (booklet, 19 NYCRR 182.3). Your notary commission lasts 4 years and is renewed through NY Business Express.
Remote ink notarization ended in 2023
The video-conference method used during the pandemic, with ink signatures, was not permitted after January 31, 2023. Since then, the only way to notarize for a signer who is not in the room is electronic notarization under Executive Law 135-c (DOS FAQ).
Common mix-ups, checked against official sources
Frequently asked questions
How do I become an online notary in New York?
Become a New York notary public (exam, oath and $60 application), then register with DOS as an electronic notary for another $60 and follow Executive Law 135-c for every electronic act. New applicants can apply as electronic notaries directly in NY Business Express.
Is there a separate exam for electronic notaries?
No DOS source describes one. The notary exam covers the booklet, which includes Executive Law 135-c and the electronic notary rules.
How much does it cost to register as an electronic notary in NY?
$60, under 19 NYCRR 182.11. That is separate from the $60 notary application fee.
Can a NY electronic notary notarize for someone in another state?
The signer may be outside New York, but the notary must be physically in New York during the act. A signer outside the United States must confirm the U.S. connection set out in 19 NYCRR 182.4.
Which platform should I use?
New York does not certify platforms, and DOS does not recommend any provider. The technology must meet the standards in 19 NYCRR 182.8.
How long must I keep electronic notarization recordings?
At least 10 years, under Executive Law 135-c.
Does remote notarization still work in NY?
Only as electronic notarization by a registered electronic notary. The pandemic-era remote ink method ended on January 31, 2023.
Studying for the exam? Electronic notarization is one of the 8 practice sections on the NY Notary Public Exam page, and the NY notary exam schedule lists the remaining 2026 dates.
Official sources
- NY Executive Law section 135-c (electronic notarization)
- NY Executive Law section 136 (notarial fees)
- DOS: Notary Public License Law booklet, September 2026, incl. 19 NYCRR Part 182 (PDF)
- DOS: Notary Public Frequently Asked Questions
- NY Business Express: Notary Public Commission
- DOS press release, January 31, 2023: New Electronic Notary License System
- Open Data NY: Commissioned NYS Notaries Public
- NY Senate bill S10280 (pending)
- NY Assembly bill A3360 (pending)
- NY Senate bill S9775 (pending)
PrepRaven is an independent exam-prep site. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the New York Department of State or any New York State agency. This guide describes the rules as published; it is not legal advice. Always confirm the rules in the current DOS notice and the current Notary Public License Law booklet.
Last updated October 2026