Checked on October 23, 2026, against the New York Department of State (DOS) pages Become a Notary Public and Notary Public Application Guidance, the Notary Public License Law booklet (September 2026), Executive Law section 130 and the current July - December 2026 exam notice.
This guide explains how to become a notary in NY as of October 2026, step by step. The steps are the same everywhere in New York State: check that you qualify, pass the NY notary exam (unless you are exempt), get your oath of office notarized, apply online for $60 and receive a commission for 4 years. If you searched for how to become a notary in New York State, how to be a notary in New York or how to become a notary in New York City, this is the same process, and the New York City differences are in their own section below. Every fact comes from DOS or the statute, and we link to each source.
Step 1: Check that you qualify
The rules come from Executive Law section 130 and DOS's application pages. You must:
- Be at least 18 years old. NY Business Express lists this, and the application asks whether you are 18 or older.
- Live in New York or have an office or place of business in New York. A nonresident with a New York office or business may apply and appoints the Secretary of State to receive legal papers (Executive Law 130).
- Meet the character and knowledge rules: good moral character, the equivalent of a common school education and familiarity with the duties of a notary.
- Answer the criminal history questions. Under Executive Law 130, a person convicted of a crime may not be appointed unless the Secretary of State finds, under Correction Law article 23-A, that the conviction is not a bar. The application asks about convictions other than minor traffic offenses and about any license that was denied, suspended or revoked (DOS guidance).
None of the official sources we checked lists a U.S. citizenship requirement or an English test. The exam itself is offered in six other languages (DOS notice).
Step 2: Pass the NY notary exam
The exam is a written, multiple-choice test on paper. You get 1 hour after the instructions, it costs $15 per attempt by check, money order, MasterCard or Visa (no cash) and the fee is nonrefundable (DOS notice). Outside New York City you walk in at a DOS site with no appointment; in New York City you schedule by email. The remaining 2026 dates and sites are in our NY notary exam schedule, and what the exam covers is in our NY notary exam study guide.
Results come by mail as pass or fail, with no numeric score. A pass is valid for 2 years from the exam date, so apply within that time (DOS guidance). DOS does not publish the number of questions or a pass mark.
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Step 3: Get your oath of office notarized
The application includes the Oath of Office, form DOS-2201 (DOS lists it as updated September 22, 2026). DOS's application guidance says:
- Sign it by hand in ink. An electronic signature is not accepted.
- Fill in the county box above your signature.
- Have it notarized by a current notary, whose certificate shows the date, signature, stamp or printed name, county, ID number and expiration date.
- Scan it as a single-page PDF. A photo of the form is not accepted.
- Use your name and address exactly as they will appear on your application.
Step 4: Apply online in NY Business Express
Create or sign in to a NY.gov account and choose "Apply for a traditional notary" (or "Apply for an electronic notary") in NY Business Express. The guidance lists what you upload and enter:
- A copy, scan or photo of your passing exam slip (unless you are exempt).
- Your notarized oath as a scanned PDF.
- Your Social Security number or ITIN, or a written explanation if you have neither.
- A New York residence address, or a New York business address if you live in another state. DOS notes that the residence address is public under the Freedom of Information Law unless you give a business address.
- The $60 fee by credit or debit card. NY Business Express lists MasterCard or Visa.
DOS's FAQ says not to mail a paper application unless DOS asks you for documents.
Step 5: Receive your commission
NY Business Express gives an average of 3-5 business days to process an application (NY Business Express), and DOS's FAQ says online approvals receive a printable ID card by email. Your commission lasts 4 years, and you may act anywhere in New York State (booklet, Executive Law 130). DOS sends your record to the county clerk of the county where you are commissioned, so you do not file anything with the county clerk yourself unless you choose to file a certificate of official character in another county (booklet, Executive Law 131 and 132).
How to become a notary in New York City
There is no separate New York City license. A New York City resident follows the same five steps and is commissioned in the county where they live (New York, Kings, Queens, Bronx or Richmond). Two things differ:
- Exam scheduling: since September 2026, the New York City exam at 123 William Street is given only to people who schedule by email with DOS (NYC notice). Walk-ins are turned away. Our exam schedule guide has the remaining dates and the email steps.
- Working in the city, living elsewhere: a person who lives outside New York State but has an office or business in New York City can apply as a nonresident (Executive Law 130).
Attorneys and court clerks: exempt from the exam
Attorneys admitted to practice in New York and Unified Court System court clerks appointed after a civil service promotional exam in the court clerk series do not take the exam (Executive Law 130, DOS). They still apply through NY Business Express and pay the $60 fee (DOS FAQ). Being a lawyer does not make you a notary until DOS issues the commission.
What it costs
- Exam: $15 per attempt (DOS notice).
- Application: $60 (DOS).
- Electronic notary registration, if you want it: $60 (booklet, 19 NYCRR 182.11).
- Name or address change: $10; duplicate ID card: $10 (booklet, Executive Law 131).
Supplies such as a stamp are your own choice: the booklet says New York law does not require notaries to use a seal. What the law does require is a statement under your signature in black ink, explained in the study guide.
Becoming an online or electronic notary
New York calls online notarization "electronic notarization." You must be a commissioned notary, and you register with DOS before your first electronic act, for a $60 fee. The exam is the same; there is no separate electronic notary exam in any DOS source. The rules, from remote signers to the 10-year recordings, are in our electronic notary guide.
Renewing later
DOS lets you renew from 90 days before your commission expires (DOS renewal page). Executive Law 130 lets DOS waive the exam for a renewal applied for before the commission expires or within 6 months after. Renew online through NY Business Express; DOS also lists paper form DOS-0026.
Common mix-ups, checked against official sources
Frequently asked questions
Can I become a notary in NY online?
You apply online, through NY Business Express, but the exam is taken in person on paper at a DOS site. No DOS source offers an online exam.
How long does it take to become a notary in NY?
DOS does not publish a total time. The exam is offered on set dates, results come by mail with no published timeline and NY Business Express gives an average of 3-5 business days to process the application.
How much does it cost to become a notary in New York?
$15 for each exam attempt and $60 for the application. Attorneys and qualifying court clerks skip the exam but pay the $60.
Can I be a notary in NY if I live in New Jersey or another state?
Yes, if you have an office or place of business in New York. Executive Law 130 treats you as a nonresident applicant, and you appoint the Secretary of State to receive legal papers for you.
When does a NY notary commission expire?
Four years after it is issued. The expiration date is on your ID card and must appear in the statement under your signature.
Can a NY notary notarize a will?
The booklet's professional conduct rules say a notary may not take an acknowledgment of the execution of a will. Read that section of the booklet for the exact wording, and ask an attorney about a specific will.
How do I become a notary signing agent in NY?
DOS does not issue a separate signing agent license, and the DOS sources we checked do not mention signing agents. The DOS license is the notary public commission described in this guide.
Where can I take the notary exam in NY?
At DOS walk-in sites in cities such as Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Hauppauge, or in New York City by email request. Our exam schedule guide lists every site and date.
Ready to study? The NY Notary Public Exam page has our practice sections, and the free NY notary practice test has original questions with explanations.
Official sources
- DOS: Become a Notary Public
- DOS: Notary Public Application Guidance (PDF)
- DOS: Notary Public Frequently Asked Questions
- NY Business Express: Notary Public Commission
- NY Executive Law section 130
- DOS: July - December 2026 Notary Public Walk-In Written Examination Information and Schedule (PDF)
- DOS: November - December 2026 Notary Public Examination Instructions and Schedule, New York City (PDF)
- DOS: Notary Public License Law booklet, September 2026 (PDF)
- DOS: Renew or Update Notary Public License
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