A Florida notary public commission application goes through a state-approved bonding agency rather than directly to the Governor’s office. You choose a bonding agency from the state’s approved list, and the agency gives you the application form, writes your $7,500 surety bond, collects the $39 in state fees, and forwards the full package to Tallahassee. Once the Governor’s office approves it, you receive a four-year commission.
Who Can Apply
Florida keeps the eligibility list short. You must be at least 18 and a legal resident of Florida. U.S. citizens qualify automatically. Permanent resident aliens may also apply, but must file a recorded Declaration of Domicile with the application.1Florida Statutes. Florida Code 117.01 – Appointment, Application, Suspension, Revocation, Application Fee, Bond, and Oath You have to keep that Florida residency for the entire four-year term. Move out of state, and the commission is no longer valid.2Florida Division of Corporations. Notary Commissions and Apostille/Certification Sections
A felony record does not automatically disqualify you, but it adds paperwork. If you have a felony conviction or had adjudication withheld, you must submit a written statement explaining the circumstances, a copy of the Judgment and Sentencing Order, and proof that your civil rights have been restored.3Executive Office of the Governor. Notary The application itself asks directly about felony convictions, withheld adjudications, and current probation status.4Florida Department of State. Florida Notary Public Commission Application
What to Line Up Before You Contact a Bonding Agency
A $7,500 Surety Bond
Every Florida notary must carry a $7,500 surety bond for the full four-year term. The bond protects members of the public who suffer losses from a notary’s error or misconduct. It does not protect you. A surety company authorized to do business in Florida writes the bond, and the bonding agency typically handles it as part of its package.5Florida Statutes. Florida Code 117.01 – Appointment, Application, Suspension, Revocation, Application Fee, Bond, and Oath The premium depends on the surety and your credit, and most applicants pay somewhere between $30 and $75 for four years of coverage.
A Notary Education Course
First-time applicants must complete a notary education course before submitting the application. Renewal applicants are not required to repeat it.3Executive Office of the Governor. Notary Most bonding agencies bundle the course into their service package. The course covers the duties, responsibilities, and legal limits of the office. Keep the certificate of completion; the bonding agency may need it with your application.
Someone to Sign the Affidavit of Character
The application contains a built-in affidavit of character. Someone who is not a relative and who has known you for at least a year must sign it, attesting to your good character under oath, and provide their name, address, and phone number.4Florida Department of State. Florida Notary Public Commission Application Identify this person before the form arrives so you aren’t scrambling later.
Filling Out the Form
The bonding agency provides the application form prescribed by the Department of State. It has three parts: your personal information and background questions, the affidavit of character, and the oath of office with the bond section. Your full legal name on the form becomes the name on your commission and your official seal, so write it exactly as you want it to appear.
Personal Information
The top of the form collects standard identifying data:4Florida Department of State. Florida Notary Public Commission Application
- Full legal name (last, first, middle), which will appear on your seal and on every document you notarize
- Home and business addresses, with a selection for which address receives mail
- Home phone, business phone, and email, writing “NONE” for any you don’t have
- Florida driver license or state-issued ID number
- Social Security number, required by §117.01(2) and automatically exempt from public disclosure
- Date of birth, sex, and race
- Place of employment, or a check box for unemployed or retired
Background Questions
Below the personal information are eight yes-or-no questions covering Florida residency, citizenship, prior notary commissions, other professional licenses held in the past ten years, regulatory discipline history, felony convictions, withheld adjudications, and current probation. If you had a prior commission, you give the old commission number and expiration date. A “yes” to the felony or probation questions triggers the additional documentation described above.
Oath of Office
The oath is printed on the application. By signing, you swear to support the constitutions of the United States and Florida, confirm you have read Chapter 117 of the Florida Statutes, and accept the office of notary public. This signature becomes your official notary signature on file, so use the same signature you intend to use when notarizing.6Executive Office of the Governor. Governor’s Reference Manual for Notaries Public
Bond Section
You sign the bond portion at the bottom of the form. The bonding agency’s licensed agent then fills in the surety company name, address, agent number, and countersigns once you return the completed application.
The $39 in State Fees
Three fees go to the state along with the application:
- Application fee: $25
- Commission fee: $10, required under §113.01
- Surcharge: $4, used by the Governor’s office to fund notary education and assistance
Total: $39.7Florida Senate. Florida Code 117.01 – Appointment, Application, Suspension, Revocation, Application Fee, Bond, and Oath The bonding agency collects these alongside its own service charges and the bond premium. The application also asks whether you are a wartime veteran with a disability rating of 50 percent or more, which may affect the commission fee under §113.01.
How the Application Reaches the State
You do not mail or deliver the application to the state yourself. The entire package goes back to your bonding agency, which reviews it for completeness and electronically transfers it to the Notary Commissions and Certifications Section of the Department of State.3Executive Office of the Governor. Notary The Department of State publishes the list of approved notary processors on its website.8Florida Department of State. Notary Processors
Most of these agencies offer a bundled package covering the state fees, bond premium, education course, and a notary seal in one payment. Pricing varies between agencies, so comparing a few is worth the ten minutes. The underlying service is essentially the same; they all submit to the same state office.
How Long It Takes and What Arrives Next
Processing times fluctuate, and the Department of State publishes current dates on its website. As of mid-2026, applications were taking roughly eight to ten weeks from submission to commission issuance.9Florida Department of State. Document Processing Dates That’s considerably longer than the few weeks some bonding agencies advertise, so build a buffer into any deadline you’re trying to hit.
Once the Governor’s office approves the application, you receive a commission certificate showing your commission number and expiration date. You are not required to record the commission with a local clerk of court. If anyone needs certification of your commission, it comes from the Secretary of State.6Executive Office of the Governor. Governor’s Reference Manual for Notaries Public
Getting Your Seal
You cannot notarize without a rubber stamp seal, and most bonding-agency packages include one. Florida requires the rubber stamp on every notarized paper document. An embosser can be used alongside it but cannot replace it. The stamp must be in photographically reproducible black ink and must include four pieces of information:10Florida Statutes. Florida Code 117.05 – Use of Notary Commission
- The words “Notary Public-State of Florida”
- Your name exactly as commissioned
- Your commission number
- Your commission expiration date
Below your signature on every notarized document, you also print, type, or stamp your name exactly as it appears on your commission. The seal and commission certificate belong to you personally; an employer cannot keep them if you leave the job, even if the employer paid for them.10Florida Statutes. Florida Code 117.05 – Use of Notary Commission
If You’re Renewing
Renewal follows the same path as a new application. You contact a bonding agency, complete the application, get a new surety bond, and pay the $39 in state fees. The education course is not required a second time.3Executive Office of the Governor. Notary Keep using your current seal until that commission expires. The new seal cannot be used until the first day of the new term, and once the old commission expires, destroy the old seal to prevent misuse.