How to Become a Remote Online Notary in New York: Steps & Costs

To become a remote online notary in New York, you first hold an active traditional notary public commission, then register your electronic notarization capability with the Secretary of State under Executive Law Section 135-c. Registration requires you to identify the audio-video technology you will use, the certification authority behind your digital certificate, and an exemplar of your electronic signature. Once approved, you can notarize for signers located anywhere, provided you are physically in New York during each session.

Step 1: Hold an Active Notary Public Commission

There is no standalone “remote notary” license in New York. The electronic registration sits on top of a regular commission, so if you do not already have one, that is where you start.

Executive Law Section 130 requires you to live in New York or maintain a place of business in the state, show good moral character, and demonstrate familiarity with notary duties.¹ Everyone except attorneys admitted to practice in New York must pass the state’s written notary exam. The exam costs $15 and the commission application costs $60.²

After passing, submit the application and pass slip to the Division of Licensing Services. Your oath of office must be sworn, notarized, and filed with the county clerk in your county of residence. If you are a non-resident with a New York business office, you file in that county instead.³ A standard commission runs four years.

Step 2: Choose Your Technology and Digital Certificate

Before you can register, you need to know which tools you will actually use, because the registration form asks for them by name. A compliant remote online notarization platform bundles video conferencing, signer identity verification, tamper-evident document sealing, and recording.

The platform must support identity verification through credential analysis and identity proofing performed by a third-party provider. Credential analysis validates a government-issued ID against public and proprietary data sources; identity proofing confirms the signer is who the ID says they are through a separate review of personal information.⁴ Signal transmission between you and the signer must be secure enough to prevent interception by anyone outside the session.⁵

You will also need a digital certificate from a certification authority to power your electronic signature. Most vendors bundle the certificate, electronic seal, and video tools into one subscription. Whatever you choose, the electronic signature itself must be unique to you, independently verifiable, under your sole control, and linked to the document so that any later alteration is detectable.⁶

One practical detail worth confirming before you sign a contract: storage. Every remote session has to be recorded and kept for at least ten years, so ask the vendor how long-term video retention is handled and what it costs.

Step 3: Register as an Electronic Notary With the Secretary of State

Once your commission is active and your technology is selected, register through the New York Business Express portal at businessexpress.ny.gov.⁷ Create an account and locate the electronic notary application.

Section 135-c sets out what the form has to collect:

Your commissioned name and mailing address, exactly as they appear on your current commission.
Your commission expiration date and your signature.
An email address, which becomes the Department of State’s primary channel for official communications with you.
A description of the electronic technology you will use to attach your signature to records.
An exemplar of your electronic signature, with any instructions needed for the signature to be read.

The registration fee is set by regulation and paid through the portal. Submission generates a confirmation with a transaction number, and the Department of State sends approval or follow-up requests to the email on file. If you later switch technology providers or change your email, you must notify the Secretary of State within five days, signed with your official electronic signature.⁶

What It Costs

The spend breaks into one-time entry costs and ongoing costs.

Notary public exam: $15.²
Notary public commission application: $60.
Electronic notary registration: a fee set by regulation, paid through Business Express.
RON platform subscription: varies by provider, typically monthly or per-transaction.
Digital certificate: sometimes bundled with the platform, sometimes separate.
Errors and omissions insurance: not required by New York law but strongly recommended, with annual premiums typically running from roughly $25 to $120 depending on coverage limits.

The platform subscription is the recurring line item that matters most. Some vendors charge a flat monthly rate, others charge per notarization; which is cheaper depends entirely on your volume.

Documents You Cannot Notarize Remotely

State Technology Law Section 307 pulls several document types out of electronic execution entirely. Wills, trusts, do-not-resuscitate orders, powers of attorney, and health care proxies cannot be notarized remotely in New York. These still require traditional in-person notarization. Powers of attorney catch new electronic notaries off guard most often, because they are routine in-person work.

Where You Can Be When You Notarize

You must be physically located in New York at the moment of the notarization. The signer can be anywhere, but you cannot run a session from out of state. If you travel or split time between states, schedule your remote work for days you are in New York.

The Record-Keeping You Are Signing Up For

Record-keeping is the ongoing obligation that defines the job. Under 19 NYCRR Part 182, every notarial act must be entered in your journal at the time of the act, with:

Date, approximate time, and type of act (acknowledgment, jurat, or other).
Name and address of every individual for whom you performed the act.
The specific credential used to verify the signer.
The verification procedures you used.
For electronic acts, the communication technology, certification authority, and verification providers involved.

Journal records must be retained for at least ten years.⁸ Section 135-c separately requires you to keep the full audio-video recording of every remote session for at least ten years.⁶ The ten-year clock runs from the date of each individual transaction, so the storage obligation accumulates throughout your career. Recordings must remain accessible and producible to the Secretary of State on request, and failing to maintain the records can lead to revocation of your commission.

Keeping Your Registration Current

Your electronic registration lives on top of your underlying commission. If the commission lapses, the electronic capability lapses with it. Renewal costs $60 and the commission runs four years, so put the expiration on a calendar well in advance; performing any notarial act on an expired commission creates serious legal exposure.

Beyond renewal, keep the Department of State informed when your circumstances change. Switching platforms, changing your email, or updating your mailing address all require prompt notification, and email changes carry the five-day deadline set by Section 135-c, signed with your official electronic signature.⁶

1
New York State Senate. New York Executive Law EXC 130 – Appointment of Notaries Public
2
New York Department of State. Become a Notary Public
3
New York Department of State. Notary Public License Law
4
New York Department of State. Notary Public – Frequently Asked Questions
5
American Land Title Association. New York Issues RON Regulations
6
New York State Senate. New York Executive Law 135-C – Electronic Notarization
7
New York Department of State. Renew or Update Notary Public License
8
New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 19 NYCRR Part 182 – Notaries Public