The Texas notary public application, Form 2301, is filed online through the Secretary of State’s Notary Portal, together with a $10,000 surety bond, proof you’ve completed the required education course, and a $21 filing fee.1Texas Secretary of State. Forms and Fees Paper filings are no longer accepted by default. If you genuinely can’t file online, you have to contact the Notary Public Unit directly to request a paper application, and processing will take longer.
Who Can Apply
You must be at least 18, a Texas resident, and free of any conviction for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.2State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.004 – Eligibility A conviction that was dismissed or discharged under probation or mandatory supervision law doesn’t count against you.
The Secretary of State can reject your application, or revoke an existing commission, at any point it discovers you’re ineligible.2State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.004 – Eligibility A denial can be appealed through the State Office of Administrative Hearings; you start that by emailing notarycomplaints@sos.texas.gov.3Texas Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions for Notaries Public
What to Have Ready Before You Open the Portal
Three things need to be in place before you start the application. Missing any of them will stall you partway through.
A $10,000 Surety Bond
Get a $10,000 surety bond from a company licensed in Texas as a surety.4State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.010 – Bond and Oath The bond is payable to the governor and protects the public from errors or misconduct in your notarial work. The bonding company will give you a completed Form 2301-B (the proof-of-bond form), which you upload during the application.5Texas Secretary of State. Submit or Renew a Traditional Notary Application Have a scanned or digital copy ready before you start.
The name on your bond must match the name on your application exactly. Any mismatch, even a middle initial, will get the application bounced back.
Premiums for a four-year bond term are modest, usually well under $100. Errors and omissions insurance is a separate product that covers your own defense costs for unintentional mistakes. Texas doesn’t require E&O coverage, but some employers do.
The Mandatory Education Course
Every applicant has to complete an education course before the Secretary of State will process the application. The course is accessed through the SOS Notary Portal itself.6Texas Secretary of State. Notary Public Educational Information Reading the course transcript on its own won’t satisfy the requirement. You have to work through the course and any assessment inside the portal.
The $21 Filing Fee
The state filing fee is $21, charged to a credit card at the end of the online submission.1Texas Secretary of State. Forms and Fees
Filing the Application Online
The whole process runs through the Secretary of State’s Notary Portal. Here’s what happens at each step.5Texas Secretary of State. Submit or Renew a Traditional Notary Application
- Create an SOS Portal account and sign in. If you’ve ever held a Texas commission before, use the “Find Your Profile” option so the system links the new application to your existing record.
- Click “Apply to be a Texas Notary” (or “Apply or Renew Commission” if you’re renewing) and fill in your legal name, physical residence address, Social Security number, and date of birth.
- Read each application agreement and type your initials next to it to confirm you understand the duties of the office.
- Answer the criminal history question. Choose option A if you’ve never been convicted of anything beyond a Class C misdemeanor. Choose option B for any other conviction, and upload the final court order, sentencing paperwork, and a written statement describing what happened.
- Upload the completed Form 2301-B. The portal will ask you to confirm the bond number, surety company name, agency address, and authorized signer details against the uploaded document.
- Review the summary screen, read the Statement of Officer, type your legal name, and draw your signature with your mouse or touchscreen.
- Click “Submit” and pay the $21 fee on the payment screen.
You’ll get a confirmation email once the submission goes through. The applications that get kicked back usually have one of three problems: the name on the application doesn’t match the name on the bond, the criminal history disclosure is incomplete, or the bond form is missing the surety company’s authorized signature.
After Your Commission Is Approved
The Secretary of State mails you a commission certificate once your application is processed. The commission runs for four years.7Texas Secretary of State. Contact Us – Section: Notary Public Unit Before you notarize anything, three things need to be in place.
Take the Oath of Office
Texas law requires every notary to take the official oath prescribed by the Texas Constitution before performing any duties of office.4State of Texas. Texas Government Code 406.010 – Bond and Oath You can’t legally notarize anything until the oath is taken.
Buy a Seal
You need a seal of office before performing any notarial acts. The seal must show:8Texas Secretary of State. Statutory References for Notary Seal Requirements
- The words “Notary Public, State of Texas” arranged around a five-pointed star
- Your name as it appears on your commission
- Your notary identification number
- Your commission expiration date
It can be circular (up to two inches across) or rectangular (up to one inch by two and a half inches), and it must have a serrated or milled edge border. A rubber stamp version has to use indelible ink.8Texas Secretary of State. Statutory References for Notary Seal Requirements Customized stamps from notary supply vendors generally run $15 to $30.
Set Up a Record Book
Texas requires every notary to keep a record book. Each entry has to include:3Texas Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions for Notaries Public
- The date of the document
- The date of the notarization
- The name and address of the signer or witnesses
- How you identified the signer (if you relied on a credible witness, log that person’s name and address)
- A brief description of the document
For any document that conveys or transfers land, add the name and mailing address of the original grantee and the county where the land is located.3Texas Secretary of State. Frequently Asked Questions for Notaries Public
Renewing a Commission
You can start a renewal 90 days before your current commission expires, and no sooner. The renewal uses the same portal and the same Form 2301, with a new $10,000 bond and another $21 fee. Starting January 1, 2026, every renewing notary also has to complete a continuing education course and pass an assessment before the renewal will be processed.6Texas Secretary of State. Notary Public Educational Information
If your commission lapses before you renew, you can’t perform any notarial acts until a new application is approved, and you’re applying as a new notary rather than renewing. The renewal window has closed.
Remote Online Notarization Is a Separate Application
Form 2301 only commissions you as a traditional notary. If you want to notarize over a video call, Texas calls that “online notarization,” and it has its own application, its own $50 fee plus a 2.7% convenience charge, and separate technology requirements including a PKI-based digital certificate, an electronic seal, an identity-proofing provider, and audio-visual recording of each session.9Texas Secretary of State. Getting Started as an Online Notary You have to hold a current traditional commission first, so Form 2301 is still the starting point.