To file a Washington notary application, submit the Notary Public Commission Application to the Department of Licensing with a $40 fee and a $10,000 surety bond covering a four-year commission term. You can apply online through SecureAccess Washington or by mail. Processing typically takes at least 30 days, and there is no expedited option.1Washington State Department of Licensing. Frequently Asked Questions Notaries Public
Who Can Apply
Washington sets four baseline qualifications. You must be at least 18, be a resident of Washington or have a place of work or professional practice in the state, and be able to read and write English. The fourth is simply that you not be disqualified under the state’s disciplinary standards.2Washington State Legislature. RCW 42.45.200 – Commission, Qualifications, Oath, Surety Bond, Commission Term, Electronic Records Notary Public
The statute does not require U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency. If you live or work in Washington, you meet the residency piece regardless of immigration status.
The Department of Licensing can deny a commission based on background. The concrete disqualifiers are a conviction for any felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit; a civil or disciplinary finding of liability based on fraud or deceit; or having a notary commission denied, revoked, or suspended in another state.3Washington State Legislature. RCW 42.45.210 – Grounds to Deny, Refuse to Renew, Revoke, Suspend, or Condition Commission of Notary Public None of these are automatic lifetime bars, but the department weighs them heavily during review.
Get Your Surety Bond First
Before you submit anything, you need a $10,000 surety bond from an insurance or bonding company licensed to write surety in Washington.1Washington State Department of Licensing. Frequently Asked Questions Notaries Public The bond protects the public: if you make a mistake or commit misconduct while notarizing, an injured party can file a claim against the bond to recover damages.
Two details decide whether your application moves or stalls. First, the bond must cover your full four-year commission term. Second, the name on the bond must exactly match the name you plan to use on your commission. A mismatch is one of the most common reasons the department kicks back a filing. The bonding company has to give the department at least 30 days’ notice before canceling your bond, and you cannot perform any notarial acts during any period your bond is not on file.2Washington State Legislature. RCW 42.45.200 – Commission, Qualifications, Oath, Surety Bond, Commission Term, Electronic Records Notary Public
Fill Out and Submit the Application
Download the Notary Public Commission Application from the Department of Licensing website.4Washington State Department of Licensing. Forms Notaries Public The form asks for your full legal name, the name you want on your commission if different, your contact information, and your bond details. You also execute an oath of office as part of the application in the format the department prescribes.2Washington State Legislature. RCW 42.45.200 – Commission, Qualifications, Oath, Surety Bond, Commission Term, Electronic Records Notary Public
You have two filing options:
- Online through SecureAccess Washington. These tend to process faster.
- By mail to: Notary Public Program, Department of Licensing, PO Box 3777, Seattle, WA 98124-3777. Include a copy of your signed surety bond and a check or money order payable to the Department of Licensing.5Washington State Department of Licensing. Get Your License Notaries Public
Fees
The application fee is $40. If you also want the electronic notarization endorsement, the combined fee is $55.6Washington State Department of Licensing. Fees Notaries Public These fees are nonrefundable, so an application that comes back for correction still costs you what you paid.
How Long It Takes
Allow at least 30 days for processing. There is no expedited option. Incomplete or incorrectly filled applications take longer because the department returns them for correction before continuing the review.1Washington State Department of Licensing. Frequently Asked Questions Notaries Public Once approved, the department issues your commission certificate, which you need to order your official seal.
Order Your Seal After Approval
Every Washington notary must have a seal or stamp that meets state standards. The seal has to include your name exactly as it appears on your commission, the words “Notary Public,” the words “State of Washington,” your commission expiration date, and your commission number.7Washington State Legislature. WAC 308-30-070 – Official Seal
You can use an ink stamp or a traditional embosser. If you use an embosser, the impression must be inked or blackened so it can be photocopied. A circular seal must be at least one and five-eighths inches in diameter; a rectangular seal must be at least one inch wide by one and five-eighths inches long. Stamp vendors will ask for a copy of your commission certificate before manufacturing the seal, so have that ready.
Set Up Your Journal
Washington requires every notary to keep a journal of all notarial acts performed. This is not optional, and failing to keep one can lead to disciplinary action. The journal must be a permanent, bound register with numbered pages, and you may only maintain one physical journal at a time.8Washington State Legislature. RCW 42.45.180 – Journal
Each entry has to be made at the time of the notarial act and must include the date and time, a description of the record and the type of notarial act, and the full name and address of each person involved. Keep the journal for 10 years after the last entry. One exception: attorneys licensed in Washington do not need to keep a notary journal if they document the notarial act through their normal professional records.
Adding the Electronic Records Endorsement
If you want to notarize electronic documents, you need a separate endorsement on top of your standard commission. You must hold a regular notary commission to be eligible.2Washington State Legislature. RCW 42.45.200 – Commission, Qualifications, Oath, Surety Bond, Commission Term, Electronic Records Notary Public You can apply for it with your initial application or add it later at renewal.
The endorsement fee is $15 on its own. Within 30 days of receiving the endorsement, you have to tell the department which electronic notary software you plan to use. You cannot perform electronic notarizations until the department has that information on file.5Washington State Department of Licensing. Get Your License Notaries Public
If You Are Renewing Instead
Renewing an existing commission uses a different form and a different fee. You can start the renewal process up to 120 days before your commission expires, and you will need a new four-year surety bond in place before you can renew.9Washington State Department of Licensing. Renew or Update Your License Notaries Public The renewal fee is $42, or $57 with an electronic endorsement.6Washington State Department of Licensing. Fees Notaries Public If you let your commission lapse, you cannot renew. You have to start over with a brand-new application and pay the full application fee again.