Florida mobile notary guide
How to Become a Notary in Florida and Work as a Mobile Notary
How to become a notary in Florida: the short answer
You must be at least 18, a legal Florida resident, and able to read, write and understand English. First-time applicants complete three hours of notary education, which the Department of State offers free online. You then apply through a bonding agency with a $7,500 bond and $39 in state fees. Commissions last four years, and fees are capped at $10 per notarial act.
Florida mobile notary rules at a glance
| Rule | Florida |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment fee cap | Up to $10 per notarial act. Florida sets one cap for any single notarial act, not a per-signature scale[1] |
| Jurat fee cap | Up to $10 per notarial act[1] |
| Travel fee | Florida statutes cap the fee for a notarial act but do not mention travel fees. We found no statute or official page that sets, allows or bans a separate travel charge. If you charge one, agree it with the signer in advance and keep it separate from the $10 notarial fee.[1] |
| Commission term | 4 years[2] |
| Bond | $7,500 surety bond from a surety company for hire. Online notaries need a $25,000 bond, which also satisfies this one[2] |
| Training | First-time applicants: at least three hours of interactive or classroom instruction within one year before applying. The Department of State course is free online[2] |
| Exam | None. No exam appears in the statute or on the Governor's notary page[2] |
| Journal required | Only for online notarizations |
| Remote online notarization | Allowed[3] |
How to become a mobile notary in Florida
First, check you qualify. Florida requires that you are:
- At least 18 years old[2]
- A legal resident of Florida. A permanent resident alien must also file a recorded Declaration of Domicile[2]
- Able to read, write and understand English[2]
- First-time applicants: at least three hours of interactive or classroom notary education within one year before applying[4]
- A $7,500 surety bond[2]
- An affidavit of good character from someone unrelated to you who has known you for at least one year[2]
Then follow these steps.
- Check that you are eligibleYou must be at least 18, a legal Florida resident and able to read, write and understand English. Appointment is at the sole discretion of the Governor.[2]
- Complete the three-hour education courseFirst-time applicants need at least three hours of interactive or classroom instruction within one year before applying. The Department of State course is online and free; approved private providers also exist. Renewing notaries can skip this step.[4]
Free (Department of State course) - Choose an approved bonding agencyMost agencies sell a package: you make one payment and they provide the application, pay the state fees, write your $7,500 bond and supply your seal. The state does not hand out applications or seals.[4]
Bond premium and seal priced by the agency - Submit your application and state feesThe application goes with a $25 fee, the $10 commission fee and a $4 surcharge. Wartime veterans with a disability rating of 50% or more pay no commission fee.[2]
$39 - Receive your commission and order your sealYour rubber stamp seal must show Notary Public-State of Florida, your name, commission expiration date and commission number, used in photographically reproducible black ink.[1]
Set by the vendor - Optional: register as an online notaryTake a RON course, carry a $25,000 bond and $25,000 errors and omissions insurance, name your RON service provider and pay the registration fee. Registration runs with your existing commission.[4]
$10 registration fee
The fee of a notary public may not exceed $10 for any one notarial act under this part, except as provided in s. 117.045 or s. 117.275.
What it costs to get commissioned in Florida
These are the amounts the state sets. Bond, training and supply prices vary by vendor, so we list the legal requirement rather than a price.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $25[2] |
| Commission fee | $10[2] |
| Surcharge | $4[2] |
| Total state fees | $39[4] |
| Notary education (Department of State course) | Free[4] |
| Surety bond (legal amount, not the premium) | $7,500[2] |
| Online notary registration (optional) | $10[4] |
| Name change on a commission | $25[1] |
How much can a mobile notary charge in Florida?
The notarial fee is capped at $10 per notarial act, $25 for an online act, and up to $30 for solemnizing a marriage. Anything on top for a mobile visit is a travel charge you agree with the client in advance and list separately; Florida law sets no figure for it.
| Notarial act | Maximum fee |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | Up to $10 per notarial act. Florida sets one cap for any single notarial act, not a per-signature scale[1] |
| Jurat | Up to $10 per notarial act[1] |
| Copy certification | A notary may attest a copy for up to $10, but only if the document is not a vital record and not a public record the custodian can copy[1] |
| Solemnizing a marriage | Up to $30, the amount clerks of the circuit court may charge for the same service |
| Witnessing a vote-by-mail ballot | No fee allowed, and the notary must witness it on request |
| Online (remote) notarial act | Up to $25 per online notarial act; platform or other non-notarial service fees are not governed by the cap |
| Remote online notarization | Up to $25 per online notarial act. Fees for the RON platform or other non-notarial services are outside this cap[5] |
Travel fees in Florida
Florida law caps the notarial fee at $10 per act but says nothing about travel fees. We found no official source that sets or bans a travel charge. If you charge one, agree it with the signer before you go and keep it separate from the notarial fee. You may only act as a notary while you are physically inside Florida.[1]
Price a signing in Florida with the fee calculator, which uses these caps.
The state fees of $39 are fixed by law, but the bond premium and the notary seal are competitively priced.
Journal, ID and seal rules for mobile work
Journal
Online notaries must keep an electronic journal of every online notarial act: date and time, type of act, a description of the document, the principal's name and address, the identity evidence used, and the fee charged. The journal and the audio-video recording must be kept for at least 10 years. We found no journal requirement for in-person paper notarizations in Part I of chapter 117.[1]
Need one? Our free printable notary journal has a column for every field most states ask for.
Identifying the signer
Use personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence: an ID that is current or issued within the past 5 years and carries a serial number, such as a Florida or other state driver license or ID card, a U.S. passport, a USCIS-stamped foreign passport, a U.S. military ID, a VA health card, or a USCIS card. Without ID, one credible witness you know or two credible witnesses with ID can swear to the signer's identity.[6]
Seal or stamp
Rubber stamp seal with Notary Public-State of Florida, your name, commission expiration date and commission number, in photographically reproducible black ink. An embosser may be added but never replaces the stamp. The seal belongs to you, not your employer.[2]
A notary public shall be appointed for 4 years and may only use and exercise the office of notary public if he or she is within the boundaries of this state.
Working as a loan signing agent in Florida
Chapter 117 creates no separate signing agent license or commission; it only commissions notaries public. At a loan signing you act under your regular Florida commission, so the $10 per act cap, the ID rules and the seal rules apply. This is our reading of the statute, not an explicit statement from a Florida agency.[2][1]
Remote online notarization in Florida
Yes. A commissioned Florida notary can register as an online notary after a RON course, with a $25,000 bond, $25,000 errors and omissions insurance and a $10 fee. Online notaries may charge up to $25 per online act and must keep an electronic journal and recordings for at least 10 years.[3]
Apostilles and authentications
Clients often ask a mobile notary about apostilles. A notary does not issue them. In Florida, the office that does is the Florida Department of State, and the fee is Up to $10 per apostille (statutory cap).[7] Apostilles for Florida notarized documents are issued by the Florida Department of State, which also issues certificates of notarial authority for non-Hague countries. The statute caps the fee at $10 per apostille. We could not load the Department of State's own price page to confirm the current charge.
Mistakes that get Florida notaries in trouble
- Charging more than $10 per notarial act is a ground for suspension of your commission.
- Notarizing while outside Florida. The commission only works inside the state's boundaries.
- Attesting copies of vital records such as birth certificates, or of public records the custodian can copy. Florida does not allow it.
- Using notario publico or a literal translation of Notary Public in ads, or advertising in another language without the required not-an-attorney notice.
- Missing the 60-day deadline to report a name change ($25 amended commission) or a change of address.
Watch: Florida notary basics
How to Become a Notary in Florida | NNA, from National Notary Association. Walks through the Florida steps: eligibility, course, bond and application.
How to Become a Remote Online Notary in Florida, from National Notary Association. Covers the extra steps to register as a Florida online notary.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to become a notary in FL?
The state fees are $39, fixed by law: a $25 application fee, a $10 commission fee and a $4 surcharge. The Department of State education course is free online. You also pay for a $7,500 surety bond and a rubber stamp seal, usually as a package from a bonding agency. Those prices are set by the agency, not by the state.
How much is a $7500 notary bond in Florida?
The $7,500 is the bond amount the law requires, not what you pay. You pay a premium to an approved bonding agency, and the state does not set that premium. The Governor's office says the bond premium and seal are competitively priced and suggests comparing several companies. The bond protects the public from your mistakes, not you.
Can notary be a side hustle?
It can fit around other work. The state costs are $39 plus a bond and seal, and the training is free. Fees are capped at $10 per notarial act and $25 per online act, so income depends on volume and any travel charges you agree in advance. You can only notarize while physically in Florida.
How much do Notaries make in Florida?
We found no official data on Florida notary earnings. What the law does set is the ceiling per act: $10 for a notarial act, $25 for an online notarial act, and up to $30 for solemnizing a marriage. You may not charge for witnessing a vote-by-mail ballot. Travel charges are not set by law, so they vary by notary.
Can you live off of being a notary?
The notarial fees alone are small, because Florida caps them at $10 per act. Any full-time income would need high volume, online notarizations at up to $25 each, marriages at up to $30, and travel fees agreed with clients. We found no official source on notary incomes, so we cannot give a figure for what people earn.
Is it worth it to be a notary in Florida?
The cost to start is low: $39 in state fees, a free three-hour course, plus a bond and seal. There is no exam, and a commission lasts four years. Weigh that against the duties: you must check ID carefully, follow the seal rules, and you can lose your commission for charging over the $10 cap.
Sources
Every number on this page comes from one of these official pages. We read them on October 1, 2026.
- Florida Statutes 117.05(2)(a). leg.state.fl.us
- Florida Statutes 117.01(4)(i) (grounds for suspension). leg.state.fl.us
- Florida Statutes 117.225, Registration; qualifications (online notaries). leg.state.fl.us
- Complete the three-hour education course. flgov.com
- Florida Statutes 117.275, Fees for online notarization. leg.state.fl.us
- Florida Statutes 117.245 (online journal). leg.state.fl.us
- Florida Statutes 15.16, Reproduction of records; admissibility in evidence; electronic receipt and transmission of records; certification; acknowledgment. leg.state.fl.us
- Florida Statutes 117.045, Marriages. leg.state.fl.us
- Notary Education Program. notaries.dos.fl.gov
Junaid runs Ertiqah LLC and edits this site. He is not a notary or a lawyer. His job here is narrow: read the statute and the Secretary of State page for each rule, quote it, and link it, so you can check every number yourself. How we check facts.
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