North Dakota Notary Bond— $7,500 • 4-Year Term • ~$86 Total
If you've seen other sites claiming North Dakota notary commissions last 6 years, they're citing the repealed Chapter 44-06. The current law is Chapter 44-06.1 (RULONA), which set the term at 4 years under §44-06.1-20(5). Your all-in cost is roughly $86 — the bond premium (~$50) plus the $36 filing fee. No exam. No education course. And the same bond covers Remote Online Notarization since August 2019.
Peace Garden State Simplicity Guarantee
We provide the completed SFN 19355 form, ready to sign and file. No exam prep, no course fees, no surprises. If FirstStop rejects your bond filing for any reason tied to our form, we reissue at no charge. Start your bond application at BuySuretyBonds.com in under 5 minutes.
Get Your $7,500 North Dakota Bond
4-year term • Instant approval
Form SFN 19355: The Official Bond Document
SFN 19355 is North Dakota's prescribed notary bond form. Unlike states that accept a generic surety bond form, ND requires this specific document. When you purchase your bond through BuySuretyBonds.com, we generate the completed SFN 19355 so you don't have to fill it out yourself. Learn what a surety bond is and how it differs from insurance.
What the form contains:
- • Principal (you) and surety company names
- • Bond amount ($7,500)
- • Obligee (State of North Dakota)
- • Effective date and 4-year term
- • Signatures of principal, surety, and witnessing notary
Filing instructions:
- • Sign in the presence of a current notary public
- • Mail to: SOS, 600 E. Blvd Ave, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500
- • Or upload via FirstStop (if available for your application type)
- • Download blank form: nd.gov/eforms
Not sure which type of surety bond you need? See our complete guide to surety bond types or read surety bond basics.
Remote Notarization in North Dakota: RON and RIN
North Dakota was an early adopter of remote notarization. Zero competitors we reviewed cover both RON and RIN in detail.
Remote Online Notarization (RON)
- Authorized under §44-06.1-13.1 (HB 1110)
- Same $7,500 bond — no additional bond
- File Notary Public Amendment in FirstStop
- Must name your technology provider
- Two-way audio-video required
- 10-year recording retention
- Mandatory journal for all remote acts
Remote Ink Notarization (RIN)
- Acknowledgments only
- Signer signs on paper, mails within 3 days
- Notary observes signing via A/V
- Different process from RON (physical doc)
RIN is less common but useful for signers who need an original wet-ink document but can't be physically present with the notary.
Compare remote notarization rules: Texas RON | Florida RON | Nevada RON. See all notary bond states.
The 4-Year vs. 6-Year Confusion, Explained
North Dakota's old notary law lived in N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 44-06. It set a 6-year commission term. When ND adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA) as Chapter 44-06.1, the old chapter was repealed in its entirety. The new law under §44-06.1-20(5) shortened the term to 4 years.
Multiple notary bond sites — including several that rank on the first page — still publish “6 years.” They never updated after ND switched to RULONA. If you apply expecting a 6-year commission, you'll need to renew 2 years earlier than planned, including purchasing a new bond and a new stamp.
Source: N.D. Cent. Code Chapter 44-06.1 | sos.nd.gov
Official North Dakota Requirements
"The secretary of state shall issue a commission as a notary public for a term of four years. An applicant for a commission as a notary public shall submit a surety bond in the amount of seven thousand five hundred dollars."North Dakota Secretary of State • N.D. Cent. Code §44-06.1-20
What You Actually Pay: ~$86
No competitor we found aggregates the real all-in cost. Here's the breakdown for a North Dakota notary commission — no hidden fees, no surprises. Use our notary bond calculator for a personalized estimate. See our surety bond cost guide for how premiums are calculated.
Bond premium depends on your credit profile. Most applicants with decent credit pay $45–$55 for the full 4-year term. Compare with Montana's $25,000 bond and Nebraska's $15,000 bond. Also understand the difference between a bond and a cash deposit.
Get Your $7,500 North Dakota Notary Bond
Correct 4-year term. SFN 19355 included. Instant approval, no credit check required.
Get Your Bond NowHow to Apply Through FirstStop (Step-by-Step)
North Dakota processes all notary applications through the FirstStop online portal. No competitor walks through this process. See also our general guide to getting a surety bond.
Purchase your $7,500 surety bond
Get your bond from a licensed surety company (like us). We provide the completed SFN 19355 form. Complete and sign the bond form — the oath of office (Step 4) is the step that requires signing before a notary public.
Create an NDLogin account
Go to firststop.sos.nd.gov and create your NDLogin credentials. This is the state's single sign-on system used across multiple agencies.
Submit application + $36 filing fee
Complete the online application in FirstStop. Pay the $36 fee by credit card. Upload or mail the signed SFN 19355 bond form to 600 East Blvd Ave, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500.
Take the oath of office
After your commission is issued, you must take an oath of office before a qualified officer. This is separate from the application — don't skip it.
Receive Certificate of Authorization
The SOS issues a Certificate of Authorization after approving your commission. You MUST present this certificate to a stamp vendor before they can manufacture your official notary stamp.
Purchase stamp and submit impression
Buy your stamp from an authorized vendor (they verify your certificate). Then submit the stamp impression verification back to the SOS by the deadline noted on your certificate.
Renewal Process
Renewals follow the same steps: new bond (another SFN 19355), new $36 fee, new oath of office, and a new stamp. Your old stamp expires with your old commission. Plan ahead — there is no grace period. See the SOS renewal page or read our notary bond requirements guide.
Who Can Apply
- Age 18 or older
- U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
- Reads and writes English
- ND resident, employed in ND, or Montana border-county resident
- No exam or education course required
Border County / Reciprocity
Montana only. Minnesota and South Dakota do not have reciprocity with ND. Montana border-county residents who work in ND may apply.
Stamp Specifications
- • “Notary Public”
- • “State of North Dakota”
- • Your exact commissioned name
- • Commission expiration date
Stamp must be photographically reproducible — embossers alone do not meet this requirement (ink stamp required).
Notarial Acts & Fees
Max fee per act: $5 (§44-06.1-28)
Charging more is an infraction under ND law.
- • Acknowledgments
- • Verification on oath or affirmation
- • Witnessing or attesting a signature
- • Copy certification
Personal knowledge, valid government-issued photo ID (expired ≤3 years OK), or a credible witness.
Learn more about what a notary bond is, general notary requirements, or browse all surety bonds. North Dakota vehicle dealers must carry a North Dakota auto dealer bond, and contractors working in the state need a North Dakota contractor license bond. Explore surety bond requirements and surety bond basics.
Prohibited Acts & When Bond Claims Happen
Your $7,500 surety bond protects the public — not you. If you commit a prohibited act and someone suffers a loss, they can file a bond claim against your bond. The surety pays the claim, then you repay the surety.
Prohibited Acts
- • Notarizing your own signature
- • Notarizing your spouse's signature
- • Notarizing when you are a party to the document
- • Using a name different from your commissioned name
- • Charging more than $5 per act
- • Performing notarial acts outside your commission period
Change-of-Name & Address Rules
- • Name change: Report to SOS within 60 days, $10 fee
- • Address change: Report within 60 days via FirstStop
- • A name change means you need a new stamp with the updated name
- • Failure to report can result in commission issues at renewal
Notary Bond vs. E&O Insurance
These two products are often confused but serve opposite purposes. Both are commonly recommended for North Dakota notaries.
Surety Bond (Required)
Protects the public. If your notarial misconduct causes a third party financial harm, they can file a claim against your $7,500 bond. The surety pays — then bills you. This is what North Dakota law requires per §44-06.1-20.
E&O Insurance (Optional)
Protects you. Errors and omissions insurance covers your legal defense costs and damages if you're sued for a notarial mistake — including reimbursing the surety if a bond claim is paid. Not required by ND law, but widely recommended by the SOS.
Learn more in our Bond vs. E&O Insurance guide. The ND SOS also references E&O coverage on their Maintain Your Commission page.
North Dakota Notary Bond — Frequently Asked Questions
Is the North Dakota notary commission 4 years or 6 years?
It is 4 years under N.D. Cent. Code 44-06.1-20(5). Several competitor sites incorrectly state "6 years" because they cite the repealed Chapter 44-06. When North Dakota adopted RULONA as Chapter 44-06.1, the old chapter was repealed and the term changed from 6 to 4 years. Always verify at sos.nd.gov.
What is form SFN 19355 and where do I get it?
SFN 19355 is the official North Dakota Notary Public Bond form required by the Secretary of State. Download it at nd.gov/eforms or obtain it from your surety company. The form must be signed in the presence of a notary public, then mailed to the SOS at 600 East Blvd Ave, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500. When you purchase through BuySuretyBonds.com, we provide the completed SFN 19355.
What does it actually cost to become a North Dakota notary?
The total all-in cost is approximately $86: around $50 for the bond premium on the $7,500 surety bond, plus the $36 filing fee paid to the Secretary of State. There is no exam fee, no education course fee, and no separate application fee. Stamp costs ($20-$40 from a vendor) are extra but not paid to the state.
Does the same bond cover Remote Online Notarization (RON)?
Yes. North Dakota authorized RON permanently on August 1, 2019 via HB 1110. Your existing $7,500 notary bond covers remote notarial acts — no additional bond is needed. You must file a Notary Public Amendment through FirstStop, name your technology provider, maintain 2-way audio-video recordings for 10 years, and keep a mandatory journal for all remote acts.
What is the Certificate of Authorization for stamps?
After your commission is approved, the Secretary of State issues a Certificate of Authorization. You must present this certificate to your stamp vendor before they can manufacture your official notary stamp. No vendor should make your stamp without it. This is a unique ND requirement — most states do not gate stamp purchases behind a separate certificate.
Can I get a North Dakota notary commission if I live in Montana, Minnesota, or South Dakota?
Montana is the only reciprocity state. Montana border-county residents employed in North Dakota may qualify. Minnesota and South Dakota do NOT have reciprocity with North Dakota. You must be a North Dakota resident, work in North Dakota, or live in a Montana border county to be eligible.
Official North Dakota Sources
Become a Notary Public
Application checklist, SFN 19355, $36 fee
Chapter 44-06.1 (RULONA)
Current statute — 4-year term, $7,500 bond
FirstStop Portal
Online application, RON amendment, address changes
SFN 19355 Bond Form (PDF)
Official blank bond form download
Remote Notarization Info
RON/RIN requirements, tech providers, journal rules
Maintain Your Commission
Renewal, name/address changes, E&O insurance
SOS Contact: 600 East Blvd Ave, Dept 108, Bismarck, ND 58505-0500 • Phone: 701-328-2900 • Toll-free: 800-352-0867
Related Guides & Resources
Other North Dakota Bonds
Additional surety bonds available in North Dakota
Correct Statute. Correct Term. Your Bond in Minutes.
$7,500 North Dakota notary bond • 4 years (not 6) • SFN 19355 included • No exam • Instant approval