How to Become a Notary in Arizona as a Side Hustle: Commission, Exam, Fees, and Remote Online Notary Rules

TL;DR

• Who can apply: You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident, an Arizona resident for income tax purposes who claims Arizona as your primary residence on your tax returns, and able to read, write, and understand English—and not disqualified under the statute. (A.R.S. § 41-269(B).)
• What you file: A notary application, an original notarized $5,000 surety bond (bought from a licensed surety, not the SOS), and a $43 filing fee ($25 application + $18 bond filing). Standard processing is about 4 weeks. The commission lasts 4 years. (A.R.S. § 41-269(D)–(E); SOS Notary page and Notary Application page; checked October 20, 2026.)
• Exam first: Since July 1, 2025, new and renewing Arizona notaries must pass an SOS exam through Pearson: $35 per proctored attempt, 45 questions, 60 minutes, 80% to pass, open book (the manual is built into the exam). You need a Pearson Candidate ID before you apply, and a passing score is valid for 90 days. (SOS Notary page; Notary Application page; A.R.S. § 41-270.)
• What you can charge is capped: From "no charge" up to $10 per notarial act (per signature for acknowledgments and jurats, per page for copy certifications). Electronic and remote online notarizations are capped at the same $10—you can't charge more for them. You must post your fees and tell the signer the fee before the act. (Ariz. Admin. Code R2-12-1102; SOS Remote & eNotary page; A.R.S. § 38-412.)
• Travel: A notary may be paid up to the mileage and per diem amounts authorized for state employees. (A.R.S. § 41-316(B).) Confirm how that applies to your pricing with the SOS before you quote.
• Journal and thumbprints: Keep a paper journal for paper (tangible) documents. For deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, other real-property documents, and powers of attorney, the signer's right thumbprint goes in your journal. (A.R.S. §§ 41-319, 41-254(C); SOS notice on SB 1479, effective September 12, 2026.)
• Remote online notary (RON) is an add-on: You must already be an active Arizona notary, contract with a technology vendor, and apply to the SOS. The SOS says there's no additional fee or bond at this time. You must be physically in Arizona when you notarize remotely, and you must keep the audio-video recording for at least 5 years. (SOS Remote & eNotary page; A.R.S. § 41-263.)
• Loan signing agent work is a separate business layer on top of your commission. We found no separate Arizona "signing agent" commission on the SOS notary pages we reviewed; the companies that hire signing agents set their own requirements.
• Never act like a lawyer. Arizona notaries who aren't attorneys can't give legal advice, help draft legal documents, act as immigration consultants, or use the term "notario" or "notario publico." (A.R.S. § 41-273.)
• No earnings claims. We don't publish income estimates, ratings, or testimonials. The fee cap above is the official limit, not a prediction of what you'll earn.

What an Arizona notary actually does

A notary public witnesses signatures and verifies the identity of signers, and must be impartial. Arizona notaries can perform only four types of notarial acts:

1. Acknowledgments
2. Jurats
3. Copy certifications
4. Oaths and affirmations

(Arizona Secretary of State, Notary page; checked October 20, 2026. The SOS Notary Public Reference Manual has samples of each.)

That short list matters for a side hustle. You're selling a regulated, fee-capped public service, not document preparation or advice. Most of what makes a notary side hustle work (being available, being careful, being mobile, keeping clean records) sits around those four acts, not on top of them.

Step 1: Check that you qualify

Under A.R.S. § 41-269(B), an applicant must:

1. Be at least eighteen years of age.
2. Be a citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States.
3. Be a resident of Arizona for income tax purposes and claim your Arizona residence as your primary residence on state and federal tax returns.
4. Be able to read, write, and understand English.
5. Not be disqualified under A.R.S. § 41-271.
6. Have passed the exam under A.R.S. § 41-270 if the SOS requires it (it does now; see Step 2).
7. Keep, as a reference, a manual approved by the SOS describing a notary's duties, authority, and ethical responsibilities.

Disqualification is broader than people expect. Under § 41-271, the SOS may deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend, or condition a commission for things like a conviction of any felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit; a dishonest statement on the application; false or misleading advertising; charging more than authorized fees; or failing to keep a bond on file. The SOS also notes that applications needing further review (for example, a felony conviction, professional license action, or past notary complaint) can't be expedited. If any of that applies to you, call the SOS Notary Department before you pay for a bond or exam.

Snowbirds and part-year residents: the income-tax residency and primary-residence requirement is the one to read carefully. If you file as a resident of another state, this side hustle may not be available to you. Confirm with the SOS.

Step 2: Pass the notary exam (Pearson)

The SOS posts these exam details (checked October 20, 2026):

(SOS Notary page; SOS Notary Application page; A.R.S. § 41-270; checked October 20, 2026.)

Practical tip: Because a pass is only good for 90 days, line up your bond and application before you test, so you're not racing the clock afterward.

Step 3: Get your $5,000 surety bond

Arizona requires an assurance in the form of a $5,000 surety bond before your commission is issued. It must come from a surety or other entity licensed or authorized to do business in Arizona and must cover your acts during the commission term. You may perform notarial acts only while a valid bond is on file with the SOS. (A.R.S. § 41-269(D).)

What the SOS tells applicants about bonds:

• The SOS doesn't sell bonds. Buy one from a licensed surety (a notary bonding company, insurance company, or notary organization). Fees vary by surety—we don't list a price. (SOS Notary Application page.)
• The bond protects the public, not you. If someone makes a claim against your bond, you must repay the bonding company, and a court can hold you liable for more than $5,000. (SOS Notary Resources FAQ.)
• Errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is optional coverage that protects the notary; the SOS says it isn't mandatory when you apply. (SOS Notary Resources FAQ.)

Bond paperwork rules from the SOS application checklist:

• The printed name on the application must match the printed name on the bond, and the signatures must be identical.
• The bond must be completely filled out (no blanks) and properly notarized—and you can't notarize your own signature.
• The county of residence on the bond must match your physical home address.

Step 4: Apply to the Secretary of State

(SOS Notary page; SOS Notary Application page; A.R.S. § 41-269(E); checked October 20, 2026.)

How to submit: The SOS online application generates the forms you print and sign—you'll need a printer. The SOS Notary page lists a mailing address (Attn: Notary Dept.) and in-person filing at its Phoenix office (1700 W. Washington St.) and Tucson office (400 W. Congress St., Suite 221). Confirm the current address on the live page before you mail anything; the SOS lists more than one Phoenix address for different purposes.

Oath of office: Before a commission is issued, you execute an oath of office and submit it to the SOS. (A.R.S. § 41-269(C).)

When your certificate arrives: The SOS recommends checking your name, county of residence, and commission dates so your stamp is made accurately.

Step 5: Get a compliant stamp and journal

Your official stamp

Under A.R.S. § 41-266, your official stamp must include the words "notary public," the county where you're commissioned, your name as it appears on your commission, and your commission expiration date (plus anything else the SOS requires). A physical stamp image can't be more than 1½ inches high and 2½ inches wide, and it must include an image of the great seal of the State of Arizona. Don't stamp over your signature or any other signature on the document.

The SOS also says notary seals must be imprinted with your commission number. (SOS Remote & eNotary page, citing Laws 2018, Ch. 13, § 12.)

Your journal

Under A.R.S. § 41-319, you must keep a paper journal for notarial acts on paper (tangible) records, and you may keep only one paper journal at a time (with an exception for keeping separate public and non-public journals). For electronic records, you may use a paper or electronic journal. Record acts in chronological order. Each entry needs at least:

1. The date of the notarial act.
2. A description of the document and the type of notarial act.
3. The printed full name and address of each person served.
4. If you use a paper journal, each person's signature.
5. The type of identification evidence used (or a note that you personally knew the signer).
6. A description of the ID document, including its issue or expiration date.
7. The fee, if any, you charged.

Other journal rules worth knowing before you start:

• Thumbprints for property and power-of-attorney documents. For a deed, quitclaim deed, deed of trust, other document affecting real property, or a power of attorney, the signer places their right thumbprint in your journal (left thumb or another finger if the right isn't available, with a note). Exceptions include trustee's deeds from foreclosure and deeds of release and reconveyance. (A.R.S. § 41-254(C)–(D).) The SOS highlights this as SB 1479, signed April 9, 2026 and effective September 12, 2026, aimed at deed fraud.
• Your journal can be a public record. If you keep only one journal, it's presumed to be a public record, and members of the public can request to view or copy entries with a written request that gives the month and year, the signer's name, and the type of record. (A.R.S. § 41-319(E)–(F).)
• Lost or stolen journal or stamp: Notify the SOS in writing (by certified mail or another method with a receipt) within 10 days, and tell law enforcement if it was stolen. Missing that deadline carries a $1,000 civil penalty. (A.R.S. § 41-323(B)–(C).)
• Moved? Report a change to your mailing, business, or home address within 30 days; the SOS may impose a $25 civil penalty if you don't. (A.R.S. § 41-323(A), (C); SOS Notary page.)

What you can charge (and what you can't)

Arizona caps notary fees by rule. Under Ariz. Admin. Code R2-12-1102:

The same rule requires you to:

• Pick a standard fee (from "no charge" up to $10) and charge it consistently.
• Post your fee schedule in a conspicuous place, using the SOS template (Exhibit 1, "Notary Public Services"). Posting is also required by A.R.S. § 38-412.
• Tell the requester your fee before you perform the act.

And by statute, a notary may not advertise, charge, or receive a fee for a notarial act except as specifically authorized by rule (A.R.S. § 41-316(C)). Charging more than authorized fees is a ground for discipline (A.R.S. § 41-271(A)(10)).

Electronic and remote notarizations are capped the same way. The SOS says notary fees are "No charge up to a maximum of $10.00 per notarial act," including electronic and remote online notarizations, and that you may not charge more for electronic or remote notarizations than for traditional ones. (SOS Remote & eNotary page; checked October 20, 2026.)

Travel (mobile notary): A.R.S. § 41-316(B) says notaries may be paid up to the amount authorized for mileage expenses and per diem subsistence for state employees (A.R.S. Title 38, Chapter 4, Article 2). We don't list a mileage rate here because it changes. Before you advertise a travel fee, confirm the current state-employee rates and how the SOS expects them applied.

What this means for the business: With a capped per-act fee, a notary side hustle isn't a high-margin product. People who make it work usually do so through convenience (evenings, weekends, mobile visits within the travel rules), accuracy, and repeat relationships. We don't estimate earnings.

Notary at your day job? Your commission is still yours

Many Arizonans first become notaries through work. A.R.S. § 41-269(G) says that even if your employer paid for your commission, stamp, or journal:

• Your stamp, commission, and any journal containing only public-record entries remain your property.
• You may perform notarial acts outside the workplace except during your normal hours of duty for that employer, and fees you receive off duty are yours.
• An employer may not limit your notary services to customers or people it designates.

Separately, if one of your journals holds non-public entries (for example, records confidential under law), that journal belongs to your employer and stays with the employer if you leave. (A.R.S. § 41-319(E).) Check your employment agreement and any conflict-of-interest policy before you start notarizing on the side.

Remote online notarization (RON) and eNotary

Arizona lets an active notary add electronic notarization (signing electronic documents in person) and remote online notarization (meeting the signer over live audio-video). This can be a natural fit for a remote side hustle.

How to add it (per the SOS Remote & eNotary page, checked October 20, 2026):

1. You must already be a current, active Arizona notary public. You can't get an electronic or remote commission without a traditional one.
2. Review the applicable Administrative Rules before applying.
3. Contract with a technology vendor that meets the rules. The SOS posts a non-exhaustive vendor list and says it doesn't endorse any vendor.
4. Your application must describe the technologies you'll use and give the vendor's name and website.
5. After the SOS verifies your application, it emails an "E-notary/RON Request" for you to print, sign, and return; the SOS says the whole process takes one to two weeks.

Costs from the SOS: "There is no additional fee or bond at this time" to become an electronic or remote online notary. Your vendor's charges are a separate business cost—get them in writing.

Rules that shape a remote notary side hustle:

• You must be in Arizona. The SOS says you can perform remote notarizations only while you are physically located in Arizona—not while you're on vacation in another state. The signer can be in another country if you're in Arizona, subject to the statute's conditions. (SOS Remote & eNotary page; A.R.S. § 41-263(B)(4).)
• Identity: For a remote signer, you need personal knowledge of their identity, a credible witness, or at least two different types of identity proofing. (A.R.S. § 41-263(B)(1).)
• Recording: You (or someone acting for you) must create an audio-video recording of the notarial act and keep it, or have a designated repository keep it, for at least 5 years unless a rule requires a different period. (A.R.S. § 41-263(B)(3), (E).)
• Notify the SOS first: Before your first remote act, notify the SOS and identify the technologies you'll use. (A.R.S. § 41-263(F).)
• Thumbprint exception: A remote notarization of a property or power-of-attorney document can skip the journal thumbprint only if your journal includes the signer's identification credential number and you keep the recording for at least 7 years. (A.R.S. § 41-254(D)(3).)
• Same fee cap: $10 per notarial act maximum, same as in person (see above).

Loan signing agent: a separate add-on

A "loan signing agent" (also called a notary signing agent) is a notary who handles the signing appointment for real estate loan documents, usually for title, escrow, or signing-service companies. In Arizona, the notarial part of that work is still governed by your notary commission:

• Same commission, same rules. We found no separate Arizona "signing agent" commission or license on the SOS notary pages we reviewed. The statutes and rules above (identity, journal, the $10 fee cap, and posted fees) still apply to every notarial act.
• Thumbprints apply. Deeds of trust and other real-property documents trigger the journal thumbprint rule (A.R.S. § 41-254(C)).
• No legal advice. You can't explain what loan terms mean legally or advise a borrower on whether to sign. Arizona says a commission doesn't authorize a notary to give legal advice or practice law, and a non-attorney notary can't be paid for those activities. (A.R.S. § 41-273(A).) Refer legal questions to the lender, title company, or the borrower's attorney.
• Hiring companies set their own requirements. Title, escrow, and signing-service companies decide who they work with. Ask each one in writing what it requires before you pay for extra training, certifications, or equipment.
• Pricing questions go to the SOS first. How a signing company's appointment fee relates to Arizona's $10-per-act cap, the travel provision in § 41-316(B), and the ban on charging for notarial acts beyond what the rule allows (§ 41-316(C)) is something to confirm with the SOS Notary Department before you quote or accept a fee structure.

We don't publish loan-signing income figures, and we'd be wary of any course or "certification" that promises a specific income.

Advertising: the "notario" rule and required disclaimer

Arizona has strict advertising rules for notaries who aren't Arizona-licensed attorneys (A.R.S. § 41-273):

• No "notario" or "notario publico." You may not use those terms.
• No legal-help claims. You may not advertise or represent that you can draft legal records, give legal advice, or otherwise practice law, or act as an immigration consultant.
• Required statement. If you advertise notarial services in any way (orally or in a record, including broadcast, print, and the internet), you must include this statement (or an SOS-approved alternative), prominently and in each language used in the ad: "I am not an attorney licensed to practice law in this state. I am not allowed to draft legal records, give advice on legal matters, including immigration, or charge a fee for those activities." If the ad format is too small for it, display it prominently or provide it where you perform the act, before you perform it.
• Penalties are serious. Violating the advertising rule in § 41-273(D) is a class 6 felony, with permanent revocation of the commission. Performing the prohibited legal or immigration activities brings a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and permanent revocation. (A.R.S. § 41-273(F)–(G).)
• No false or deceptive advertising of any kind. (A.R.S. § 41-273(B).)

Put the required statement on your website, social profiles, flyers, and listings from day one.

Business licenses, home offices, and taxes

Your notary commission is a state commission. It doesn't replace the other layers that apply to any Arizona side hustle:

• City business license: Phoenix says it doesn't issue a general business license; Tucson requires a business license for businesses operating in the city. Other cities vary. See Arizona Business License for Side Hustles and confirm with your city.
• Signers at your house: If people will come to your home for notarizations, local zoning rules apply. In Phoenix, client traffic can trigger a Use Permit; Tucson limits on-site clients for home businesses. See Arizona Home Occupation Permits for Side Hustles. HOAs and leases can be stricter.
• Arizona TPT: Notarial services aren't the kind of retail sale most side hustlers think of, but if you also sell taxable goods, check with ADOR. See Arizona TPT License for Side Hustles.
• Federal self-employment tax: IRS Schedule SE instructions list fees received for services performed as a notary public under income not included in net earnings from self-employment. That income is still reported (the instructions refer to your net profit as a notary public from Schedule C), and you still owe income tax on it. (IRS, Instructions for Schedule SE; checked October 20, 2026.) Payments for things other than the notarial act itself (for example, travel or a signing company's appointment fee) may be treated differently. Ask a tax professional how to split your income, and see Side Hustle Taxes in Arizona and the free Arizona side hustle tax set-aside calculator.
• Not sure what else applies? Our free license and permit checklist asks where you operate and what you do.

Renewing your commission

• You may renew up to two months before your commission expires. Your stamp shows the expiration date, or you can use the SOS online search. (SOS Notary page.)
• Renewing notaries must pass the exam too (since July 1, 2025), so budget the $35 exam fee each time. (SOS Notary page.)
• Pay any civil penalty for a late address-change notice or a late lost/stolen journal or stamp notice before you renew. (A.R.S. § 41-323(C).)

Startup costs at a glance

Checklist before you take your first appointment

1. Confirm eligibility under § 41-269(B), especially Arizona income-tax residency, and call the SOS first if anything in § 41-271 might apply.
2. Register with Pearson, study the 2026 Notary Public Reference Manual, and pass the exam ($35, 80%; your score is good for 90 days).
3. Buy a $5,000 surety bond with the exact name and signature you'll use on the application, and have it notarized by someone else.
4. Submit the application, bond, and $43 fee together; allow about 4 weeks.
5. Order a stamp that meets § 41-266 (and includes your commission number) once you've checked your certificate details.
6. Set up your paper journal, with room for thumbprints on property and power-of-attorney documents.
7. Pick and post your fee schedule (up to $10 per act) using the SOS template; decide whether and how you'll charge travel under § 41-316(B).
8. Add the required advertising statement to every listing, page, and flyer. Never use "notario."
9. Check local layers: city business license, home-occupation rules if signers come to you, HOA/lease rules.
10. Set aside money for income tax and keep records that separate notarial fees from other payments.
11. Optional: add eNotary/RON after you're commissioned, using an SOS-compliant vendor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to become a notary in Arizona? The SOS standard filing fee is $43 ($25 application plus $18 bond filing), and each proctored exam attempt is $35. You also need a $5,000 surety bond (premium varies by surety), an official stamp, and a journal. Confirm current fees on the SOS Notary page before you pay.

How long does an Arizona notary commission last? Four years. You can renew up to two months before it expires, and renewing notaries must pass the exam.

Do I have to take a test to become a notary in Arizona? Yes. Beginning July 1, 2025, the SOS requires new and renewing notaries to pass a 45-question, 60-minute open-book exam through Pearson with a score of 80%. Each proctored attempt costs $35, and a passing score is valid for 90 days.

How much can an Arizona notary charge? Up to $10 per notarial act under Ariz. Admin. Code R2-12-1102 (per signature for acknowledgments and jurats, per page for copy certifications). Electronic and remote notarizations have the same $10 cap. Notaries may also be paid up to state-employee mileage and per diem amounts under A.R.S. § 41-316(B).

Can I do remote online notarizations in Arizona? Yes, if you're already an active Arizona notary, contract with a compliant vendor, and get SOS approval. The SOS says there's no additional fee or bond at this time. You must be physically in Arizona when you notarize, and you must keep the audio-video recording for at least five years.

Do I need a separate license to be a loan signing agent in Arizona? We found no separate Arizona signing-agent commission on the SOS notary pages we reviewed. Your notary commission and all notary rules still apply, and the companies that hire signing agents set their own requirements. Confirm fee structures with the SOS.

Is notary income subject to self-employment tax? The IRS Schedule SE instructions list fees for services performed as a notary public as not included in net earnings from self-employment. The income is still reported and subject to income tax. Ask a tax professional how to treat payments that aren't for the notarial act itself.