Pennsylvania mobile notary guide
How to Become a Notary in Pennsylvania and Work as a Mobile Notary
How to become a notary in Pennsylvania: the short answer
You must be 18 or older, a US citizen or permanent resident who lives or works in Pennsylvania, and able to read and write English. Complete a 3-hour approved course, pass the $65 state exam, and pay the $42 application fee. Within 45 days of appointment, buy a $25,000 bond and register your signature with the county. Commissions last four years.
Pennsylvania mobile notary rules at a glance
| Rule | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment fee cap | Up to $5 for the first person named in the acknowledgment certificate, plus $2 for each additional name on the same certificate[1] |
| Jurat fee cap | Up to $5 per person for taking a verification on oath or affirmation (the Pennsylvania jurat)[1] |
| Travel fee | The Department of State does not set travel fees. Travel counts as a clerical or administrative fee: it must be customary and reasonable for the area and the service, the signer should be told before the notarization, and it must be itemized in the journal and on the receipt.[1] |
| Commission term | 4 years[2] |
| Bond | $25,000 surety bond, executed within 45 days of appointment (raised from $10,000 on March 28, 2026)[2] |
| Training | Required: 3-hour preapproved course within six months before every application, no exemptions[2] |
| Exam | Required for new applicants and anyone without a current, unexpired commission; $65 per attempt[2] |
| Journal required | Yes, for every notarial act |
| Remote online notarization | Allowed[3] |
How to become a mobile notary in Pennsylvania
First, check you qualify. Pennsylvania requires that you are:
- Be at least 18 years old[4]
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident[4]
- Live, work or practice in Pennsylvania[4]
- Be able to read and write English[4]
- Have no disqualifying criminal record or prior notary misconduct[4]
- Complete a 3-hour approved notary education course within six months before you apply. There is no exemption.[5]
- Pass the state notary exam if you do not hold a current, unexpired Pennsylvania commission[6]
Then follow these steps.
- Take a 3-hour approved coursePick a course from the Department of State's preapproved list and finish it within the six months before you apply. Course prices are set by the provider.[5]
- Pass the state examEvery new applicant, and anyone whose commission has expired, must pass the exam. You have six months to pass and may retake it within that window.[6]
$65 per attempt - Apply to the Department of StateSubmit your application with proof of your course and exam. Processing usually takes 2 to 4 weeks.[4]
$42 - Get your $25,000 bond and register within 45 daysAfter appointment you have 45 days to execute a $25,000 bond, take your oath, and record your commission and register your signature with the Prothonotary or Recorder of Deeds. Miss the deadline and the commission is void.[2]
- Buy your stamp and journalOrder a rubber stamp seal that matches the 2026 rules and a journal. A paper journal must be a bound register with numbered pages.[7]
- Notify the state before doing remote workIf you want to notarize electronically or remotely, tell the Department of State first using its online form. There is no extra fee or extra training.[8]
Notaries public are appointed by the Pennsylvania Department of State and hold their positions for four-year terms. An application fee of $42 is required, and the processing time for applications generally ranges from 2 to 4 weeks.
What it costs to get commissioned in Pennsylvania
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 for appointment and commission | $42[9] |
| State notary exam (per attempt) | $65[6] |
| Notary bond (legal amount, not the premium) | $25,000[10] |
| Renewal application | $42[9] |
How much can a mobile notary charge in Pennsylvania?
The notarial fee is capped by regulation: $5 for the first name on an acknowledgment and $2 for each extra name, $5 per person for an oath or verification, $5 per signature witnessed and $5 per certified copy. Electronic and remote acts can add up to $20 per act. Travel, copying and postage are separate clerical fees that the state does not cap, but they must be reasonable, disclosed before you notarize, and itemized on the receipt. The state publishes no data on typical mobile notary prices.
| Notarial act | Maximum fee |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | Up to $5 for the first person named in the acknowledgment certificate, plus $2 for each additional name on the same certificate[1] |
| Jurat | Up to $5 per person for taking a verification on oath or affirmation (the Pennsylvania jurat)[1] |
| Oath or affirmation | Up to $5 per person for giving an oath or affirmation[1] |
| Copy certification | Up to $5 per certified copy (certifying or attesting a copy or deposition)[1] |
| Witnessing or attesting a signature | $5 per signature (new fee since March 28, 2026) |
| Noting a protest of a negotiable instrument | $3 per page |
| Emergency absentee ballot affidavit, or affidavit of a person needing help to vote by absentee ballot | No fee allowed |
| Remote online notarization | Electronic and remote notaries may charge up to $20 per notarial act on top of the regular fee for that act[1] |
Travel fees in Pennsylvania
The state does not set a travel fee. Travel is a clerical or administrative fee: it must be customary and reasonable for your area and the service, the signer should be told about it before you notarize, and it must be listed separately in your journal and on the itemized receipt.[1]
Price a signing in Pennsylvania with the fee calculator, which uses these caps.
If the 45-day deadline is missed, the commission becomes null and void and the notary will need to reapply for appointment to the Department of State and obtain a new bond.
Journal, ID and seal rules for mobile work
Journal
Record every act in chronological order. A paper journal must be a bound register with numbered pages, and each entry includes the fee charged. Never record any part of a Social Security number or a full driver's license number. Provide certified copies within 15 days when asked, and deliver the journal to the county Recorder of Deeds within 30 days after your commission ends.[1]
Need one? Our free printable notary journal has a column for every field most states ask for.
Identifying the signer
Identify signers by personal knowledge, a credible witness, or a current government ID with a signature or photo. Since 2026 the accepted list names armed forces IDs, Social Security cards, Pennsylvania university IDs, medical marijuana IDs, consular IDs and others.[7]
Seal or stamp
Rubber stamp, no more than 1 inch high and 3 1/2 inches wide with a plain border, showing Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Notary Public, your name, county, expiration date and 7-digit commission number. An embosser is optional.[11]
Clerical and administrative fees, if charged, must be separately itemized in the notary journal and included on the receipt.
Working as a loan signing agent in Pennsylvania
The Department of State issues no separate signing agent credential. Loan signings are done under your notary commission, so the $5 caps, itemized receipts and journal rules apply. Pennsylvania licenses title insurance agents separately through the Insurance Department; we could not confirm from an official page whether a notary who only presents and notarizes loan papers needs that license, so ask the hiring title company.[4][12]
Remote online notarization in Pennsylvania
Act 97 made remote online notarization permanent. Any commissioned notary may do it after notifying the Department of State through its online form, with no extra fee or training. You must be physically in Pennsylvania during the act; the signer can be anywhere. You may charge up to $20 per electronic or remote act on top of the regular fee.[3]
Apostilles and authentications
Clients often ask a mobile notary about apostilles. A notary does not issue them. In Pennsylvania, the office that does is the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Notaries, Commissions and Legislation, Room 201 North Office Building, 401 North Street, Harrisburg, and the fee is $15 per document.[13] Send or bring the original notarized document. Walk-in service runs 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays (arrive by 4 p.m.) and no cash is accepted. By mail, pay by check payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Mistakes that get Pennsylvania notaries in trouble
- Missing the 45-day window after appointment to get the bond and register with the county. The commission becomes void and you must reapply.
- Following old guides that say the bond is $10,000. New commissions since March 28, 2026 need a $25,000 bond.
- Letting your commission lapse before renewing, which means taking the exam again.
- Folding travel into the notary fee or skipping the receipt. Notary fees must be stated separately and every charge itemized.
- Writing a Social Security number or full driver's license number in the journal, which the 2026 rules ban.
Watch: Pennsylvania notary basics
Pennsylvania Notary Application Walkthrough: Step-by-Step Guide, from Pennsylvania Association of Notaries. Screen-by-screen walkthrough of the Pennsylvania notary application from a state notary association. Check the bond amount against the 2026 rules.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get a notary license in PA?
State fees are $42 for the application and $65 for each exam attempt, so $107 if you pass the first time. On top of that you pay a course provider for the required 3-hour course, a bonding company for the $25,000 bond, the county to record your commission, and a vendor for your stamp and journal. Those prices are set by each provider, not the state.
Does it cost $10,000 to become a notary?
No. $10,000 was the old bond amount, not a fee. Since March 28, 2026 Pennsylvania requires a $25,000 bond, and you pay a bonding company a premium for it rather than the full amount. The bond protects your customers, not you. Errors and omissions insurance is optional.
How much do PA notaries make?
Pennsylvania publishes no earnings data for notaries. What the state does set is the fee cap: $5 for most acts, $2 for each extra name on an acknowledgment, and up to $20 extra for each electronic or remote act. Mobile notaries may also charge reasonable travel and clerical fees, which must be disclosed in advance and itemized on the receipt.
Is there a downside to becoming a notary?
There are real duties. You must renew every four years, keep a journal of every act, give itemized receipts, and report changes within 30 days. The bond pays customers if you make a mistake, and the bonding company can seek repayment from you. Errors and omissions insurance is not required, so any personal cover is your choice and cost.
Is notary a good side hustle?
The state does not track notary income, so there is no official answer. Keep in mind that the notarial fees themselves are capped at a few dollars per act. Most of what a mobile notary earns comes from clerical fees such as travel, which Pennsylvania allows but requires to be customary, reasonable, disclosed before notarizing and listed on the receipt.
What is the most common mistake made by a notary?
The Department of State does not rank mistakes, but its rules point to the costly ones: missing the 45-day bond and registration deadline, charging more than the fee caps, not itemizing fees on a receipt, recording Social Security numbers in the journal, and notarizing without proper ID. Missing the 45-day deadline voids the commission outright.
Can a Pennsylvania notary do remote online notarization?
Yes. Act 97 made remote online notarization permanent. Notify the Department of State through its online form before your first remote act. There is no extra fee or training. You must be physically in Pennsylvania during the act, and you can charge up to $20 per remote act on top of the regular notary fee.
Sources
Every number on this page comes from one of these official pages. We read them on October 1, 2026.
- Pennsylvania Department of State, Notary Public Fees. pa.gov
- Get your $25,000 bond and register within 45 days. pa.gov
- Electronic or Remote Notarization. pa.gov
- Apply to the Department of State. pa.gov
- Take a 3-hour approved course. pa.gov
- Pass the state exam. pa.gov
- Buy your stamp and journal. pa.gov
- Notify the state before doing remote work. pa.gov
- 4 Pa. Code Chapter 161, Fees. pacodeandbulletin.gov
- Pennsylvania Department of State, Bonding Requirement. pa.gov
- Pennsylvania DOS, Notary Regulations Changes. pa.gov
- Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Producer and Agent Licensing. pa.gov
- Get Document Certifications (Apostilles). pa.gov
- Prothonotary and Recorder of Deeds Registration. pa.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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