How to Become an Arizona Notary

Here is a step-by-step guide to become a notary in Arizona. Notaries.com handles all of these requirements through our easy application, so rest-assured you have everything you need to become a notary!

1) Meet State of Arizona Notary Requirements to be a Notary Public

In order to become a Notary in the State of Arizona, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be a United States Citizen
  • A legal Arizona resident
  • At least 18-years old
  • You must not have had a felony conviction
  • Able to read and write English
  • If you are renewing, you must have not had your Notary Commission revoked in the past four years.

2) Purchase a Notary Bond

All notaries must purchase a $5,000 surety bond. The state does not provide these bonds. The bond must be purchased from a notary bonding agency. Your first step is to purchase your notary bond and print a copy of it from notaries.com. You will also be pre-ordering your custom notary seal and any other notary supplies you wish to include. Your notary bond will print with a page of detailed instructions to help you complete a correct application at the state website. PLEASE NOTE: The state does not allow bonds for renewing notaries to be issued more than 60 days prior to your current expiration date. However, if you place your order with notaries.com prior to the 60 day period we will issue your bond on the appropriate day so that you may complete your renewal application process with the state in a timely fashion.

3) Fill out the State Application

The Arizona Notary Application must be completed online, and printed from, the state's website. Keep in mind that the application process is simpler if you purchase a bond before applying. The state website will ask you specific questions about your bond as you complete the application. Without the bond you will not be able to complete the state application. If you purchase a bond after you have started the application, the process becomes significantly more complicated.

4) Have your Bond Notarized

You must sign your notary bond in the presence of another Arizona notary (have it NOTARIZED) before it is submitted to the state with your notary application. Renewing notaries may not notarize their own bond.

5) Submit Application

You will be submitting your notary bond, which you purchased from notaries.com and had notarized along with your notary application, which you completed and printed from the state website, directly to the state. You must submit the original documents. You will include a check in the amount of $43.00 for the Arizona notary state filing fee. The check is to be made payable to the Arizona Secretary of State. The fee is only payable by check. Notaries.com does not collect the state fee from you when you purchase the bond and supplies. Submit your completed notary application packet directly it to the state of Arizona at:

Office of Secretary of State
Business Services Division, Notary Section
1700 West Washington, 7th Floor
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2888

6) Wait for your Notary Commission Certificate

After you've submitted your application to the state, it may take up to 6 weeks for you to receive your Notary Commission Certificate. The state will email the certificate to the email address you provided when you completed your state application

7) Receive your Notary Stamp

The State of Arizona requires all Arizona Notaries to have a notary stamp. You will pre-order your stamp from notaries.com when you purchase your notary bond. This stamp must have:

  • Notary's name as it appeared on the application and bond.
  • The name of the county the notary is commissioned in
  • The notary commission's expiration date

Because the expiration date is required, notaries.com cannot manufacture your notary stamp until you've received your Notary Commission Certificate with your expiration date listed on it. When you receive your Notary Commission Certificate from the state you will forward an emailed copy or scan and email a copy to info@notaries.com. The state requires notaries.com to receive a copy of your certificate before we can manufacture your stamp. REMEMBER TO TAKE THE FINAL STEP OF SENDING A COPY OF YOUR CERTIFICATE TO NOTARIES.COM. We will then manufacture your notary stamp that will meet or exceed state specifications and promptly ship it to you.

The state of Arizona requires all notaries to keep a journal of their work, so you must purchase and keep a journal before you can begin your work. You can purchase the notary record keeping journal from notaries.com.