1. Confirm You Meet Wisconsin’s Eligibility Requirements. You must:

Be at least 18 years old

Live in Wisconsin or be regularly employed in Wisconsin

Have no disqualifying felony convictions

Be able to read and write English

If you meet these basic requirements, you're ready for the next step.

2. Complete the Wisconsin Notary Public Tutorial (Required)

The Wisconsin DFI provides a free online notary tutorial that covers the duties, responsibilities, and legal expectations of a Notary Public.

This tutorial:

Takes approximately 30–45 minutes

Ends with a short assessment

Must be completed before submitting your application

Save your completion certificate — you will need it during the application process.

3. Obtain Your $500 Wisconsin Notary Surety Bond

Wisconsin requires all notaries to purchase a $500 Notary Bond from a licensed insurance or bonding company. This protects the public — not the notary — in case of errors.

When shopping for a bond:

Look for a bond specifically labeled “Wisconsin Notary Bond”

Many companies bundle the bond with an optional Errors & Omissions (E&O) policy (recommended but not required)

This bond must be in place before you move forward.

4. Purchase Your Wisconsin Notary Stamp (Required Before Applying)

Wisconsin requires applicants to already have their official notary stamp before submitting the application.

Your stamp must include:

Your name (exact match to your application)

“Notary Public”

“State of Wisconsin”

Space for your expiration date

You will upload a sample stamp impression during your application.

5. Complete Your Oath of Office

This is a critically important step that many new notaries overlook.

Before you submit your application, you must:

Take an Oath of Office,

Sign it,

And have your signature notarized by an active Wisconsin Notary Public.

This oath states that you will faithfully perform your duties as a Wisconsin Notary Public.
You will upload the notarized Oath of Office as part of your final application packet.

Tip: Bring a valid ID and your notary bond when meeting with the notary who notarizes your oath.

6. Complete the Wisconsin Notary Public Application

Once you have completed the tutorial, obtained your bond, purchased your stamp, and notarized your Oath of Office, you’re ready to complete the online application.

You will need to upload:

Your Notary Tutorial certificate

Your $500 notary bond

Your notarized Oath of Office

A sample of your notary stamp impression

Your matching signature samples

The $20 application fee

Ensure all names match exactly across every document.

7. Submit Your Application to the Wisconsin DFI

Submit all documents through the DFI’s online submission portal.
Processing typically takes 1–4 weeks.

Your official Notary Public Commission will be emailed to you once approved.

8. Begin Your Wisconsin Notary Practice

Congratulations — you’re officially a Wisconsin Notary Public!

Once you receive your commission, you’re authorized to perform notarizations across the state. If you plan to offer Remote Online Notarization (RON), you’ll need to enroll with an approved platform and complete the RON registration process with the state.