How to Become a Notary Public in New Mexico

Checked against New Mexico Secretary of State · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 4 years
State fee: $30
Bond: $10,000 surety bond (or functional equivalent) from a surety authorized in New Mexico
Commissioned by: New Mexico Secretary of State

Take the free notary practice test →

Who can apply

Be at least 18 years old.
Live in New Mexico or have a place of work there.
Be able to read and write English.
Complete the state notary education course and pass the exam.
Have no notary commission denied, suspended, or revoked in another state.
Have no felony, or crime of fraud, dishonesty, or deceit, in the last five years.
Not be disqualified under NMSA 14-14A-22.

Step by step

Take the state-approved notary education course and pass the exam. Save the certificate.
Get a $10,000 surety bond from a surety authorized in New Mexico. Have your signature on it notarized by another notary.
Take the Oath of Office before a current New Mexico notarial officer and have it notarized.
Apply online at the Secretary of State's enterprise portal and upload your course certificate, oath, and bond as PDFs.
Pay the $30 filing fee by e-check or credit card.
Within 45 days of approval, buy your official stamp and file a Notary Public Stamp Registration.
Keep a journal of every notarial act.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: New Mexico State Notary Qualification course from the Secretary of State's approved provider (the National Notary Association); fee paid to the vendor ($30 per the RULONA FAQ).

Exam: Exam taken with the approved provider's course; 80% or higher to pass.

Practice for the notary exam free — role & powers, prohibited acts, and procedures & recordkeeping →

What it costs in New Mexico

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Notary course and exam (paid to the approved vendor)$30
$10,000 surety bond premium$
Notarization of your bond signature and oath$
Application filing fee (Secretary of State)$30
Official stamp$
Notary journal$
Remote online notary application(optional)$75

Estimated total in New Mexico$60Plus 4 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Course and exam fee paid to the vendor ($30)
Surety bond premium
Official stamp
Notary journal (required)

Pay in New Mexico

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What other sites get wrong about New Mexico

Myth: You apply for a New Mexico notary commission by mailing the application with a check or money order.

Fact: The Secretary of State says the application must be completed online at enterprise.sos.nm.gov with PDF uploads, and the $30 fee is paid by e-check or credit card; paper applications are mailed only on request. source

After you're commissioned

Renewal: Renew online any time up to expiration; you skip the course and exam if you took them after January 1, 2022 and your commission has not been expired over a year, and you must register your stamp within 45 days.

Remote online notarization: Yes. A commissioned notary completes the separate Remote Online Notary course and exam, then files an online RON application with a $75 fee and registers the electronic stamp within 45 days.

Good to know in New Mexico

What you can charge: Up to $5 per acknowledgment, jurat, or oath without a signature, and $0.50 per page for copy certifications with a $5 minimum, plus up to a $25 technology fee per electronic act (NMSA 1978, section 14-14A-28, per the Secretary of State's handbook). A travel fee is allowed if agreed in advance.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with New Mexico Secretary of State before you apply.