How to Become a Notary Public in South Dakota

Checked against South Dakota Secretary of State, Notary Division · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Not required
Training: Not required
Term: 6 years
State fee: $30
Bond: None stated
Commissioned by: South Dakota Secretary of State, Notary Division

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Who can apply

Be of legal age (you swear in the oath that you are).
Live in South Dakota, OR live in a county that borders South Dakota and work or do business in South Dakota.
Never have been convicted of a felony.

Step by step

Buy a notary seal (rubber, electronic or embossing) showing your name exactly as you will be commissioned, plus 'Notary Public' and 'South Dakota' (rubber stamps must also say 'seal').
Fill out the Notary Public Application & Oath, put a clear imprint of your seal in the box, and answer every question.
Fill out and sign the oath section exactly as your name appears on the seal.
Mail the original application with the $30 filing fee (check payable to 'Secretary of State') to Secretary of State, 500 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 204, Pierre, SD 57501.
Wait for your Notary Commission Certificate before you notarize anything.

Official application →

No state exam here, but notaries are liable for mistakes. Check your notary knowledge with the free practice test →

What it costs in South Dakota

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

Notary seal (rubber, electronic or embossing)$
Application filing fee (Secretary of State)$30
"My Commission Expires" date stamp(optional)$
Surety bond (optional since July 1, 2025)$

Estimated total in South Dakota$30Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Notary seal
Optional 'My Commission Expires' date stamp
Optional surety bond (kept in your own records, not filed)

Pay in South Dakota

Before you compare job offers, see what a paycheck takes home in South Dakota after taxes.

What other sites get wrong about South Dakota

Myth: South Dakota requires every notary to buy a $5,000 surety bond.

Fact: Since July 1, 2025, a surety bond is no longer required to apply for or renew a South Dakota notary commission; you send only the application, oath and $30 fee. source

After you're commissioned

Renewal: Mail the same application and oath with the $30 fee no more than 60 days before your commission expires.

Remote online notarization: Yes. Remote ink notarization on paper documents is allowed for signers the notary personally knows (since 2019), and remote online notarization on electronic records was added in 2024. To offer electronic services, mark the e-notary question on your application and list your tamper-evident vendor; if you are already commissioned, file a Notary Change Form naming each tamper-evident notarization system you will use before performing electronic notarizations.

Good to know in South Dakota

What you can charge: South Dakota sets no dollar cap: under SDCL 18-1-9 a notary may charge a fee for each instrument notarized, but may not charge anything for notarizing an absentee ballot (or ballot request).

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with South Dakota Secretary of State, Notary Division before you apply.