How to Become a Notary Public in Wisconsin

Checked against Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 4 years
State fee: $20 (4-year commission); $50 (attorney permanent commission)
Bond: $500 surety bond from a company licensed to write surety bonds in Wisconsin (4-year commission only; not required for attorney permanent commissions)
Commissioned by: Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)

Take the free notary practice test →

Who can apply

Be a U.S. resident at least 18 years old.
Have the equivalent of an 8th grade education.
Know the duties and responsibilities of a notary.
Have no arrest or conviction record that affects your ability to hold a position of public trust.
Wisconsin-licensed attorneys may instead apply for a permanent commission.

Step by step

Take the free online Notary Tutorial and pass the exam with 90% or better. Print the certificate.
Buy a $500 surety bond. Sign the bond form, then have the bonding company complete it.
Buy an engraved seal or rubber stamp showing "State of Wisconsin," "Notary Public," and your name with your full current last name.
Fill out the 4-year application, stamp it, and sign it.
Sign the Oath of Office in front of a current notarial officer.
Upload the application, oath, bond form, and exam certificate online (MyWisconsin ID needed) or mail them with a $20 check or money order to WDFI.
Wait for DFI's email confirming your commission before you notarize.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Required online Notary Tutorial from DFI, completed before the exam.

Exam: DFI online exam at the end of the tutorial; score 90% or better; must be passed within one year before applying; may be retaken.

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

What it costs in Wisconsin

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

DFI online Notary Tutorial and exam$0
$500 surety bond premium$
Engraved seal or rubber stamp (needed before you apply)$
Notarizing your Oath of Office$
Four-year application fee$20

Estimated total in Wisconsin$20Plus 3 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Surety bond premium
Seal or rubber stamp
Certificate of good standing from the Wisconsin Supreme Court, $3 (attorneys only)

Pay in Wisconsin

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

What other sites get wrong about Wisconsin

Myth: You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to be a Wisconsin notary.

Fact: Wisconsin requires four-year applicants to be U.S. residents at least 18 years old; the law does not require citizenship (Wis. Stat. 140.02(1)(a)). source

After you're commissioned

Renewal: Within 6 months before expiration, pass the tutorial exam again and file a new 4-year application with the $20 fee (DFI suggests at least three weeks early).

Remote online notarization: Yes. A commissioned notary registers with a DFI-approved remote technology provider, which notifies DFI; no separate state application is described.

Good to know in Wisconsin

What you can charge: Under Wis. Stat. 140.02(9)(e), the fee for taking an acknowledgment or other notarial service may not exceed $5 per document.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) before you apply.