Electronic and remote notary
How to Become a New York Electronic Notary (2026)
A currently commissioned New York notary may register the capability to perform electronic notarial acts through a separate electronic notary application. Remote acts require compliant technology, identity verification, electronic credentials, journals, and audiovisual records.
Reviewed August 2026. Always confirm current instructions with the official agencies linked below.
Traditional commission
Required first
Registration fee
$60
Remote act fee
Up to $25
Recording retention
10 years
Apply for electronic notary authority
An applicant must first be a New York notary. In New York Business Express, search for the electronic Notary Public commission, locate the existing record, and complete the separate online process.
When the electronic commission is issued, the traditional license is automatically canceled and the new electronic-notary identification number is used for all notarizations, including traditional acts.
Submit the electronic exemplar
After issuance, use the dashboard to submit an exemplar containing the electronic signature and seal plus information about the digital-credential service provider. A typed name is not an acceptable digital version of the signature.
Submit or update an exemplar for each provider as instructed. Confirm the provider’s system meets New York requirements; using a platform does not shift the notary’s statutory responsibility.
Remote appearance and location rules
The notary must be physically located in New York during the remote act, although the signer may be elsewhere. Additional jurisdictional conditions apply when the signer is outside the United States.
Use compliant communication technology and identity-verification procedures, confirm the remotely signed record is the same record presented for officiating, and include the required statement in a remote jurat.
Journal and audiovisual recording
All New York notaries keep the required journal for ten years. Electronic notaries also record the communication session and retain the audiovisual record for at least ten years with the other required electronic-act information.
Protect records and credentials from unauthorized access and maintain retrievable backups. Do not proceed when identity proofing, communication, or document integrity fails.
Fees and papering out
An electronic notary may charge up to $25 per electronic notarial act, inclusive of the notary’s costs. The state FAQ says $2 may be charged for the certificate of authenticity used to paper out an electronically created and notarized record.
Disclose charges clearly and distinguish the statutory notarial fee from any separate, lawful service that the customer knowingly requests.
Frequently asked questions
Must I already be a New York notary?
Yes.
What happens to my traditional license?
It is automatically canceled when the electronic commission is issued, and the electronic UID is used for all acts.
Where must the notary be during a remote act?
The electronic notary must be physically located in New York.
How long are recordings kept?
At least ten years.
Official sources
Continue preparing
Practice the rules in exam-style scenarios and explore the rest of the New York commissioning process.
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