Apply first, bond second
Oklahoma does it in a different order than most states: your commission comes first, and the bond comes after.
Your bond has to start on the day it's issued and end on your commission's expiration date, so it can't be written until your commission exists. Apply, clear the background check, then come back for the bond.
What changed on January 1, 2026
Senate Bill 1028 raised the required bond from $1,000 to $10,000 for every application filed on or after January 1, 2026. It also raised the fees and added a background check for everyone.
- Application fee: $50, up from $25
- Renewal fee: $45, up from $20
- Bond filing fee: $25, up from $10
- OSBI background check ($50) for every applicant, new or renewing
A lot of websites still show the old $1,000 number. Our bond is written for the new amount. Already a notary? The renewal guide covers what the change means when you renew.
Who can become an Oklahoma notary
- At least 18 years old
- Able to read and write English
- A legal resident of Oklahoma, or employed within Oklahoma
- No felony conviction
The steps, in order
- Apply with the state. Complete the Oklahoma Application for Notary Public Commission online or by mail and pay the $50 application fee to the Secretary of State. Don't buy a bond yet; in Oklahoma it comes later.
- Complete the background check. The Secretary of State emails instructions to the address on your application. Complete the OSBI background check ($50). The state reviews the results; allow 2 to 4 weeks. If approved, your commission is sent to you.
- Get your bond. The issue date on your commission starts a 60-day clock. Buy your $30 package: the $10,000 bond the state requires, underwritten by American Surety Company, with $10,000 of E&O included at no additional cost. Order your seal at the same time; you'll need it at the next step.
- Take your oath. Take your bond form and your seal to a current Oklahoma notary. They administer your loyalty oath and your oath of office, watch you sign and add your seal impression, and complete the notarizations the bond form requires. You can't notarize your own bond.
- File your bond. File the completed bond with the Secretary of State, online or by mail, with the $25 filing fee, no more than 60 days after your commission was issued. You file this yourself; we don't file it for you. Then you're ready to notarize.
The last three steps all happen inside the 60-day window. Our guide to the 60-day filing rule walks through them in detail.
What it costs
| Item | Paid to | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma notary bond, $10,000, 4 years, with $10,000 of E&O included | Sooner Notary Bond | $30 |
| Notary commission application | Oklahoma Secretary of State | $50 |
| Background check | OSBI | $50 |
| Bond filing fee | Oklahoma Secretary of State | $25 |
| Total before your seal and oath visit | $155 |
The notary who administers your oaths may charge up to $5 per notarial act, the state maximum. Many charge less or nothing. You also need the official seal, which you buy from any notary supply company that follows the Oklahoma seal requirements.
The bond protects the public, and the E&O included in your package protects you. Our guide to the notary bond versus E&O explains the difference.
Mistakes that slow people down
- Buying the bond before applying. In Oklahoma the commission comes first. The bond must start on its issue date and end on the commission's expiration date, so it is written after the commission arrives.
- Counting from the wrong day. The 60-day clock runs from the issue date printed on your commission, not the day it reaches you.
- Showing up to the oath visit without a seal. The notary watches you add your seal impression to the bond form, so the seal has to exist before the visit. Your seal shows your name exactly as it appears on your commission, so order it after your commission arrives.
- Trying to notarize your own bond. A current Oklahoma notary has to complete the notarizations on your bond form.
Oklahoma notary bond. $30.
Commission in hand? Then the bond is your next step: the $10,000 bond with $10,000 of E&O included. Your documents are emailed after purchase.
Get My BondHaven't applied yet? Start with the state, and come back when your commission arrives.
See the full Oklahoma notary bond price breakdown and step-by-step process.
Common questions
Do I buy the Oklahoma notary bond before or after I apply?
After. Oklahoma is one of the few states where the commission comes first. Apply, complete the background check, and wait for your commission to arrive. Then buy the bond, take your oath, and file the bond within 60 days of the issue date.
What does becoming an Oklahoma notary cost?
$30 to us for the bond with E&O included, $50 to the Secretary of State to apply, $50 for the OSBI background check, and $25 to file your bond: $155 before your seal and the notary who administers your oath (capped at $5 per notarial act).
Didn't Oklahoma only require a $1,000 bond?
It did, until January 1, 2026. Senate Bill 1028 raised the required bond to $10,000 for every application filed on or after that date, raised the application fee to $50, the renewal fee to $45, and the bond filing fee to $25, and added a background check for everyone. A lot of websites still show the old $1,000 number. Our bond is written for the new amount.
How long does the background check review take?
The state's own guidance is to allow 2 to 4 weeks for the review of your OSBI background check results. Approval timing is up to the Secretary of State and OSBI.
Is the Oklahoma notary bond the same as insurance?
No. The bond protects the public, not you. If a notarization mistake leads to a claim, the surety pays and then collects that amount back from you. E&O is the coverage that protects you, and the $30 Sooner Notary Bond package includes $10,000 of it.
Sources: Oklahoma Secretary of State, notary filing · Apply for a notary commission · Oklahoma Notary Public Guide (PDF) · Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI)