How to become a notary in Texas

Texas notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State (SOS). Here is the process in short steps, from official sources only.

Who can apply

You must be a Texas resident, at least 18, and have no final conviction for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude (SOS Notary FAQs).

Review the SOS Notary FAQs.
Complete the notary education requirement in the SOS Notary Portal (required under SB693).
Read the SOS application instructions (PDF).
Get a notary surety bond from a Texas-licensed bonding company.
Submit your application in SOSPortal.

Before you start, you need a $10,000 bond with a surety company authorized in Texas (Gov’t Code §406.010).

The law sets these fees, paid to the SOS (Gov’t Code §406.007):

Bonding companies and education providers may charge their own fees on top.

A commission lasts four years (SOS Notary FAQs).
You can apply to renew no earlier than 90 days before it expires. If you miss the date, the new term runs four years from when you qualify (§406.011).
Renew through the SOS Notary Portal (SOS Notary FAQs).

You can add an online notary commission (SOS Notary Public page, FAQs):

Complete the education requirement and follow the online application instructions (PDF).
Get an X.509-compliant digital certificate and an electronic seal from a third-party company, and submit them with the application. SOS does not recommend vendors.
The online commission ends on the same date as your traditional commission. Renew the traditional one first.
If your certificate or seal expires, replace it and send SOS a copy within 10 days.