Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications

Become a notary in District of Columbia

Notaries in District of Columbia are commissioned by the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications. Apply there first. StampSide is a public page after you have used their process. Look up a commission by name or expiration on the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications site.

Official District of Columbia register Register on StampSide

Where to register

Applications go to the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications. Open their page for the current application, not a StampSide form.

Commissioning page
Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications
https://os.dc.gov/page/office-notary-commissions-and-authentications
Official lookup
Official lookup for commissioned notaries in District of Columbia.
https://os.dc.gov/service/search-notary-public

Requirements

What the official page states. If a topic is missing here, that page did not spell it out.

Age and status: 18 or older. U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident (verification may be requested).
Place: Resident or employee in the District with a verifiable physical DC address. Business or government: you may live outside DC but must keep a primary place of business or employment in DC. Dual: live and work in DC. Residential: live in DC at a physical residential address.
Letter of request: Business or government: supervisor letter on agency or company letterhead explaining how notarial services will be used, with supervisor name, title, and contact. Dual and residential: your own statement of how or why the services will be provided.
Fee (as posted): $75 application fee.
Orientation: New applicants, and anyone whose commission has been expired more than 12 months, complete New Notary Orientation. Renewal applicants uncommissioned more than one year also attend orientation.
Bond and supplies: ONCA emails a Provisional Commission Letter, surety-bond form, and oath form. Buy the supplies listed in that letter and obtain the surety bond it requires. The HTML we read does not name a dollar amount for the bond — that is on the provisional letter.

How to get started

Submit the online DC Notary Application
ONCA’s 2026 application is on os.dc.gov / nap.os.dc.gov. Applications are reviewed in at least five business days. Felony conviction, being under 18, a non-physical address, or a revoked commission are listed denial reasons.
Pay, then attend orientation if it applies
After approval, ONCA emails a payment request. New applicants attend orientation; the Provisional Commission Notice is issued within two days of orientation attendance.
Bond, oath, and claim the commission
The 2026 new-applicant guide: complete the oath after orientation; email the completed DC Notary Public Oath Form to [email protected] with subject “Oath Submission” within 60 days of the start date on the Provisional Commission Letter. The commission window closes 60 days from that start date. You may not notarize until the commission certificate has been issued.
Register on StampSide
After you use the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications site, create a public page: photo, where you work, and how clients reach you. Share the URL on emails and invoices. The page stays unpublished until a commission is on file.

Processing time

ONCA says applications are reviewed in at least five business days. After the Provisional Commission Notice, you have a 60-day window to finish (new applicants: 60 to 30 days as that FAQ states it).

Tools after you apply

Official pages and named suppliers already listed in this product. Checkout is on their site — StampSide does not sell stamps.

Bond or E&O
ONCA requires a surety bond; the amount and dates are on the Provisional Commission Letter, not on the public HTML we read.
National Notary Association
Stamp or seal
Purchase the supplies listed in the Provisional Commission Letter. ONCA does not sell stamps.
Named suppliers on StampSide
More suppliers
Notary Rotary, Notary.net, and the National Notary Association are on the supplies list. State-specific seals only.
StampSide supplies list

More official pages

Remote / electronic notarization

A DC Notary Public Commission Endorsement authorizes in-person electronic notarization (IPEN) and/or remote notarization on an existing traditional commission, with approved training, technology registration, and notice to ONCA.

Register, then getting started

StampSide does not commission you — the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications does, on the official site above. Register here for a public page. After you sign up, getting started walks through a photo, your commission when you have it, and an email signature for cards and mail. The page stays unpublished until a commission is on file.

After you are commissioned

Create the page you share. Closers still confirm standing on the official site.

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