How to Become an Online Notary in Utah

Utah allows commissioned notaries to perform Remote Online Notarizations, commonly called RON. Instead of requiring the signer and notary to meet in the same physical location, an authorized Utah remote notary can perform qualifying notarizations using approved audio-video communication technology.

Becoming a Utah remote notary requires more than simply holding a traditional notary commission. Utah requires a separate remote notary certification, additional bond coverage, electronic notary credentials, and an approved RON technology provider.

Step 1: Become a Commissioned Utah Notary Public

If you already hold an active Utah Notary Public commission, you can move on to the remote-notary requirements below.

If you're starting from scratch, you'll first need to qualify for a traditional Utah notary commission.

Generally, Utah requires a notary applicant to:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a U.S. citizen or qualifying permanent resident.
• Lawfully reside in Utah or meet Utah's qualifying employment requirement.
• Be able to read, write, and understand English.
• Take and pass Utah's online notary examination.
• Complete the required background-check process.
• Obtain the required notarial bond.
• Complete and submit the required Oath of Office.

That makes the current state cost for the initial traditional notary application and examination $95, before the cost of the required bond, stamp, journal, and other supplies.

A traditional Utah notary must also obtain a $5,000 notarial bond.

Step 2: Set Up Your Required Utah Notary Journal

Utah updated its journal requirements in 2026.

Notaries whose existing commission was issued before that date generally become subject to the newer traditional-journal requirement when they receive their next commission.

Remote notaries have an additional requirement: Utah remote notaries must maintain a secure electronic journal for their remote notarizations.

Step 3: Choose a Utah-Approved RON Technology Provider

Once you have an active Utah notary commission, you'll need to choose the technology you intend to use for remote notarizations.

Utah requires a remote-notary applicant to be hired by or contracted with an approved Remote Online Notary technology provider.

A standard video meeting platform by itself is not enough. Utah's approved RON technology is designed to support requirements such as:

• Live two-way audio-video communication.
• Identity proofing.
• Credential analysis or other identity-authentication methods.
• Electronic document signing.
• Electronic notary credentials.
• Audio-video session recording.
• Electronic journals.
• Audit trails and transaction security.
• Secure record retention.

This means Utah notaries can use Online Notary Center as their RON technology provider after completing the applicable Utah certification and platform setup requirements.

Step 4: Increase Your Utah Notarial Bond to $10,000

A traditional Utah Notary Public begins with a $5,000 notarial bond.

To qualify for remote-notary certification, Utah requires $10,000 in total notarial bond coverage.

You generally have two options:

1. Ask your current surety provider to increase your existing $5,000 bond to $10,000 through a rider or adjustment.
2. Obtain an additional $5,000 bond that aligns with your existing Utah notary commission term.

Online Notary Center currently requires notaries using its platform to carry at least $25,000 in E&O insurance coverage. That is an Online Notary Center platform requirement rather than the Utah state RON bond requirement.

Step 5: Obtain Your Electronic Notary Seal and Signature

Remote notarizations use electronic credentials rather than relying only on a physical notary stamp.

Utah's remote-notary application process requires applicants to obtain their electronic signature and electronic seal through their approved RON technology provider before submitting the application.

The electronic seal and signature must comply with Utah's technical requirements and be attached to the electronic notarial certificate in a way that makes later changes or modifications detectable.

When using Online Notary Center, your electronic notary credentials are incorporated into the platform's RON workflow. Online Notary Center currently uses IdenTrust digital certificates for notaries using its platform.

Step 6: Submit Your Utah Remote Online Notary Application

Once you have your traditional commission, approved provider, increased bond coverage, and electronic credentials, you can apply for Utah remote-notary certification.

The current process generally requires:

1. An active Utah Notary Public commission.
2. A relationship with an approved Utah RON technology provider.
3. A notarized Remote Online Notary Oath and Affirmation.
4. Evidence of your $10,000 bond coverage or qualifying bond rider.
5. A PDF containing your electronic signature and electronic seal.
6. Submission of the required application information to the Utah Lieutenant Governor's Notary Office.

Step 7: Pay the $50 Utah RON Application Fee

Utah currently charges a separate fee for remote-notary certification.

This fee is separate from the application and examination fees required to obtain your traditional Utah Notary Public commission.

Once your application has been processed and approved, Utah will confirm your remote-notary status. You should not begin performing remote notarizations until your Utah RON certification is active.

Step 8: Properly Identify the Remote Signer

Identity verification is a critical part of every remote online notarization.

Utah requires the remote notary and signer to communicate simultaneously by sight and sound through compliant electronic technology.

When the signer is not personally known to the notary, the RON process may involve identity-verification methods such as:

• Government-issued identification.
• Credential analysis.
• Dynamic knowledge-based authentication, or KBA.
• Biometric identity analysis.
• Other authentication methods allowed under Utah requirements.

Your approved RON provider plays an important role in supporting the required identity-authentication process.

Step 9: Be Physically Located in Utah During the Notarization

Remote notarization allows the signer and notary to participate from different locations, but Utah places an important restriction on the commissioned notary.

The remotely located signer does not need to be physically present in the same room as the notary.

This gives Utah remote notaries significantly more geographic flexibility than traditional face-to-face appointments, subject to Utah law and any requirements applicable to the document or transaction.

Step 10: Maintain a Secure Electronic Journal

All Utah remote notaries must maintain a secure electronic journal for remote notarizations.

The journal should document information associated with the transaction, including applicable details such as:

• Date and time of the notarial act.
• Type of notarial act performed.
• Description or title of the document.
• Signer information.
• How the signer's identity was established.
• Information concerning secondary identity authentication.
• Applicable oath or affirmation information.
• Fees charged, when applicable.

The electronic journal must be protected against unauthorized access and maintained according to Utah's current security and retention requirements.

Step 11: Keep RON Records and Recordings for 10 Years

Utah significantly updated its remote-notary record retention requirements in 2026.

This requirement may continue even after the individual stops serving as a notary.

The records must be protected against unauthorized access or use, and appropriate backups must be maintained.

Utah allows qualifying custodians or electronic repositories to store required records on behalf of the notary when the applicable requirements are satisfied.

How Much Can a Utah Remote Online Notary Charge?

Utah establishes maximum fees for notarial acts.

Traditional notarial acts are generally subject to maximum fees based on the type of notarial service performed.

This is a maximum amount, not a required charge. A Utah remote notary may choose to charge less.

How Much Does It Cost to Become an Online Notary in Utah?

Your total cost depends on whether you already hold an active Utah Notary Public commission.

If you already have an active Utah traditional notary commission, the main additional state-specific requirements include increasing your total bond coverage to $10,000 and paying the $50 RON application fee.

Does Utah Require a Separate Remote Notary Certification?

Yes. Holding a traditional Utah Notary Public commission by itself does not authorize you to conduct Remote Online Notarizations.

You must maintain an active traditional commission and obtain Utah remote-notary certification before conducting RON sessions.

Your remote-notary authority is connected to your underlying Utah commission. When you receive a new traditional commission, you should complete Utah's required remote-certification process again before continuing to perform RON.

Does Utah Require a Separate RON Training Course?

Utah's current remote-notary application checklist does not list a separate RON-specific course or examination as a prerequisite for remote certification.

Instead, applicants must already hold a Utah Notary Public commission, work with an approved vendor, obtain the required bond coverage and electronic credentials, submit the required RON documentation, and pay the applicable application fee.

Your traditional Utah notary commission does require successfully completing Utah's examination and the other state commissioning requirements.

Even without a separate RON examination, remote notaries should fully understand Utah's identity-verification, electronic-signature, electronic-seal, journal, recording, fee, and record-retention requirements before performing their first remote session.

Utah Online Notary Checklist

Ready to Become an Online Notary in Utah?

Becoming a Utah online notary can give you more flexibility in how you serve your clients and operate your notary business.

Start by making sure your Utah Notary Public commission is active. Then choose an approved RON provider, increase your bond coverage to $10,000, obtain your electronic notary credentials, submit your remote-notary application, and receive approval from the Utah Lieutenant Governor's Notary Office.

Online Notary Center is currently listed as an active Utah-approved Remote Online Notary technology provider, giving commissioned Utah notaries access to a platform built specifically for secure remote notarization.

With Online Notary Center, you can bring your existing clients online and manage remote notarization sessions through a purpose-built RON workflow.