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Professional & Business license portability
Notary Public license reciprocity by state
Notary Public reciprocity varies state-by-state — 23 of the 50 states and DC offer paperwork-based pathways, while 17 require either a re-exam or a fresh application from scratch. Each row below links to the state's official licensing board and lists the specific reciprocal states where we have them.
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11 states recognize
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12 via endorsement
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17 not recognized
Reciprocity tier legend
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Recognized
Existing license or national cert accepted directly.
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Endorsement
Apply for a new license — paperwork, fees, no re-exam.
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Exam required
Must retake the state exam or complete state-specific training.
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Not recognized
No reciprocity pathway. Satisfy state requirements from scratch.
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No license required
State does not license this profession.
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Check with board
The state publishes no clear transfer rule. Contact the licensing board.
All 50 states + DC
Each row shows the destination state's reciprocity tier, the board's own language behind it, and a link to the official state licensing board.
| State | Reciprocity tier | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | help_outline Check with board | None specified Official state board arrow_outward |
| Alaska | help_outline Check with board | None Official state board arrow_outward |
| Arizona | block Not recognized | Arizona does not offer reciprocity. Notary commissions are not transferable between states. However, an Arizona remote notary, if physically located in Arizona, may notarize documents for a person located anywhere in the world. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Arkansas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Residents of bordering states who are employed in Arkansas, or nonresident spouses of U.S. military members employed or operating a business in Arkansas, are eligible. Official state board arrow_outward |
| California | block Not recognized | California does not offer reciprocity with other states. A California notary public can only perform notarizations within the borders of California. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Colorado | block Not recognized | Colorado does not have reciprocity with other states; however, it recognizes notarial acts performed outside of Colorado by authorized officials as long as they adhere to Colorado's laws. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Connecticut | block Not recognized | Connecticut recognizes notarial acts performed in other states with the same effect as if performed by a Connecticut notary, provided the act was performed by a notary public of that state. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Delaware | help_outline Check with board | None Official state board arrow_outward |
| District of Columbia | block Not recognized | Not specified. Notary commissions are generally not transferable between states. DC commissions can only be used within the District of Columbia. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Florida | block Not recognized | Florida does not have reciprocity with other states; applicants must be legal residents of Florida. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Georgia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Residents of states bordering Georgia (Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee) may apply if regularly employed or carrying on a business or profession in the Georgia county of application. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Hawaii | help_outline Check with board | None Official state board arrow_outward |
| Idaho | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Idaho does not have reciprocity with other states, but non-residents who are employed or doing business in Idaho may become an Idaho Notary Public. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Illinois | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Residents of bordering states (Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, or Wisconsin) may be commissioned if they work or maintain a business in Illinois for at least 30 days and their home state has reciprocal provisions. Non-resident commissions are for a one-year term. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Indiana | help_outline Check with board | The board publishes no clear transfer rule for out-of-state applicants. Contact the state licensing board directly. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Iowa | block Not recognized | Iowa does not have reciprocity with other states; however, notarial acts performed in other states are recognized in Iowa if performed according to federal law or the laws of the jurisdiction where the act was performed. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Kansas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Residents of bordering states (Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, or Oklahoma) who regularly carry on a business or profession in Kansas or are regularly employed in Kansas may be commissioned as a Kansas Notary Public. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Kentucky | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Kentucky offers a 'Special Commission Notary' for residents or non-residents appointed by the Governor to perform notarial acts inside or outside the state for documents recorded only in Kentucky. Generally, a notarial act performed in another state has the same effect in Kentucky if performed by a notary public of that state. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Louisiana | check_circle Recognized | Reciprocity exists within specific groups of Louisiana parishes, allowing a notary commissioned in one parish within a group to notarize in others within that same group without additional bonding or examination. Non-attorney notaries who pass the statewide exam on or after June 13, 2005, can obtain statewide jurisdiction. Otherwise, jurisdiction is parish-wide. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Maine | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maine recognizes online notarizations properly performed by notaries of other states. A resident of New Hampshire who is regularly employed or carries on a trade in Maine may also be commissioned as a Maine Notary Public. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Maryland | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maryland residents working out-of-state may be commissioned if their home state allows Maryland residents to serve as notaries reciprocally. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Massachusetts | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Notary commissions are generally not transferable between states. Non-residents who work in Massachusetts may apply. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Michigan | block Not recognized | Michigan does not have reciprocity with other states; a Michigan notary cannot perform notarial acts outside of Michigan, and notaries from other states cannot perform acts within Michigan. However, a notarial act performed in another state by a notary public authorized in that state has the same effect under Michigan law as if performed by a Michigan notary. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Minnesota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Residents of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin may be commissioned if they designate a Minnesota county for filing and the MN Secretary of State as their agent for service of process. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Mississippi | help_outline Check with board | None Official state board arrow_outward |
| Missouri | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Missouri does not have reciprocity with other states. Non-residents working in Missouri may apply. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Montana | check_circle Recognized | Montana notaries may perform notarial acts in North Dakota and Wyoming if those states recognize Montana's authority. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Nebraska | block Not recognized | Nebraska recognizes online notarizations properly performed by notaries of other states. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Nevada | check_circle Recognized | Nevada recognizes notarial acts performed in other states. Non-residents of Nevada residing in bordering states (California, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, or Arizona) may be commissioned if regularly employed in Nevada. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Hampshire | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont (for residents of these states who meet specific employment/business criteria in NH and are already commissioned notaries in their home state) Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Jersey | check_circle Recognized | New Jersey recognizes notarial acts performed by notaries in other states or countries if performed according to their laws. New Jersey notaries cannot perform notarizations while physically outside of New Jersey, but can perform remote online notarizations for clients in other states if RON is accepted in that state. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New Mexico | help_outline Check with board | Not specified, but prior commission denial/suspension/revocation in another state is disqualifying. Official state board arrow_outward |
| New York | block Not recognized | New York does not have reciprocity with other states for Notary Public commissions. However, a New York Notary Public may file a certificate of official character in other New York State county clerks' offices. Official state board arrow_outward |
| North Carolina | block Not recognized | North Carolina does not offer reciprocity for commissioning. However, notarial acts performed in other jurisdictions are valid in North Carolina if performed in compliance with the laws of that jurisdiction, the laws of North Carolina, or federal law. Official state board arrow_outward |
| North Dakota | help_outline Check with board | Montana Official state board arrow_outward |
| Ohio | block Not recognized | None Official state board arrow_outward |
| Oklahoma | help_outline Check with board | The board publishes no clear transfer rule for out-of-state applicants. Contact the state licensing board directly. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Oregon | block Not recognized | Oregon does not have reciprocity with other states. Notaries must be physically located in Oregon to perform notarial acts. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Pennsylvania | check_circle Recognized | Pennsylvania recognizes online notarizations that are properly performed by notaries of other states. Notarial acts validly performed under the laws of other states, territories, U.S. Indian tribes and foreign countries are also recognized. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Rhode Island | check_circle Recognized | Rhode Island recognizes notarial acts performed in other states if performed by a notary public of that state. Official state board arrow_outward |
| South Carolina | check_circle Recognized | South Carolina recognizes notarial acts performed in other states if performed by a notary public of that state and in accordance with federal law or the laws of the jurisdiction where the notarial certificate was made. Official state board arrow_outward |
| South Dakota | block Not recognized | South Dakota does not have reciprocity with other states for notary commissions. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Tennessee | block Not recognized | Tennessee notaries cannot exercise their duties outside of Tennessee. Notary commissions are generally not transferable between states. However, a person with a principal place of business in a Tennessee county may be elected a notary in that county even if their residence is in another state. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Texas | block Not recognized | Texas does not have reciprocity with other states. However, an escrow agent residing in a state adjacent to Texas may qualify as a Texas Notary without meeting the residency requirement. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Utah | check_circle Recognized | Utah recognizes notarial acts performed in other states. However, a Utah notary cannot perform notarizations outside of Utah. Remote Online Notaries in Utah can notarize for signers located anywhere, as long as the notary is physically in Utah. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Vermont | check_circle Recognized | Vermont recognizes online notarizations that are properly performed by notaries of other states. A notarial act performed in another state has the same effect under Vermont law as if performed by a Vermont notary public, if performed by a notary public of that state. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Virginia | block Not recognized | Virginia Notaries may notarize a document inside or outside the Commonwealth if the document will be used in Virginia or by the U.S. government. Notary commissions are generally not transferable between states. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Washington | check_circle Recognized | Washington recognizes notarial acts performed in other states if performed by a notary public of that state, with the same effect as if performed by a Washington notary. However, Washington notaries cannot perform duties outside of Washington's geographical boundaries. Official state board arrow_outward |
| West Virginia | check_circle Recognized | West Virginia recognizes notarial acts performed in other states by a notary public of that state, provided the act is performed according to the laws of that state. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Wisconsin | help_outline Check with board | None specified. Wisconsin notaries cannot perform acts outside of Wisconsin. Official state board arrow_outward |
| Wyoming | help_outline Check with board | Montana Official state board arrow_outward |
Notary Public reciprocity: common questions
Does a notary public license transfer to another state?
Notary Public reciprocity varies state-by-state — 23 of the 50 states and DC offer paperwork-based pathways, while 17 require either a re-exam or a fresh application from scratch. It depends on the destination state — see the state-by-state table above.
Which states accept an out-of-state notary public license directly?
11 states recognize an existing license or national credential without a new state exam: Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia. Confirm with the destination state's board before you move — rules change.
Which states license out-of-state notary publics by endorsement?
12 states issue a new license by endorsement — an application, fees and verification of your current credential, typically without retaking the main exam: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire. Confirm with the destination state's board before you move — rules change.
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How this was compiled · Last updated 2026-10-15
Reciprocity tiers and summaries are compiled from each state's licensing board and department of professional regulation — linked per row above — and reviewed against public board guidance. Licensing rules change frequently and often depend on your license class (for example journeyman vs. master) and the specific states involved. Always confirm current requirements directly with the destination state's board before making a career or relocation decision. This page is informational and is not legal or licensing advice.
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Each profession has its own state-by-state reciprocity matrix.
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