Notary Services Index. Starting August 1, 2024, Illinois residents applying to be Notary Public or Electronic Notary Public must use our online application.You must have also worked or maintained a business in Illinois for 30 days preceding this application. This article and video will show Notaries to fill out each part of a notarial certificate, and common mistakes to avoid. View a list of the available Notary Public forms available from the California Secretary of State's office here. Detailed interactive instructions on how to fill out an Illinois Notary application. If you're an Illinois resident, you can apply to become a notary public online. Non-resident applicants must mail a paper application to the SOS. Take a look at these frequently asked questions about becoming a California Notary, renewing your notary commission and other topics such as notary seals. Complete the Application: Go to the Illinois Secretary of State's website to fill out the online application form.