How to become a notary in Kansas
Eligibility, a $12,000 bond, fees and the oath, in the order you'll do them — from the Kansas Secretary of State.
Step by step
- Check that you qualify — 18+, Kansas resident, or a resident of a bordering state (MO, NE, OK, CO) who has a regular place of employment or practice in Kansas; Must read and write English; not disqualified under K.S.A. 53-5a24 (e.g. conviction of any felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit; prior revocation).
- Buy a $12,000 surety bond — $12,000 commercial surety bond for the 4-year term (applications on/after Jan 1, 2022), from a surety licensed or authorized in Kansas; the surety completes Section C of Form NO. No separate bond for RON/IPEN..
- Apply to the Kansas Secretary of State — Pay the $25 state fee. Other fees: Stamp, bond premium and journal bought privately; $20 RON registration fee if adding remote notarization; no fee for a name change.
- Take the oath and file it — Swear the Kansas notary oath before another notary, who completes Section B of Form NO (or Form NO-O); oath, bond and stamp impression go in with the application. Do not notarize until the status shows active with an expiration date on the SOS notary search.
- Get your seal and journal — Seal: Required: ink stamp or embosser with name exactly as on the application, 'Notary Public' and 'State of Kansas' (expiration date optional); copy/impression filed with the application. Electronic stamp must also show commission number and expiration date. Journal: Required.
Notary packages & supplies
- National Notary Association — state packages: bond, seal, journal and any required training
- Notaries.com — lower-cost state packages with bond, stamp and supplies
Bond, stamp and journal in one order; check that the package matches Kansas's rules. Some links may be affiliate links.
Kansas notary requirements
| Commissioned by | Kansas Secretary of State |
| Who can apply | 18+ · Kansas resident, or a resident of a bordering state (MO, NE, OK, CO) who has a regular place of employment or practice in Kansas |
| Course | Not required No course for a standard (paper) commission. Free Secretary of State training is required only to register for remote online notarization (RON) or in-person electronic notarization (IPEN). |
| Exam | Not required No exam for a standard commission. A free online test follows the RON/IPEN training. |
| State fee | $25 |
| Other fees | Stamp, bond premium and journal bought privately; $20 RON registration fee if adding remote notarization; no fee for a name change |
| Surety bond | $12,000 $12,000 commercial surety bond for the 4-year term (applications on/after Jan 1, 2022), from a surety licensed or authorized in Kansas; the surety completes Section C of Form NO. No separate bond for RON/IPEN. |
| E&O insurance | Optional |
| Background check | None |
| Term | 4 years |
| Oath / filing | Swear the Kansas notary oath before another notary, who completes Section B of Form NO (or Form NO-O); oath, bond and stamp impression go in with the application. Do not notarize until the status shows active with an expiration date on the SOS notary search. |
| Seal | Required: ink stamp or embosser with name exactly as on the application, 'Notary Public' and 'State of Kansas' (expiration date optional); copy/impression filed with the application. Electronic stamp must also show commission number and expiration date. |
| Journal | Required |
| Max fee per notarization | No statutory maximum; any fee must be disclosed as permitted but not required by law, agreed before the act, collected at the time of the act and recorded in the journal (K.A.R. 7-43-16) |
| Remote online notary | Allowed Since Jan 1, 2022: register an existing commission for RON/IPEN with Form NC, $20 fee, free SOS training and test, approved technology provider and digital certificate; notary must be physically in Kansas; runs concurrently with the 4-year commission |
| Renewal | Not automatic: file a new Form NO with $25, new bond and oath; apply up to 90 days before expiration |
Journal mandatory since Jan 1, 2022 (keep 10 years after last entry). Form NO is submitted by mail with the fee; SOS also offers an online notary login. Commission follows the notary, not the employer. ID may be expired up to 3 years.
Sources: Kansas SOS — Notary · Kansas Notary Handbook (updated July 20, 2022) · Form NO — Notary Public Appointment Form · K.S.A. Chapter 53 (Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts). Checked 2026-10.
Earn more as a loan signing agent
Many notaries add mortgage closings: title and escrow companies pay signing agents per loan package. It needs a notary commission plus signing-agent training and a background screening.
- Loan Signing System — loan signing agent training to earn from mortgage closings ($347)
- NNA Notary Signing Agent certification — the certification and background screening title companies ask for
- Notaries.com signing agent course — budget signing agent course ($109)
Some links may be affiliate links.
Get a Kansas notary checklist and renewal reminder
A printable checklist of every step and an email before your commission expires. Free.
Notary course and exam rules across the US
Other Kansas licenses
Life & Health insurance license · Property & Casualty insurance license · Adjuster insurance license · All Kansas insurance licenses · Mortgage loan officer (MLO) license
Questions
How much does it cost to become a notary in Kansas?
The state fee is $25, plus Stamp, bond premium and journal bought privately; $20 RON registration fee if adding remote notarization; no fee for a name change. Add the premium for the $12,000 bond, a seal and a journal.
How long does it take to become a notary in Kansas?
Usually a few weeks from application to commission.
Do I need to take a class or exam to be a notary in Kansas?
Kansas requires a $12,000 bond.
How much can a notary charge in Kansas?
No statutory maximum; any fee must be disclosed as permitted but not required by law, agreed before the act, collected at the time of the act and recorded in the journal (K.A.R. 7-43-16).
Can I be an online notary in Kansas?
Yes. Since Jan 1, 2022: register an existing commission for RON/IPEN with Form NC, $20 fee, free SOS training and test, approved technology provider and digital certificate; notary must be physically in Kansas; runs concurrently with the 4-year commission