How to Get an Apostille in Kansas

Educational information, not legal advice. Fees, addresses and processing times reflect the Kansas Secretary of State and can change. Confirm current details on the official sos.ks.gov page before you mail anything.

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Kansas apostille cost and time calculator

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How much does a Kansas apostille cost?

A Kansas apostille costs $10 per document under the current fee, which increased from $7.50 as of March 2, 2026. This is worth flagging because a large share of guides, and many third-party pages, still show the old $7.50 figure, so budgeting from an out-of-date source leaves you short at submission. Payment is accepted by check, money order, MasterCard or Visa made payable to the Secretary of State. As always, the $10 is the state charge only, and a private service adds its own handling on top. Confirm the current fee on the official page before submitting, since the recent change is exactly the kind of detail that catches people out.

Who issues apostilles in Kansas?

Apostilles in Kansas are issued by the Secretary of State in Topeka. The office authenticates the seal and signature of a Kansas public official or a Kansas notary, issuing an apostille for Hague Convention countries and an authentication for the rest. It handles Kansas documents only, including documents in a foreign language as long as they are properly notarized, so a document issued or notarized in another state goes to that state instead. A private document such as a power of attorney must be notarized by a Kansas notary first, and for a Kansas court judgment the signing court official's signature must be on file with the Secretary of State.

How long does a Kansas apostille take?

A Kansas apostille at the Topeka counter can be handled the same day, while a mailed request is commonly processed in about three to five business days once it arrives, not counting transit in each direction. Timing can stretch during busy periods, around holidays, or when a document is complex, so build in a buffer if a foreign deadline is firm. If you want the finished document returned by FedEx rather than regular U.S. mail, you complete the shipping section of the request form and include credit card details to cover the courier charge. Otherwise the office returns it by standard mail.

How do you get a Kansas apostille, step by step?

You prepare the notarized or certified document, complete Form DC, and submit it with the $10 fee. The route below is the standard process.

1. Get the right document: a certified copy or a document notarized by a Kansas notary.
2. Complete Form DC: the apostille request form, naming the destination country.
3. Prepare payment: $10 per document by check, money order or card.
4. Submit in person or by mail: to the Docking State Office Building in Topeka.
5. Receive it: same day at the counter, or about three to five business days by mail.

Can Kansas apostille an FBI background check?

No, Kansas cannot apostille an FBI background check, because it is a federal document authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Sending a federal report to Topeka means it comes back unprocessed. The Kansas Secretary of State authenticates documents issued or notarized in Kansas, such as a Kansas birth certificate or a power of attorney notarized by a Kansas notary. Documents from other states, and federal ones, each go to their own office instead.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Kansas Secretary of State, Apostilles & Authentications (sos.ks.gov). Rates and addresses can move, so check the official source first.