Becoming a Kansas Notary (2026): No Exam, the $12,000 Bond & Cost

This guide is educational and informational, not legal advice. Kansas notary rules are set in K.S.A. Chapter 53 under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts and can change, so confirm the details with the Kansas Secretary of State before you apply. We link to official resources; we never sell or submit applications.

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What does it cost to become a notary in Kansas?

Becoming a Kansas notary usually costs $70 to $115, with no exam fee to add. The only fixed state charge is the $25 application fee, and the $12,000 bond runs about $30 to $55 for the four-year term. The rest is your stamp, a small fee to notarize your oath, and the now-mandatory journal. Tick what applies and the checklist totals it live.

How do you become a notary in Kansas?

You become a Kansas notary by gathering your stamp, bond, and oath before you apply. The steps, in order, are:

1. Buy your notary stamp first. Order a stamp with your exact name, "Notary Public," and "State of Kansas," since an impression of it must go on the application.
2. Get a $12,000 surety bond. Obtain the bond from a Kansas-licensed insurer, who completes the bond section of the appointment form.
3. Swear the oath of office. Sign the oath before another notary public, who notarizes your signature on the form.
4. Apply to the Secretary of State with $25. Submit online or by mail with your stamp impression, completed oath, and bond, and pay the fee.
5. Wait for your status to go active. You cannot notarize until your appointment shows active online with an expiration date; your certificate then arrives by mail.

How much is the Kansas notary bond?

The Kansas notary bond is $12,000, increased from $7,500 effective January 1, 2022, so any guide still listing $7,500 is out of date. It must be a commercial surety bond from an insurer licensed in Kansas, and the insurer completes the bond section of your appointment form. The premium is usually $30 to $55 for the full four-year term, and the bond is filed with the Secretary of State along with your application, with no separate county filing required.

Why do you buy your stamp before you apply in Kansas?

Kansas is unusual in that you must obtain your notary stamp before submitting your application, because an impression of the stamp has to appear on the appointment form itself. The name on the stamp must match your application exactly, including punctuation, and the stamp must show "Notary Public" and "State of Kansas" but must not include a county name. Even though you buy the stamp first, you cannot notarize until your appointment shows active online, so the stamp sits unused until the state assigns your commission number and expiration date.

What are the requirements to become a Kansas notary?

The Kansas requirements are light, with no exam or course for a standard commission, though electronic and remote notaries must pass a state exam separately. You must be at least 18, able to read and write English, and a Kansas resident or a bordering-state resident who regularly works in Kansas, with no disqualifying convictions. You carry a $12,000 bond and, since January 1, 2022, must keep a notary journal of your acts. The seal can be an inked stamp or an embosser, and it must be photographically reproducible.

How do you renew or notarize online in Kansas?

A Kansas commission is not renewed automatically, so you reapply using the same steps, a new $12,000 bond, a new oath, and the $25 fee, ideally up to 90 days before expiration to avoid a gap, since there is no grace period. To notarize electronically, you keep your standard commission, then register for in-person electronic or remote online notarization, which does require passing a Secretary of State exam, choosing an approved provider, and paying a $20 fee.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Kansas Secretary of State, Notary Public and the Kansas Notary Handbook; Kansas Statutes Annotated Chapter 53 (including K.S.A. 53-5a22). Confirm current fees and steps with the Kansas Secretary of State before applying.