Kansas notary commission
Kansas notary public: the stamp first, then a $12,000 bond and Form NO
Buy your stamp first, because you upload its image with the application. Get a $12,000 surety bond, take the oath before a notary on Form NO, then upload the form and pay the $25 fee, the amount on the Secretary of State's notary page and Form NO. You may notarize once the online Notary Search shows you as active. Commissions last four years, and every Kansas notary keeps a journal.
Kansas eligibility
- At least 18 years old.
- A Kansas resident, or a resident of a bordering state who regularly works or does business in Kansas.
- Able to read and write English. K.S.A. 53-5a22(c) also lists US citizenship.
- Answers on Form NO that don't disqualify you. Felony or fraud-related convictions, or a license or notary commission denied or revoked elsewhere, need court documents for review.
Source: Notary, Kansas Secretary of State; Notary Public Appointment Form NO; K.S.A. 53-5a22.
Five Kansas steps, stamp first
- Buy your stamp. An ink stamp or impression seal with your name exactly as on the application, "Notary Public" and "State of Kansas". No county and no professional suffixes. You upload its image with the application.
- Get the $12,000 bond. A commercial surety bond from a Kansas-licensed insurer, which completes section C of Form NO. A bond copy doesn't replace it.
- Take the oath before a notary. Section B of Form NO, signed in wet ink.
- Upload and pay $25. Through the online notary login by credit card, or by mail with a check or money order.
- Wait for active status. You may not notarize until the online Notary Search shows you as active. Your certificate is mailed.
Source: Notary Public Appointment Form NO; Notary, Kansas Secretary of State.
Kansas costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | $25 New or renewal, per the Secretary of State's notary page and Form NO. |
| $12,000 bond premium | Set by surety For applications filed after January 1, 2022. |
| Stamp or seal | Vendor price Bought before you apply. |
| Journal | Vendor price Required since January 1, 2022. |
| RON training and test | $0 Optional; from the Secretary of State. |
| RON registration | $20 Optional, filed on Form NC. |
A Kansas commission costs $25 in state fees. The bond premium, stamp and journal are bought from vendors.
Source: Notary, Kansas Secretary of State; Notary Public Appointment Form NO.
KS starter kit · $29
Kansas Notary Starter Kit
Kansas's stamp, $12,000 bond, Form NO oath and $25 fee in order, the K.A.R. 7-43-16 fee conditions, ID rules, the required journal, stamp wording, RON registration, the not-an-attorney statement, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Four years, with every step repeated
A Kansas commission lasts four years, with dates set by the Secretary of State (53-5a22(f)). Renewal repeats every application step and can't be filed earlier than 90 days before expiration.
After a name change, get a new stamp and notify the Secretary before any further act (53-5a22(h)). Other changes go through Form NC online.
Source: K.S.A. 53-5a22; Notary, Kansas Secretary of State.
Registering for remote notarization in Kansas
Remote notarization is allowed under K.S.A. 53-5a15, and no notary has to offer it. You must be physically in Kansas. Choose an approved RON/IPEN provider, get a digital certificate, complete the free online training and test, then file Form NC with your training certificate and the $20 registration fee.
Identify the signer by personal knowledge, a credible witness, or at least two different types of identity proofing. Record the act and keep the recording at least 10 years; the certificate says "This notarial act involved the use of communication technology." Your remote registration runs with your four-year commission.
Source: Notary, Kansas Secretary of State.
What SB 106 changed, and the Kansas journal
2021 SB 106, effective January 1, 2022, adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts in Kansas. It authorized remote notarization, made a journal mandatory, raised the bond to $12,000 and required an advertising statement for non-attorneys.
Kansas sets no maximum fee. Under K.A.R. 7-43-16 you may charge but need not; disclose the fee and get agreement before the act, collect at the time, and write it in your journal. Each journal entry records the date and time, the record and type of act, each person's full name and address, how they were identified with ID details, and any fee. Keep it 10 years after the last entry or transfer it to the Secretary of State; employers are not approved repositories.
Source: Notary, Kansas Secretary of State; K.S.A. 53-5a22.
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Kansas notary questions
Why buy the stamp before applying in Kansas?
Because you upload an image of it with the application. It shows your name exactly as on the application, "Notary Public" and "State of Kansas", with no county.
How much is the Kansas notary fee?
$25 for a new or renewal application, as stated on the Secretary of State's notary page and Form NO.
Does a Kansas notary need a journal?
Yes, since January 1, 2022 (K.S.A. 53-5a20). Keep it 10 years after the last entry.
Is there a Kansas notary exam?
Not for paper notarizations. Training and a test are required before your first electronic or remote act.
When can I notarize in Kansas?
Only once the Secretary of State's online Notary Search shows you as active.
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General information from official Kansas sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Kansas Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Kansas.