For Notaries · Kansas
How to Become a Notary in Kansas
To become a notary in Kansas, you must be at least 18, a Kansas resident (or work regularly in Kansas from a bordering state), and able to read and write English. Buy a $12,000 four-year surety bond, then file your application and $25 fee with the Kansas Secretary of State. No exam is required.
Need a document notarized instead? This guide covers becoming a commissioned notary in Kansas. If you are looking for a notary today, compare where to get a document notarized in Kansas or notarize it online in minutes.
Last updated: July 9, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Kansas is one of the easier states in which to get commissioned: there is no state exam and no mandatory education course to become a traditional notary public. You do, however, need a $12,000 four-year surety bond and a $25 filing fee, and the Kansas Secretary of State — not your bonding company — sets your commission dates. If you want to work online, Kansas fully supports remote online notarization (RON) once you add a short, free state training course, obtain a digital certificate, and register with the state.
Kansas Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | At least 18 years old; a legal resident of Kansas or a resident of a bordering state with a regular place of employment or practice in Kansas; able to read and write the English language; no felony conviction and no prior notary commission revocation. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | $12,000 four-year surety bond (required for all applicants since January 1, 2022), obtained from an insurance company licensed to do business in Kansas. |
| State filing fee | $25 |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | Not required for a traditional Kansas notary — Kansas notary law does not mandate a course to become a notary public. |
| Exam | Not required for a traditional Kansas notary. Registering for remote online notarization (RON) requires completing a training course and passing an exam, offered at no cost through the Kansas Secretary of State's online portal. |
Since January 1, 2022, Kansas requires a $12,000 surety bond, written for a four-year term, for every new or renewing notary public, filed with a $25 application fee. — Kansas Secretary of State — Notary
How to Become a Notary in Kansas: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
You must be at least 18, a Kansas resident (or a resident of a bordering state with a regular place of employment or practice in Kansas), able to read and write English, with no felony conviction and no prior notary commission revocation.
- 2
Get a $12,000 four-year surety bond
Purchase a $12,000 notary surety bond, written for a four-year term, from an insurance company licensed in Kansas. The bond protects the public, not you, so many notaries also add separate errors-and-omissions coverage.
- 3
Complete the notary application and get your seal
Fill out the Kansas Notary Public Appointment application (Form NO). Kansas does not require a course or exam for a traditional notary. Order your official rubber-stamp seal so you're ready to notarize once commissioned.
- 4
File with the Secretary of State and pay $25
Submit your completed application with proof of your $12,000 bond to the Kansas Secretary of State and pay the $25 filing fee. The Secretary of State sets your official commission dates.
- 5
Receive your commission and, optionally, register for RON
Once approved, you receive a four-year commission and a notary ID number. To work online, complete the free state RON training and exam, get a digital certificate, and file Form NC with the $20 registration fee.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Kansas
Kansas permits remote online notarization. You must first hold a current Kansas notary commission, then choose an approved RON technology provider on file with the Secretary of State, complete a free training course and pass an exam through the SOS online portal, obtain a digital certificate, notify the state using Form NC (with your training certificate), and pay the $20 RON registration fee. A Kansas notary may only perform a remote notarization while physically located in Kansas.
Online / remote notary application fee: $20 RON registration fee
RON registration runs concurrent with your four-year notary commission; you cannot register for RON without first holding a Kansas commission number.
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Kansas remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Kansas instead? Notarize online with a Kansas commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Kansas
Kansas allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Kansas commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in Kansas? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in Kansas?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State filing fee | $25 (fixed by the state) |
| $12,000 surety bond | Premium varies by bonding company |
| Notary seal/stamp, journal & supplies | Varies by provider |
| RON registration (optional) | $20 (fixed by the state) |
See what USA Notary costs a Kansas notary for platform-side details.
What a Kansas Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Kansas is one of the states that sets no statutory maximum on the in-person notarial fee, so the per-act price is whatever you and the signer agree to.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | No cap |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | No cap |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Kansas compares with every other state in the how Kansas fees compare across all 50 states.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Kansas
Commission term in Kansas
4 years
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Kansas Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Kansas notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states · compare RON platforms for Kansas notaries
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long is a Kansas notary commission valid?
A Kansas notary public commission lasts four years. The Kansas Secretary of State — not your bonding company — sets the appointment dates, and you must renew before it expires to keep notarizing.
Does Kansas require an exam or training course to become a notary?
No. Kansas notary law does not require a course or an examination to become a traditional notary public. However, to register for electronic or remote online notarization, you must complete a training course and pass an exam offered at no cost through the Secretary of State's online portal.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Kansas?
The state filing fee is $25. You also need a $12,000 four-year surety bond (the premium is set by your bonding company) plus a seal and supplies. Adding remote online notarization costs an additional $20 registration fee.
Does Kansas allow remote online notarization?
Yes. After you hold a Kansas commission, you can register for RON by choosing an approved provider, completing free state training, obtaining a digital certificate, filing Form NC, and paying the $20 fee. You must be physically located in Kansas when you notarize remotely.
Can a non-resident become a Kansas notary?
Yes, in limited cases. A resident of a state bordering Kansas may qualify if they maintain a regular place of employment or practice within Kansas. Otherwise, you must be a legal Kansas resident.
Can you make money as a notary in Kansas?
Yes. Beyond per-notarization fees, many Kansas notaries add income through loan-signing and remote online notarization. Once you're commissioned and registered for RON, you can join USA Notary to receive assigned, paid online signings.
How much can a notary charge in Kansas?
Kansas sets no statutory maximum on the in-person notarial fee — it is whatever the notary and signer agree, disclosed before the appointment.
How much can a Kansas notary charge for online notarization?
Kansas sets no statutory cap on the fee for a remote online notarization.
When does a Kansas notary commission expire?
The Kansas commission term is: 4 years. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Kansas cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- what a Kansas loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby West North Central guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- Kansas Secretary of State — Notary
- Kansas Notary Handbook (Secretary of State)
- American Association of Notaries — How to Become a Notary in Kansas
This guide summarizes public requirements from Kansas's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.