Kansas Apostille Guide — How to Authenticate Documents

Who issues Kansas apostilles?

The Kansas Secretary of State issues apostilles and authentications for Kansas documents. An apostille verifies the seal and signature of a Kansas public official or Kansas notary so the document is recognized in countries that belong to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention; an authentication does the same job for countries that are not Hague members, which may then require further legalization by that country's embassy or consulate. Commonly accepted documents include Kansas birth, marriage, and death certificates, Kansas divorce decrees, diplomas from Kansas schools (which may need notarization by a Kansas notary first), judgments from a Kansas court (the court official's signature must be on file with the Secretary of State, and their printed name goes on Form DC), and other documents issued by a Kansas public authority or notarized by a Kansas notary, including foreign-language documents as long as the notarization itself is in English. Kansas cannot apostille federal documents such as FBI background checks or documents notarized in another state; those go to the U.S. Department of State or the other state's Secretary of State. A state-issued Kansas document with a Kansas apostille does not need additional U.S. Department of State certification for use in a Hague country.

Typical steps

1) Get the right version of your document. For vital records (birth, marriage, divorce, death), order a certified copy from the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics (part of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in Topeka); for court judgments, get a certified copy from the issuing Kansas court; for diplomas, transcripts, powers of attorney, and business or personal documents, have a Kansas notary complete a proper notarial certificate. 2) Download and complete Form DC (Request for Document Certification), available in English and Spanish on the Secretary of State website. Name the destination country so the office knows whether to issue an apostille or an authentication, and include your contact details and a return address. 3) Enclose the original or certified document itself (Kansas attaches the certificate to the document you send), the completed Form DC, and payment of $10 per document. 4) Mail or hand-deliver the package to Kansas Secretary of State, Docking State Office Building, 915 SW Harrison Street, Topeka, KS 66612. 5) The office returns the document with the attached apostille or authentication by U.S. mail, or by FedEx if you complete section 6 of Form DC and provide credit card information in section 4 to cover shipping.

Mail vs hand delivery vs courier

Mail-in is the default Kansas path and usually the cheapest if you have time for USPS transit both ways plus office processing. Use a tracked service to send originals, and use the FedEx return option on Form DC when you need tracking or speed on the way back. Hand delivery is accepted at the Docking State Office Building on the southwest corner of the Capitol square in Topeka during office hours (commonly Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding state holidays), with metered visitor parking out front. Kansas does not clearly advertise guaranteed same-day walk-in service, so call Business Services before you drive in if you need the document back the same day. A courier or apostille service helps with multi-document batches, embassy legalization for non-Hague countries, clients outside Kansas who need vital records ordered and notarizations checked before filing, and tight overseas employment, school, or adoption deadlines.

Fee and timeline estimates

Treat these as estimates and verify on the official Kansas Secretary of State Apostilles & Authentications page and the current Form DC before you send originals. As of March 2, 2026, the state fee is $10 per document (it was $7.50 before that). Pay by credit card using the payment section of Form DC, or by check as the form instructs; do not send cash. Form DC states that requests are generally processed within 3–5 business days from the date they are received, plus return transit, so a mail-in round trip often takes one to two weeks or more. Budget separately for the certified copy from Vital Statistics or the court, any notary fee, the $10 state fee per document, outbound tracked postage, FedEx return charges if you choose that option, courier fees, and any embassy legalization for non-Hague countries. Fees, forms, and addresses can change, so confirm on sos.ks.gov.

When an expedited courier helps

Kansas does not publish a paid state rush option that shortens its 3–5 business day processing window. Speed usually comes from hand delivery in Topeka, sending the package overnight with a FedEx return requested on Form DC, or using a courier who can drop off and pick up for you and coordinate certified copies or notarizations ahead of time. Couriers are most useful for consular or visa deadlines, overseas job or university start dates, international adoption files, corporate packages with several documents, and non-Hague destinations that also need embassy legalization after the Kansas authentication. Compare turnaround quotes, insurance for originals, and whether the state fee is listed separately from the service fee.

Expedited courier options (Kansas)

All listings below are EXAMPLE placeholders — not real companies or phone numbers.

• EXAMPLE — Topeka Capitol Square Document Courier

  EXAMPLE placeholder — not a real company.

  Topeka / Shawnee County (EXAMPLE)

  • SOS hand delivery / pickup
  • FedEx return coordination
  • Multi-document batches

• EXAMPLE — Sunflower State Apostille Assist

  EXAMPLE placeholder — not a real company.

  Kansas statewide / out-of-state clients (EXAMPLE)

  • Vital record ordering help
  • Notarization review
  • Embassy legalization referral
  • Status updates

FAQ

How much does a Kansas apostille cost?

The Kansas Secretary of State charges $10 per document as of March 2, 2026. Certified copies, notary fees, shipping, and any courier or embassy fees are extra. Confirm the current fee on sos.ks.gov before you send payment.

How long does a Kansas apostille take?

Form DC says requests are generally processed within 3–5 business days from the date they are received, plus return mail time. Requesting FedEx return on Form DC or hand-delivering in Topeka can shorten the total, but same-day service is not guaranteed.

Where do I send documents for a Kansas apostille?

Mail or deliver Form DC, your document, and payment to the Kansas Secretary of State, Docking State Office Building, 915 SW Harrison Street, Topeka, KS 66612. Older guides list Memorial Hall at 120 SW 10th Avenue, which is no longer the apostille address.

Can Kansas apostille an FBI background check or an out-of-state document?

No. FBI background checks and other federal documents go to the U.S. Department of State. Documents issued or notarized in another state must go to that state's Secretary of State.

What is the difference between an apostille and an authentication in Kansas?

Both verify a Kansas official's or notary's seal and signature. An apostille is for countries in the 1961 Hague Convention; an authentication is for countries outside it, which often require an additional embassy or consulate legalization step.