What to Bring to the Kansas DMV: License Documents and REAL ID
What documents do I need for a Kansas driver's license or permit?
For a first Kansas license or permit, bring originals or certified copies of one proof of lawful presence (such as a state-issued birth certificate or an unexpired U.S. passport), one proof of your Social Security number and two recent proofs of your Kansas address. Add a legal name change document if your name differs. Under 16, a parent or guardian with photo ID comes too. REAL ID is optional.
Where the Kansas document rules come from
The lists in this guide come from the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles: the DE-56A documents checklist (Rev. 5/26), its required documents, proof of identity, getting a license and driver's license FAQ pages, and its REAL ID page. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles (ksrevenue.gov) before you drive.
Documents for a first Kansas license or permit
- Proof of lawful presence (one): for example a state-issued birth certificate or an unexpired U.S. passport.
- Proof of Social Security number (one): a Social Security card, or a 1040, W-2, 1099, tax return or current pay stub that shows your full number.
- Proof of Kansas residential address (two): recent mail or papers in your name that show where you live. The address rules are below.
- A legal name change document, only if the name on your lawful presence document is not your current name.
- Your driver's education completion form, if you finished driver's education. It may remove the need for testing in the office.
How to present your documents
Each service has its own list, so bring every numbered item in the section for your service on the DE-56A. Bring originals or certified copies. Faxed, photocopied, laminated and electronic copies are not accepted, so a photo of a document on your phone does not count.
What counts as proof of your Kansas address
Each proof must be in your name and show your residential address. A PO box or a separate mailing address alone does not count, and you cannot self-report your address. Good examples are canceled mail, a USPS change of address form, a utility bill, a lease agreement, a bank statement or letter from your bank, title documents and insurance documents. Accepted mail is not limited to these examples.
If your name changed, bring the right paper
Your situation, your documents
Moving to Kansas: what to bring from your old state
| Your old-state credential | What it means in Kansas |
|---|---|
| Valid license | Bring the license itself (temporary copies and photocopies are not accepted), or a motor vehicle record (MVR) or clearance letter dated in the last 30 days. You pass a vision exam; no written or driving test. |
| Expired license | Bring the same documents. You complete a vision, written and driving exam. |
| Permit | A permit does not transfer. You take the Kansas tests. A good first practice question is what a Kansas instruction permit allows. |
| Hold or suspension in another state | You cannot get a Kansas license or permit until the hold is resolved. You may still get a Kansas identification card. |
How to get an MVR and how long you have
Contact the state that issued your out-of-state credential to get the MVR or clearance letter. New residents have 90 days after they establish residency to trade an out-of-state license. The guide to moving to Kansas and transferring your license covers the full steps.
Kansas REAL ID: what it is and when you need it
- A REAL ID compliant Kansas credential has a gold star in the upper right corner. A credential for people who do not want REAL ID is marked NOT FOR FEDERAL USE.
- Since May 7, 2025, anyone 18 or older needs a REAL ID compliant driver's license or another acceptable ID to fly within the United States. A REAL ID is also required to enter federal facilities that ask for ID.
- REAL ID is not a required credential. It eases check-in when you fly or enter a federally protected facility.
Documents to add REAL ID to your Kansas license
To add the REAL ID indicator, bring one proof of lawful presence, two proofs of your Kansas address, one proof of your Social Security number, and a legal name change document if it applies to you. You can add REAL ID at any time, not only when you renew. You show these documents only once: at this time, a later renewal does not ask for them again.
If you are not a U.S. citizen
Non-U.S. citizens are processed through SAVE (System Alien Verification for Entitlement) and must give lawful presence documents on every driver's license office visit. Examples are a valid Permanent Resident Card, a valid Employment Authorization Card, a valid visa with a valid foreign passport, or an unexpired I-94 or I-797A with a foreign passport. F-1 and M-1 visa holders also show an I-20, and J-1 and J-2 holders a DS-2019. In some cases, approval takes more than one visit. Temporary residents on a non-work authorized status do not need proof of a Social Security number. The Kansas foreign driver's license guide has more.
Key takeaways
- Bring originals or certified copies: one proof of lawful presence, one proof of Social Security number and two recent proofs of your Kansas address in your name.
- Add a legal name change document if your name differs, and a parent or guardian with photo ID if you are younger than 16.
- For a transfer, add your out-of-state license, or an MVR or clearance letter from the last 30 days. A valid license needs only a vision exam.
- REAL ID has a gold star, is optional, and you can add it at any time.
- Next step: practice on the free Kansas Class C written practice test.
Kansas license documents: common questions
Can I use a hospital birth certificate in Kansas?
No. Hospital certificates, birth registration cards, foreign-born birth certificates and Bureau of Census registrations are not accepted. Your birth certificate must be certified and issued by vital statistics or an equivalent agency of your birth state, a U.S. territory or the District of Columbia. An unexpired U.S. passport also works.
Can my teen use mail in my name as proof of address?
Yes. For minors, the proof of address may be in the parent's or guardian's name. The parent or guardian must then show identification at the driver's license office. If your teen is younger than 16, a parent or guardian must come along with photo ID anyway.
Do I need an appointment at a Kansas driver's license office?
Appointments are recommended, because they receive priority. You can schedule one on the Division of Vehicles appointment page at ksrevenue.gov. Check the DE-56A list for your service first, so you bring every document on the first visit.
What if I lost my out-of-state license or only have a temporary one?
A temporary license is not accepted. In both cases, bring a motor vehicle record (MVR) or clearance letter from the state that issued your license, dated in the last 30 days. You still bring your lawful presence, Social Security number and address documents.
Does a Kansas driver's ed certificate expire?
Yes. A driver's education completion expires after 2 years. Bring it to the office while it is still valid, because it may remove the need for testing there. Online driver's education courses are not accepted in Kansas, so the certificate must come from an approved program.
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