Moving to Kansas: How to Transfer Your Driver's License
How long do I have to get a Kansas driver's license after I move?
You have 90 days after you establish residency in Kansas to trade your out-of-state license for a Kansas license. If your license is valid, you pass only a vision test, show your documents and pay the fees: $26 (U.S. dollars) at ages 21 to 64. If it is expired, you also pass the written test and a driving test. An out-of-state permit does not transfer.
Where the Kansas license transfer facts come from
The Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles (people say "Kansas DMV") sets these rules. This guide uses its driver's license FAQ, its required documents page, its pages on getting a license, teen driving, REAL ID and South Korea reciprocity, its fee chart and the Kansas Driving Handbook (Revised February 2022). Fees and some rules come from Kansas law (K.S.A. 8-240) and K.S.A. 8-236, 8-2,100 and 8-239. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles (ksrevenue.gov) before you drive.
How long do you have after you move to Kansas?
A new resident has 90 days after establishing residency to get a Kansas driver's license. Apply sooner if you can: Kansas law (K.S.A. 8-240) adds a $1 penalty to the license fee when you do not apply within 60 days after you become a resident.
You apply at a driver's license office. Appointments are recommended, because they get priority.
What Kansas asks for, by type of out-of-state credential
| Your out-of-state credential | What happens in Kansas | What to bring or know |
|---|---|---|
| Valid driver's license | Transfers with a vision test only. No written or driving test. | You must not be canceled, suspended or revoked in any state. |
| Expired driver's license | Vision test, written test and driving test. | You provide the vehicle for the driving test. |
| Temporary license | Not accepted for the transfer. | A motor vehicle record or clearance letter from the state that issued it. |
| Lost license | Transfers with proof from your old state. | A motor vehicle record or clearance letter from the state that issued it. |
| Permit | Does not transfer. | You test in Kansas for a Kansas permit or license. |
| Hold or suspension in another state | No Kansas license or permit until the hold is resolved. | You may get a Kansas identification card. |
Valid out-of-state license: a vision test, not a driving test
A valid out-of-state license transfers without the written or driving test. You prove your identity and your Kansas residence, pass a vision exam and pay the fees.
At the office, your vision must be at least 20/40 in one eye. Instead of the screening, you can bring a Driver Licensing eye examination form that a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist completed in the last 90 days. If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the standard, your license gets a restriction, and you must wear them each time you drive.
Expired out-of-state license: written and driving tests
With an expired out-of-state license, you pass a vision exam, the written test and a driving test.
The written test asks 25 questions about traffic laws, and you also identify certain signs by their shape, color or symbol. You can take it at the office or online, from a laptop or desktop computer. On the driving test, you drive a designated route that shows your basic skills in traffic.
If you finished driver's education, bring the completion certificate: it may remove the need for testing at the office. For a course from another state, add a letter from that state's Department of Education that says the course is accredited.
What happens if you fail a Kansas test
What a Kansas license costs after a move
| Your case | Fees (U.S. dollars) | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Valid license, age 21 to 64 | $18 license fee + $8 photo fee | $26 |
| Expired license, age 21 to 64 | $18 license fee + $3 test fee + $8 photo fee | $29 |
| Valid license, age 65 or older | $12 license fee + $8 photo fee | $20 |
| Valid license, under 21 | $20 license fee + $8 photo fee | $28 |
| Retest after a failed test | $1.50 re-exam fee | $1.50 |
| No application within 60 days as a resident | $1 penalty | + $1 |
Documents to bring for an out-of-state transfer
- Proof of lawful presence. Examples are a state-issued birth certificate, an unexpired passport, an unexpired permanent resident card, an unexpired employment authorization card, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240). A foreign student also brings the I-20 or DS-2019.
- Proof of your Social Security number. Use a Social Security card, a current W-2 or 1099 that shows the full number, or a current pay stub that shows the full number.
- Two recent proofs of your Kansas address. Each one shows your name and a physical address, not only a PO box. Examples are a USPS change of address, a utility bill, a bank statement, canceled mail, a lease agreement, title documents or insurance documents.
- Your out-of-state license. If it is lost or temporary, bring a motor vehicle record or a clearance letter from the state that issued it.
- Proof of a legal name change, if your name now is not the same as the name on your lawful presence document.
- Originals only. Photocopied or laminated documents are not accepted. The DE-56A checklist on ksrevenue.gov lists each acceptable document.
Moving to Kansas with a permit or as a teen driver
An out-of-state permit does not transfer. You complete the testing in Kansas for a Kansas permit or license. Kansas also does not accept a permit or license from another state in place of a Kansas instruction permit, even one held for six months or more: the instruction permit must be issued in Kansas.
A teen who finished driver's education can give the DE-99 completion certificate instead of the written test for an instruction permit, with proof of name and date of birth. The adult who sits beside a permit holder must be 21 or older, with a valid license and at least one year of driving experience. The Kansas instruction permit guide covers the age rules and driving limits.
Moving to Kansas with a license from another country
Kansas trades licenses from all U.S. territories and Taiwan. A valid, unexpired South Korea license also transfers without a written or driving exam. With a license from any other country, you pass the vision, written and driving exams to get a Kansas license. The Kansas foreign driver's license guide covers visitors and international students.
Key takeaways
- You have 90 days after you establish residency to get a Kansas license. Apply within 60 days to avoid the $1 late penalty.
- A valid out-of-state license needs a vision test only. An expired one also needs the written test and a driving test in a vehicle that you provide.
- Bring originals: proof of lawful presence, your Social Security number, two recent proofs of your Kansas address and your old license, or a motor vehicle record or clearance letter.
- An out-of-state permit does not transfer. A hold in another state blocks a Kansas license or permit until it is resolved.
- Next step: practice on the free Kansas Class C written practice test. Its questions are in English only.
Moving to Kansas and your license: common questions
Can I keep driving in Kansas on my out-of-state license?
As a new resident, you must have a Kansas license within 90 days of the move. People who stay nonresidents can drive on a valid home license from age 16 under Kansas law (K.S.A. 8-236). Examples are active-duty military members with their spouse and children, and students who pay out-of-state tuition.
Do I need a Social Security number to transfer my license?
Yes, in most cases. Kansas collects the Social Security number from everyone who applies for a driver's license or ID card. A foreign student or dependent in the U.S. on a non-work status who has no number does not give Social Security proof.
Do I have to give up my old license?
Yes. You turn in any driver's license or ID card that you held before. Kansas also confirms with your old state that you are ending that license, and it requests your driving record from that state. If you lost the old license, bring a motor vehicle record or a clearance letter instead.
Do I need a REAL ID when I transfer my license to Kansas?
No. In Kansas, REAL ID is not a required credential. But since May 7, 2025, anyone 18 or older needs a REAL ID compliant license or another acceptable ID to fly within the United States. A REAL ID compliant Kansas license has a gold star in the upper right corner.
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