Get a REAL ID in Kansas

Online or in person

No, one office visit · One visit, appointment recommendedThe Division of Vehicles says to visit a driver's license office to add REAL ID. Online renewal through iKan keeps REAL ID only if your card already has it. The Division of Vehicles says appointments are recommended, as they receive priority. It does not say walk-ins are refused.

Cost

$8 change feeThe Division of Vehicles says only normal license and ID fees apply. Its fee chart (updated 5/2023) lists adding REAL ID to a valid credential as an $8 change, like a new photo or an address change. If you renew at the same visit, the chart's renewal fees apply, for example $26 for a Class C license at 21-64 and $22 for an ID card under 65; it does not say whether the $8 is added. Renewing after your card expires adds a $1 late fee.

You leave with

Card by mail, up to 45 daysMost cards arrive in 14-20 days, but it can take up to 45. A temporary license printed on thermal paper is not an acceptable form of identification.

Your plan

1. Gather your documents

   • Proof of lawful presence
     The birth certificate must be certified and issued by vital statistics or the equivalent agency of your birth state, a U.S. territory or the District of Columbia.
     Show accepted documents (bring 1)

     • State-issued birth certificate (not hospital, city or Bureau of Census records, birth registration cards or foreign-born birth certificates)
     • Unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
     • Certificate of Naturalization
     • Certificate of Citizenship
     • U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240)
   • Proof of Social Security number
     Must show your current name and full number. Not required for temporary residents on a non-work authorized status.
     Show accepted documents (bring 1)

     • Social Security card (legible, with your current full name, not laminated)
     • Current W-2 or 1099 showing your full number
     • Current pay stub showing your full number
     • Form 1040 or tax return showing your full number
   • Two proofs of Kansas residential address · 2 different documents
     In your name and showing your residential address, not a P.O. Box or a separate mailing address. Dated within the last year. Junk mail and personal letters are not accepted. For minors, mail may be in a parent's or guardian's name, and the parent or guardian must present identification at the office.
     Show accepted documents (bring 2)

     • Cancelled mail
     • USPS change of address form or confirmation
     • Utility bill (the Division's documents list says no more than two months old)
     • Rent or lease agreement
     • Kansas license or ID renewal postcard
     • Kansas vehicle registration or title
     • Bank statement, deed or mortgage

2. Check whether your documents are on file

   Kansas has scanned documents since 2012. Run a driver's license status check: if the Real ID section says yes, the Division already has what it needs and you can visit an office for the upgrade. If it says no, bring the documents on your checklist.

   Driver's License Status Check ↗

3. Book an appointment

   Appointments are recommended and receive priority. The appointment page links to scheduling for each office. Ten larger offices also let you get in line online; you must still check in when you arrive, and if the office reaches capacity before you check in, you may not be served that day.

   Appointment information on ksrevenue.gov ↗

4. Visit a driver's license office

   You can add REAL ID at any time, and you can renew up to one year before your card expires (unless you're under 21). A renewal includes a vision exam and a new photo.

5. Watch your mail

   Cards are mailed without tracking and are not forwarded if you move. Most arrive in 14-20 days; if yours hasn't come after 45 days, visit an office with your temporary license and a proof of current address.

   Driver's license FAQs ↗