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Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language
No published rule: the Kansas Division of Vehicles says nothing on translating license or identity documents, and its checklist rules out foreign-born birth certificates. Ask before you order.
Who may translate: No published rule
How we know · policy checked on October 31, 2026
The Kansas Division of Vehicles publishes no rule on translations of license or identity documents: its proof-of-identity page, FAQ, DE-56a checklist and handbook do not mention them.
That does not mean it refuses or accepts a translation, only that it has not said, so call 785-296-3671 before you order.
Separately, DE-56a says foreign-born birth certificates cannot be accepted, and a license from most other countries means vision, written and driving exams.
Kansas Division of Vehicles at a glance
Does it accept eVerbary? No published rule
Kansas publishes no rule, so nothing says whether it takes a translation from a professional service, eVerbary included, for a license or ID (proof of identity, DE-56a). Ask the Division of Vehicles before you order.
A foreign-born birth certificate is on the list of documents that cannot be accepted (DE-56a, Getting Started checklist). Policy checked on October 31, 2026.
- Translation
- No published rule
- Who may translate
- No published rule
- Foreign license
- Taiwan, South Korea; others take all exams
Checked on October 31, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page. Policies change: confirm on Kansas Division of Vehicles's own page before you submit.
Worth knowing about Kansas Division of Vehicles
No translation rule
The identity page, FAQ, checklist and handbook do not mention translations.
Foreign birth certificates
DE-56a says foreign-born birth certificates cannot be accepted.
Few transfers
US territories, Taiwan and South Korea. Other countries take all three exams.
Kansas Division of Vehicles requirements in detail
Translation
No rule on the proof-of-identity page, the FAQ, the DE-56a checklist or the handbook.
Who may translate
No published rule and no translator list (Driver's License Proof of Identity).
Foreign birth certificates
Birth registration cards, hospital certificates, foreign-born birth certificates and Census registrations cannot be accepted (DE-56a, Getting Started checklist).
Non-citizen documents
Permanent resident card, employment authorization card, valid I-94, or an unexpired foreign passport with a US entry marking. F-1 and M-1 need the I-20; J-1 and J-2 need the DS-2019. All go through SAVE (Driver's License Proof of Identity).
Originals
Faxed, photocopied, electronic or laminated copies are not accepted, and documents are subject to review (Driver's License Proof of Identity).
Foreign license
Kansas reciprocates with US territories and Taiwan; another country's license means vision, written and driving exams (Driver's license FAQ). A valid South Korean license skips the written and driving exams (South Korean Driver's Licensing Reciprocity).
Visitors
A nonresident 16 or older with a valid license from a home state or country in immediate possession may drive class C or M vehicles (K.S.A. 8-236).
The handbook names foreign tourists, teachers or businesspeople here up to a year with valid immigration documents (Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022).
Name change
A certified state-issued marriage certificate, a court-ordered divorce decree, a court-ordered or legal name change document, or legal adoption papers (Required Documents and Appointment Scheduling).
Moving to Kansas with a license from abroad
The FAQ names US territories and Taiwan for reciprocity and sends everyone else to vision, written and driving exams.
South Korea is on its own page, not in that FAQ answer: a valid, unexpired Korean license transfers without the written or driving exam, and you bring the license, two pieces of mail showing your Kansas address, a Social Security card unless you are on a non-work visa, proof of lawful presence, a legal name change document if needed, and corrective lenses, since a vision exam happens at the office.
Under K.S.A. 8-235 you surrender your other valid licenses or, with the division's approval, list them (K.S.A. 8-235, licenses required, surrender).
The Kansas pages we read do not mention an International Driving Permit, and they publish no list of test languages. Ask the office if you need either answered.
Which foreign documents the lists take
Kansas works from federal documents.
List B on the proof-of-identity page is the permanent resident card, employment authorization card, valid I-94 or an unexpired foreign passport with a valid US entry marking, and the examiner needs enough to start and finish a SAVE check.
A Social Security number is not necessary for applicants on a non-work status.
An adopted child born abroad uses the permanent resident card or Certificate of Citizenship that USCIS sends, not the foreign birth record (Driver's license FAQ).
Name-change documents are where a foreign paper is most likely to come up.
The required documents page asks for a certified state-issued marriage certificate, a court-ordered divorce decree or a court-ordered or legal name change document, and says nothing on language.
Documents are subject to review, approval may not happen the same day, and the office keeps images of what you present (Driver's License Proof of Identity).
Documents people usually translate
- Marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order for a name change (no translation rule published)
- South Korean driver's license for a transfer (no translation rule published)
- Taiwanese driver's license for a transfer (no translation rule published)
- Foreign passport with a US entry marking (no translation rule published)
What to do in Kansas
Call the Division of Vehicles at 785-296-3671 or email KDOR_DL@KS.GOV and ask whether your document in another language needs a translation and of what kind (Driver's License Proof of Identity, Kansas Real ID).
Check your documents against the DE-56a checklist: original or certified copies, and not a foreign-born birth certificate.
Schedule through the appointment page; appointments are recommended and get priority (Driver's license FAQ).
What we do not do
eVerbary translates documents; it is not the DMV and does not issue licenses, International Driving Permits or REAL ID decisions. For the Kansas Division of Vehicles we do not issue licenses or International Driving Permits, and we do not get records from abroad.
Need a certified translation for another office?
A certified translation from eVerbary is still useful for a different office, such as USCIS or a court, which sets its own rules; see certified translation.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kansas accept a translated foreign driver's license?
The Division of Vehicles publishes no rule either way (Driver's License Proof of Identity, FAQ). Call 785-296-3671 before you order a translation.
Can I use a foreign birth certificate for a Kansas license?
No. DE-56a says foreign-born birth certificates cannot be accepted (DE-56a, Getting Started checklist). Non-citizens use the federal documents on List B (Driver's License Proof of Identity).
Will my foreign license transfer to Kansas?
From US territories and Taiwan (Driver's license FAQ), and from South Korea without the written or driving exam (South Korean Driver's Licensing Reciprocity). Others take vision, written and driving exams.
What do I need to transfer a South Korean license?
The valid license, two pieces of mail with your Kansas address, a Social Security card unless on a non-work visa, proof of lawful presence and a vision exam at the office (South Korean Driver's Licensing Reciprocity).
Can I drive in Kansas on my foreign license?
A nonresident 16 or older may, with a valid home-country license in immediate possession (K.S.A. 8-236). The handbook mentions foreign visitors here up to one year (Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022).
Sources
Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles's own pages, read on October 31, 2026.
- Driver's License Proof of Identity
- Driver's license FAQ
- DE-56a, Getting Started checklist
- Required Documents and Appointment Scheduling
- South Korean Driver's Licensing Reciprocity
- Kansas Driving Handbook, revised February 2022
- Kansas Real ID
- K.S.A. 8-235, licenses required, surrender
- K.S.A. 8-236, persons exempt
- Driver's license office appointments
Need a certified translation for another office?
A certified translation from eVerbary is still useful for a different office, such as USCIS or a court, which sets its own rules; see certified translation.