Last Updated on December 9, 2025 by NEK Editing

If you’ve previously published your book traditionally or self-published on another platform or website, other than KDP, you may be wondering, “Can I use KDP?”

This article explains important details you should know for republishing your work on KDP. Discover requirements for continuing distribution on Amazon, the exclusivity of KDP Select, and how to use a free ISBN from KDP for Amazon-only sales.

How Can I Publish My Book on KDP?

You can publish your book on KDP if you own the rights to your book and if it has been published somewhere else. You will need to use the existing ISBN from the previous publisher. You’ll also have to use the same title, author name, and binding type to continue using that ISBN. Any changes to the details of your book will require another ISBN and a new edition.

How Do I Confirm My Publishing Rights?

To confirm your book’s publishing rights, send KDP a reversion letter showing that the previous publisher’s rights have reverted to you or expired. Or send a signed copy of the agreement between yourself and your publisher, indicating that they do not hold the publishing rights in the format you’re trying to publish through KDP.

If you previously published your book on a different website, provide KDP with screenshots showing that your book was removed from the website. Or provide documentation proving that you own the website. The ownership information should match your KDP account information.

Once your book is approved, allow up to 48 hours for the detail page to appear on Amazon.com.

Note: You can’t sell your book on another platform if you own the ISBN and enroll your eBook in KDP Select; this makes it exclusive only to Amazon.

If you choose to use the free KDP ISBN, you can only use KDP for distribution to Amazon and its distributors. You also won’t be able to use another publisher or self-publishing service, such as IngramSpark, BookBaby, and Draft2Digital.

How NEK Editing Can Help Publish Your Book on KDP

Publishing a book on KDP that’s previously been published elsewhere involves a few key services to ensure compliance and quality. Start by confirming your publishing rights with a reversion letter or signed agreement from your prior publisher. You may also need professional formatting to adapt your manuscript and cover to meet KDP’s guidelines if they differ from the original. Finally, if KDP exclusivity is desired, confirm distribution details to avoid conflicts.

Let us walk you through the steps of complying with the different requirements and distribution limitations when using KDP’s free ISBN or your own.

If you have questions or need help with your KDP account, contact NEK Editing.