How to Apply for a New Identification Card
State ID cards may, at first glance, look nearly identical to drivers licenses. In some states, IDs are intentionally printed vertically, instead of horizontally, to make them readily identifiable as non-driver IDs. In either case, a state identification card provides its holder nearly all of the same non-driving privileges and abilities as a drivers license. Holders may use their cards as legally accepted proof of age and identity in formal, commercial and legal settings of all kinds. This includes everything from gaining access to age-restricted venues to requesting Vital Records, or even applying for public assistance programs.
Unlike drivers licenses, ID cards are often available to teens and younger people who can’t legally drive yet. The age at which parents may request a child ID card varies from state to state. In some states, there are no age restrictions at all. ID cards usually remain valid for longer than licenses and typically cost less.
Common ID Requirements
DMV ID requirements differ between states, but typically align with state drivers license documentation standards. This means that in any given state, applicants can expect to provide the following information and documents:
- True full name (identity).
- Date of birth/age.
- United States citizenship or other legal presence.
- Residency in the state in which they are applying.
- A Social Security Number (or proof of ineligibility for one).
Most states require applicants to have their picture taken as well as submit their fingerprints to the DMV.
In most cases, those interested in getting and ID card are required to submit their applications and documents in person. Opportunities to apply online or by mail are rare, and are typically restricted to special circumstances, such as for military service.
Finally, DMV ID card requirements often include a stipulation that applicants surrender any any other IDs they current hold, such as drivers licenses issued by any state. (Military and Military dependent IDs are exempt from this requirement.
What do you need to get an ID?
To apply for a DMV ID card, applicants must generally prove their identities, residency, citizenship and be able to show that they hold a valid Social Security Number. The exact process of applying, however, can differ, depending on the applicant’s state, age and other factors. For instance, in some states, minors and young adults are held to different application processes and requirements than adults or seniors. DMV ID card fee scales may vary by age as well.
The documents needed for state ID cards are fairly consistent from state to state, though the exact combinations of documents applicants decide to use can differ widely. Common proofs of identity include:
- Original or certified copies of birth certificates.
- Adoption records.
- Valid and unexpired United States passports.
- Foreign passports with U.S. visas.
- DHS or INS documents proving identity and legal presence.
- Parental affidavits (minors only).
Some of the above documents may also prove Social Security Numbers and residency. When additional documents are required for state ID for these purposes, applicants may be able to submit:
- Social Security cards.
- W-2 forms.
- SSA-1099 forms.
- Non- SSA-1099 forms.
- Pay stubs.
- Rental/lease agreements.
- Bills or tax statements.
- Employment documents.
- Insurance documents.
- Voter registration documents.
Additional documents may be permitted by individual states for each category.
All applicants should bear in mind that if they have changed their names, they may need to provide evidence of that change. For example, if an applicant changed his or her name upon getting married, they can’t only use a certified birth certificate as acceptable proof of identity; he or she would also need a certified copy of a marriage license showing the legal change from the birth name to the married name.
Likewise, divorced applicants using a passport issued under their married names as proof of identity would also need their divorce decrees or a court order showing the change from their married names to the names they used post-divorce.
How to Get an ID
Due to the importance of government-issued ID cards, the process of getting one is strictly controlled. Where to get state ID can range from DMV service centers to state revenue offices, depending on the state. However, in nearly all states, ID cards must be applied for in person, not online. This helps prevent fraud and facilitates the taking of photos and fingerprints in the states in which they are required. In specific cases, such as military service or the exchange of a drivers license for a non-driver ID, some states may allow exemptions to this rule.
Other factors, such as age, can affect the process by which any given American must apply for ID in his or her state of residence. In general, however, the process usually includes the following steps:
- Ordering, gathering or preparing documentation (e.g. birth certificates, Passports, court records and affidavits)
- Pre-registering online (optional and variable by state)
- Scheduling an appointment (optional and variable by state)
- Taking the documentation and application paperwork or a pre-registration receipt to the appropriate office or venue
- Sitting for a photograph
- Sitting for fingerprinting (may not apply in all states)
- Surrendering any other state-issued IDs (e.g. drivers licenses or non-driver ID issued by former states of residence)
- Receipt of new ID card by mail
REAL ID Cards
All states offer a REAL ID card option. REAL ID cards are state-issued identification credentials that comply with all of the requirements of the federal REAL ID Act.
Beginning on May 7, 2025, anyone wishing to travel by airplane domestically must show a REAL ID-compliant drivers license, not a standard license. Those who don’t have a REAL ID card will be required to submit other proof of ID, such as a valid passport. As of the 2025 deadline, Americans will need REAL IDs to access federal buildings as well.
In most cases, the process by which residents apply for REAL ID is the same as that to apply for a standard ID. However, applicants must provide multiple proofs of identity, citizenship, residency and other qualifications, in order to qualify for REAL IDs. Some states only issue REAL ID-compliant identification cards.
How to Renew or Replace a State ID
Procedures for cardholders who need to renew their cards or replace a lost ID card typically mirror states’ initial application processes. Card holders can expect that they will need to go in person to apply for a replacement ID card. They will also often need the same documentation they took initially, to include:
- Proof of identity.
- Proof of residency.
- Proof of citizenship or other legal presence.
- Proof of Social Security Number.
Replacement ID cards frequently have longer expiration dates than drivers licenses from the same state. Some states also offer relaxed renewal procedures for seniors or other qualifying subgroups of cardholders.
DMV ID Costs
DMV ID cost varies widely from state to state. In some states, such as Arkansas, IDs are available for nominal fees (e.g. $5). In others, IDs cost the same, or nearly the same as drivers licenses to apply for, renew and replace.
Depending on individual state rules, the cost of getting an ID card may be the same across age groups, or graded such that children’s and seniors’ cards are less expensive than standard adult cards. REAL ID cards are almost always more expensive than standard cards when a range of options is offered.