A government-issued photo ID is any document carrying your photograph that a federal, state, or tribal authority produces to prove who you are. The everyday examples are a U.S. passport book or card, a state driver’s license or non-driver ID card, a military ID, a permanent resident card, and a federally recognized tribal ID. Since May 7, 2025, the specific ID you carry matters more than it used to at airports, because REAL ID enforcement is now active at TSA checkpoints nationwide.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
What Counts as a Government-Issued Photo ID
Several agencies issue photo identification, and each card is built for slightly different uses.
Federal IDs
The U.S. passport book proves both identity and citizenship and is accepted everywhere identification is checked. The U.S. passport card is a wallet-sized alternative that works for land and sea border crossings with Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, but not for international air travel. Both are issued by the Department of State.
The Permanent Resident Card, often called a Green Card, is the main ID for non-citizens lawfully living in the United States and proves both identity and work authorization.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. List A Documents That Establish Identity and Employment Authorization Active-duty military personnel carry a Common Access Card (CAC); retirees, reservists, dependents, and spouses receive a Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card.3USAGov. Get or Replace a Military or Veteran ID Card
State and Tribal IDs
Every state issues driver’s licenses to people cleared to drive and non-driver ID cards to those who need identification without driving privileges. Both function as valid photo ID for almost every civilian purpose. Fees vary by state, and license validity generally runs somewhere between four and twelve years depending on where you live.
Federally recognized tribal nations issue their own photo ID cards. TSA accepts them for domestic air travel and they qualify as identity documents for employment verification. If a tribal card can’t be scanned by TSA equipment, agents inspect it manually and cross-reference it against the Federal Register.4Transportation Security Administration. Tribal and Indigenous
Flying With Your ID After REAL ID Enforcement
The REAL ID Act sets minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards used for federal purposes, including boarding commercial flights, entering federal buildings, and accessing nuclear power plants.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 USC 30301 – REAL ID Act of 2005 Note Compliant cards carry a DHS-approved security marking in the upper portion. If your state license isn’t compliant, it won’t get you through a TSA checkpoint on its own. Your DMV can confirm your card’s status if the marking isn’t obvious.
You don’t necessarily need a compliant state license to fly. TSA accepts several alternatives on their own, including a U.S. passport or passport card, a military ID, a permanent resident card, a DHS trusted traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI), or a federally recognized tribal ID.6Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint Any one of those will clear the checkpoint.
If you arrive without any acceptable ID, TSA offers a fallback called ConfirmID. Beginning February 1, 2026, you can pay a $45 fee through Pay.gov and TSA will attempt to verify your identity another way. The fee covers a 10-day travel window. TSA makes no guarantee it can verify you, and if the process fails, you won’t be allowed through security.7Transportation Security Administration. TSA ConfirmID One warning worth carrying: the temporary paper license your DMV gives you while your permanent card is in production is not accepted at TSA checkpoints.
More than 20 states and territories now issue mobile driver’s licenses that TSA accepts at over 250 airport checkpoints. A mobile license must be based on a REAL ID-compliant physical card, and TSA still recommends carrying the physical version as backup.8Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs
Where Photo ID Is Legally Required
Beyond travel, federal and state law require photo identification in several routine settings.
Starting a Job
Federal law requires every employer to verify that new hires are authorized to work in the United States. Within three business days of the employee’s start date, the employer must examine identity and work authorization documents and record them on Form I-9.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1324a – Unlawful Employment of Aliens You choose which documents to present from an approved list. A U.S. passport by itself covers both requirements. Alternatively, a driver’s license or state ID paired with a Social Security card or birth certificate works.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-9 Acceptable Documents Employers can’t demand a specific document or reject a valid one.
Opening a Bank Account
Banks and other financial institutions must follow customer identification procedures when opening new accounts. Federal law requires them to collect at minimum your name, date of birth, address, and an identification number, and to verify your identity through reasonable procedures.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 31 USC 5318 – Compliance, Exemptions, and Summons Authority In practice this almost always means showing a government-issued photo ID.
Buying Age-Restricted Products
The federal minimum age to purchase any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, is 21, and retailers must check a photo ID for anyone who appears under 30. The FDA specifically recommends retailers accept only government-issued photo ID containing the buyer’s date of birth.12U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Tobacco 21 Alcohol sales follow the same pattern at a federal minimum age of 21.
Voting
Thirty-six states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show identification at the polls, and many of those specifically require photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military card. Requirements differ by state, so check your state’s rules before Election Day.13USAGov. Voter ID Requirements
How to Apply for a Government-Issued Photo ID
Whichever ID you’re seeking, every application asks you to prove three things: who you are, that you’re legally present in the country, and (for state IDs) where you live.
Proving Citizenship or Legal Status
U.S. citizens applying for a passport submit a primary citizenship document such as a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state of birth, a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a previously issued U.S. passport.14U.S. Department of State. Get Citizenship Evidence for a U.S. Passport State DMVs generally accept the same documents for driver’s licenses and ID cards, though specifics vary.
Non-citizens may use an unexpired foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and I-94 arrival record, an Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766), or a Permanent Resident Card. Immigration documents must reflect your current legal name, and any state ID you receive will typically expire when your immigration status does.
Social Security Number
Passport applications require your Social Security number under the Internal Revenue Code. If you don’t have one, enter zeros on the form and include a signed statement explaining why.15U.S. Department of State. Application for a U.S. Passport DS-11 State DMVs also require your Social Security number and verify it electronically rather than by inspecting your card.
Proof of Residency
State-issued IDs require proof that you live in the state. Most DMVs ask for two documents showing your physical address, such as utility bills, bank statements, lease agreements, or mortgage documents. Passport applications don’t require residency proof, since passports aren’t tied to any state.
Where You Apply and What It Costs
First-time passport applicants apply in person at a Passport Acceptance Facility. Post offices, clerks of court, libraries, and other local government offices act as acceptance facilities on behalf of the State Department.16U.S. Department of State. Passport Acceptance Facility Search Page State licenses and ID cards require an in-person visit to a DMV office.
A first-time adult passport book costs $165: a $130 application fee to the State Department plus a $35 execution fee to the acceptance facility. A first-time adult passport card costs $65 ($30 plus the $35 execution fee). Renewing an adult passport book by mail costs $130 with no execution fee.17U.S. Department of State. United States Passport Fees for Acceptance Facilities State ID and driver’s license fees vary but generally fall between $10 and $40.
You’ll receive a temporary paper document after applying. State-issued cards are typically mailed within 15 business days, though timelines vary. Passport processing runs about six to eight weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for expedited service, which carries an additional fee.
Renewing or Replacing Your ID
Every government-issued ID has an expiration date, and letting yours lapse can block travel, employment, and basic financial transactions. State driver’s licenses and ID cards typically renew every four to eight years. Many states now allow online renewal if your photo and personal information haven’t changed, though most require an in-person visit every other cycle.
You can renew a passport by mail (or online, if eligible) as long as your most recent passport was issued when you were 16 or older, was issued within the last 15 years, is undamaged, and is in your current legal name or you have legal documentation of the name change. If any of those conditions isn’t met, you must apply in person on Form DS-11 as a first-time applicant would.18USAGov. Renew an Adult Passport
Report a lost or stolen passport to the State Department immediately. Once reported, the document is permanently invalidated and cannot be used again even if you find it later. Report it online using Form DS-64, by phone at 1-877-487-2778, or by mail. A replacement requires an in-person application on Form DS-11 and full application fees again. If you lose your passport abroad, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, which may issue a limited-validity emergency passport.19USAGov. Lost or Stolen Passports
Replacing a state license or ID is generally simpler. Most states let you request a duplicate online or in person at a DMV office, and replacement fees are usually under $20. Most states also require you to update your address on file within 10 to 30 days of moving.
If Your ID Is Lost, Stolen, or Used for Fraud
A stolen government ID creates real identity theft risk, because it hands over your full name, date of birth, photo, and often your address in a single document. If you suspect your identification has been stolen or used fraudulently, the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s central resource for reporting and recovering. It walks you through filing a report, placing fraud alerts with credit bureaus, and building a personalized recovery plan with checklists and sample letters.20Federal Trade Commission. Report Identity Theft
Beyond the FTC report, contact your state DMV to flag your license as stolen and request a replacement with a new identification number if your state offers that option. File a police report too, since some creditors and financial institutions require one before reversing fraudulent charges. Acting quickly matters: the longer a stolen ID circulates, the harder the cleanup gets.