To get a REAL ID, you need four categories of documents: one proving your identity and date of birth, one showing your Social Security number, two confirming your residential address, and, if your current legal name differs from the name on your identity document, paperwork linking the two. Since May 7, 2025, a REAL ID (or another federally accepted ID like a passport) has been required to board domestic flights and enter secure federal facilities.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Every document you bring to the DMV must be an original or a certified copy. Photocopies are not accepted.
One Document Proving Identity and Date of Birth
Federal regulations list the following as acceptable identity documents:2eCFR. 6 CFR 37.11 – Application and Documents the Applicant Must Provide
- A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
- A certified copy of a birth certificate filed with a state vital statistics office (not a hospital souvenir certificate)
- A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545)
- A valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
- An unexpired Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)
- A foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and the approved I-94 showing your most recent admission
- A Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship (Form N-550, N-570, N-560, or N-561)
The name on this document needs to match your current legal name. If it doesn’t, you’ll also need name-change paperwork covered below.
One Document Showing Your Social Security Number
Your Social Security card is the simplest option, but if you can’t find it, the federal rules also accept:2eCFR. 6 CFR 37.11 – Application and Documents the Applicant Must Provide
- A W-2 form
- An SSA-1099 form
- A non-SSA-1099 form
- A pay stub showing your name and full nine-digit SSN
A document that only displays the last four digits will not work. Your DMV verifies the number directly with the Social Security Administration, so the name on this document should match either your identity document or your current legal name.
Two Documents Confirming Your Residential Address
Residency is the one category requiring two separate documents. Both must show your name and a physical street address. A P.O. box does not satisfy the federal requirement.2eCFR. 6 CFR 37.11 – Application and Documents the Applicant Must Provide
The federal rules leave the specific list of acceptable residency documents to each state, but commonly accepted items include utility bills, bank statements, rental or lease agreements, mortgage statements, and insurance documents. The two documents typically must come from separate sources, so two bills from the same utility company usually won’t count. Most states also require these documents to be recent, generally dated within the last 60 to 90 days.
If you live in a rural area without a standard street address, some states accommodate alternative addressing formats. Check your state DMV’s website, since acceptable documents and recency rules vary.
Name-Change Paperwork, If Your Name Has Changed
If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your identity document, you need proof of every name change in the chain. Say your birth certificate reads “Jane Smith,” you became “Jane Jones” after your first marriage, and you’re now “Jane Williams” after a second. You’d need both marriage certificates to connect Smith to Jones to Williams.3eCFR. 6 CFR 37.11 – Application and Documents the Applicant Must Provide
Acceptable name-change documents include marriage certificates, divorce decrees that specify a name reversion, and court orders for a legal name change. These must be certified or original copies. If you’ve lost a marriage certificate, you can usually order a replacement from the vital records office of the county or state where the marriage took place.
Extra Rules for Non-Citizens
Non-citizens with lawful status in the United States can get a REAL ID. Permanent residents present an unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). People with temporary lawful status, including visa holders, individuals with Temporary Protected Status, DACA recipients, and those with pending asylum applications, present the immigration documents issued to them by the Department of Homeland Security.2eCFR. 6 CFR 37.11 – Application and Documents the Applicant Must Provide
One catch for temporary status: the REAL ID expires when your authorized stay expires. If there’s no definite end date, the card is valid for one year, and renewal requires an in-person visit with updated proof that your lawful status is still in effect.4Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
If Gathering the Documents Feels Like Too Much
A REAL ID is not the only way to board a domestic flight or enter a federal building. A valid U.S. passport or passport card is REAL ID-compliant and works for the same purposes.5U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passports and REAL ID The TSA also accepts military IDs and DHS trusted traveler cards like Global Entry and NEXUS at airport checkpoints.6Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you already carry a passport, adding a REAL ID is a convenience, not a requirement.
Before You Go to the DMV
Check your state DMV’s website first. Most publish a checklist tool that confirms exactly which residency documents your state accepts and how recent they need to be.7USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel Gather originals or certified copies of all four categories in one place, confirm every name matches (or that you have the paperwork bridging any differences), and bring more than you think you’ll need. A missing document means a second trip.