What Do You Need for a REAL ID? Documents and DMV Steps

To get a REAL ID, you need to bring four things to the DMV: one original document proving your identity and lawful status, one document showing your full Social Security number, two documents proving your home address, and, if your current legal name differs from the name on your identity document, certified paperwork connecting the two. The document categories are set by federal regulation and apply in every state, though individual DMVs vary on which specific documents they’ll accept within each category.¹ Enforcement began May 7, 2025, so a compliant card (or another accepted federal ID) is now required to board a domestic flight, enter a military base, or access certain federal buildings.²

Proof of Identity and Lawful Status

You need one original document that establishes both who you are and that you are legally in the United States. For most U.S. citizens, the two easiest options are a valid U.S. passport or a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate from the state vital statistics office where you were born.¹ Other accepted documents include:

A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545) for citizens born overseas
A Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
A Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)

If you’re relying on a birth certificate, it has to be a certified copy with a raised seal, registrar signature, or multicolored security printing. A hospital souvenir certificate, a photocopy, or a plain printout will be rejected. Lost yours? Order a replacement from the vital statistics office in the state where you were born. Fees and turnaround times vary.

Your identity document has to show your full legal name and date of birth. If the name on it doesn’t match the name you use today, gather the name-change paperwork described below before your appointment.

Proof of Your Social Security Number

Bring one original document that displays your complete nine-digit Social Security number. Your Social Security card is the simplest option, but federal rules also accept a W-2, an SSA-1099, a non-SSA-1099, or a pay stub that shows your name and full SSN.¹ It has to be an original document. Screenshots and photocopies will not be accepted.

If you’ve lost your Social Security card, apply for a replacement through the Social Security Administration using Form SS-5. You can begin the process online or at a local SSA office.³ Replacements are free, but processing takes a couple of weeks, so start early.

Two Proofs of Your Home Address

Federal rules require at least two documents showing your name and the street address where you actually live.¹ The list each state accepts varies, but common options include:

Utility bills (electric, gas, water, phone)
Bank or credit card statements
Mortgage statements or residential lease agreements
Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies
Voter registration cards
W-2 forms or other tax documents showing your address

A P.O. Box will not satisfy the residency requirement, because the whole point is proving where you physically live. Both documents need to show the same address, and states expect them to be recent. Some want documents dated within the last 60 days; others accept anything from the past year. Check your state DMV’s website for the exact window before you go. Pulling documents from two different sources, such as one utility bill and one bank statement, is the safest approach.

Name Change Documentation

If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your identity document, you need certified paperwork connecting the two. The common scenarios are marriage, divorce, and court-ordered name changes.

A certified marriage certificate covers a name change through marriage. For a name restored through divorce, bring a certified divorce decree that includes the name-change provision. For any other legal name change, bring the certified court order. Photocopies of these documents will not be accepted; you need certified copies from the issuing court or vital records office.

If your name has changed more than once, you need the full chain of certified documents linking your birth name through every intermediate name to the name you use today. Missing one link in that chain is one of the most common reasons people get turned away at the DMV, so trace through every change and gather every certified document before your visit.

If You’re Not a U.S. Citizen

Non-citizens can get a REAL ID, but the identity and lawful status documents differ. Lawful permanent residents can present an unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). If your green card has technically expired but DHS has extended it, bring the card together with the Form I-797 Notice of Action showing the extension.⁴

If you’re in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa, you’ll generally need an unexpired foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and your approved I-94.¹ An unexpired Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) also satisfies both the identity and lawful status requirements. All non-citizen documents get verified through the federal SAVE system, which can add processing time.

Permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and conditional permanent residents are generally eligible for a full-term REAL ID. Other non-citizens in temporary lawful status receive a limited-term card that expires when their authorized stay ends.⁴ You still need to meet the Social Security number and residency requirements above.

What to Expect at the DMV

Your first REAL ID has to be applied for in person, because staff need to examine your original documents and take a new photo. Most states offer online scheduling, and booking ahead is worth the effort. At your appointment, you’ll present your documents, sit for a photo, and, if you’re getting a driver’s license rather than an ID card, take a vision screening.

Fees vary by state and card type. Some states charge no extra fee beyond the standard license cost; others charge up to $40 or more for an ID card. Expect to pay between $25 and $60 in most places, usually by card, check, or money order. Most states issue a temporary paper permit you can use right away, then mail the permanent card to your verified home address one to three weeks later. Hold onto the temporary permit until your permanent card arrives.

Renewal rules differ by state. Some allow online or mail renewal if your documents are already on file; others require you to return in person with your originals. Check your state DMV’s website before your card expires.

When You Don’t Need a REAL ID

You do not need a REAL ID for everyday activities like driving, voting, applying for federal benefits, or entering a post office. Standard non-compliant licenses still work for anything outside the federal official-purpose list.

You also don’t need a REAL ID for airport security if you already carry another accepted form of identification. TSA accepts a long list of alternatives:⁵

U.S. passport or passport card
U.S. military ID, including dependent IDs
Permanent resident card (green card)
DHS trusted traveler cards: Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST
Tribal ID from a federally recognized tribe
Foreign passport
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

Children under 18 traveling domestically don’t need any identification at all.⁵ If you already have one of the alternatives above and don’t visit military bases or federal courthouses, you may not need to make the trip to the DMV at all.

1
eCFR. 6 CFR 37.11 – Application and Documents the Applicant Must Provide
2
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
3
Social Security Administration. How Do I Apply for a Replacement Social Security Number Card Online?
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
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Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint