To get an Arizona ID card, you apply in person at an MVD office or authorized third-party provider with one primary identity document, your Social Security number, two proofs of Arizona residency, and any paperwork showing a legal name change. The Arizona ID requirements are the same whether you want a standard card or the REAL ID–compliant Travel ID, but the Travel ID demands originals or certified copies of every document and costs more. A standard card is $12; a Travel ID is $25.
Decide Which Card You Need
Arizona issues two ID cards through the Motor Vehicle Division. A standard ID works for everyday purposes: cashing checks, proving your age, accessing state services, and boarding buses or trains. It does not work at TSA airport checkpoints or inside federal facilities that require REAL ID.
The Arizona Travel ID is the REAL ID–compliant version, marked with a circle-and-star symbol in the upper corner. Since May 7, 2025, only a REAL ID–compliant card, a U.S. passport, or another federally approved credential is accepted at TSA checkpoints and restricted federal buildings.1Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona Travel ID If you fly domestically and don’t carry a passport, the Travel ID is the one to get. Both cards are valid for up to eight years in most cases.
The practical difference at the counter is strictness: for a Travel ID, every document you present must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies won’t be accepted.
Primary Identity Document
You need exactly one document that proves identity and authorized presence in the United States. Arizona law requires the MVD to verify authorized presence under federal law before issuing any credential.2Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-3153 – Driver License Issuance Prohibitions
Accepted primary identity documents include:3Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona DL/ID Requirements
- Original or certified birth certificate issued by a U.S. state, territory, or possession. Hospital records and California abstracts of birth do not count.
- U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240, 545, or DS-1350)
- Unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
- Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
- Unexpired USCIS Employment Authorization Document
- I-94 form with an unexpired foreign passport and unexpired U.S. visa, excluding Visa Waiver participants
- U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
- U.S. Certificate of Citizenship
If you were born in the U.S. and no longer have your birth certificate, order a certified copy through the vital records office in your state of birth. Fees typically run $10 to $31. A hospital-issued birth record is not the same as a certified copy and will be rejected.
Social Security Number
You must provide your Social Security number on the application. Arizona requires it under A.R.S. §§ 28-3158 and 28-3165 for identity verification and federal child-support enforcement compliance.4Arizona Department of Transportation. Proof of Identification, Age and Authorized Presence The MVD verifies the number against Social Security Administration records, so your name on file with the SSA must match the name on your application exactly. If you recently changed your name, update it with the SSA at least 24 hours before your MVD visit.3Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona DL/ID Requirements
Two Proofs of Arizona Residency
You need two separate documents showing you live in Arizona. Each must be mailed from a business, organization, or government agency, and each must show your name and your physical residential address.3Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona DL/ID Requirements A P.O. box address will not satisfy the requirement.
Common examples are a utility bill, a rental agreement, or any MVD document previously mailed to you. All mailed MVD documents count toward the two-document requirement. Check that the address on each document matches what you write on your application. Address formatting mismatches are one of the most common reasons applications get held up at the window.
Name Change Documents
If your current legal name differs from the name on your primary identity document, bring legal proof of the change. Accepted documents are a marriage license or certificate, a divorce decree, a court-ordered name change for an adult or minor, or an adoption decree. Each must be an original or certified copy.3Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona DL/ID Requirements
Update your name with the Social Security Administration first. The MVD verifies your SSN during the application, and if the SSA still shows your old name the system won’t match.5Arizona Department of Transportation. Change Your Name with MVD Give the update at least 24 hours to propagate before going to the MVD.
Fees and Who Pays Nothing
Arizona’s ID card fees are:6Arizona Department of Transportation. Fees (Driver License)
- Standard ID card, ages 0 through 64: $12
- Standard ID card, age 65 and older: no fee
- Standard ID card for SSI recipients: no fee
- Travel ID, original or renewal: $25
- Duplicate of any card: $12
If you apply through an authorized third-party provider rather than a state MVD office, expect to pay a convenience fee on top of the state fee.7Arizona Department of Transportation. Authorized Third Party Providers MVD offices accept credit cards, checks, and cash.
Where and How to Apply
You can apply at any MVD field office or authorized third-party location. Appointments aren’t required at MVD offices, where walk-in wait times average around 10 minutes, but you can book one through AZMVDNow.gov to shorten your visit during busy hours.8Arizona Department of Transportation. Easiest Way to Visit an MVD Office? Schedule an Appointment
Before you go, download Form 40-5122, the Travel License / Identification Application, from the AZDOT website so you can review the fields and fill in your information ahead of time.9Arizona Department of Transportation. License/Identification Application (40-5122) Bring all your documents in original or certified form: identity, Social Security verification, two residency proofs, and any name-change paperwork. The examiner verifies each document at the counter before taking your fee.
Third-party providers are private businesses contracted by the MVD. Many keep extended and weekend hours, useful if you can’t get to a state office during the workweek.10Arizona Department of Transportation. Authorized Third Party Driver License Locations Factor the convenience fee into your decision.
After You Apply
Once the examiner approves your application, you receive a temporary credential that serves as valid identification until your permanent card arrives. A Travel ID takes up to two weeks to arrive by mail.1Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona Travel ID If you misplace your temporary credential before the permanent card arrives, you can print a duplicate at home from your AZ MVD Now account.11Arizona Department of Transportation. You Can Now Print Duplicate Temporary Driver Licenses or IDs at Home
If your permanent card is later lost, stolen, or damaged, a duplicate costs $12 for either a standard ID or a Travel ID.
Getting an ID for a Child
Arizona issues ID cards to children of any age. The fee is $12, the same as an adult standard card. Bring the child’s Social Security number and the same identity documents required for an adult, typically an original or certified birth certificate.12Arizona Department of Transportation. Protect Your Child with an Arizona ID Card You can start the application online through an AZ MVD Now account and then bring the child in person with the paperwork.
Applying as a Non-Citizen
Non-U.S. citizens can get an Arizona ID card by proving authorized presence in the country. The acceptable immigration documents are listed above among the primary identity options: a Permanent Resident Card, an unexpired Employment Authorization Document, or an I-94 paired with an unexpired foreign passport and U.S. visa. Certificates of Naturalization and Citizenship also qualify.
Arizona law prohibits the MVD from issuing any credential to someone who cannot prove authorized presence under federal law, and it bars the MVD from accepting a driver license from another state as a primary identity document if that state doesn’t require lawful presence for its licenses.2Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-3153 – Driver License Issuance Prohibitions Immigration documents go through federal verification, which can add processing time to your application.