How to Get a Florida ID Card: Documents, Fees, and REAL ID

To get a Florida ID card, apply in person at a Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) service center or an authorized county tax collector’s office, bring proof of identity, your Social Security number, and two proofs of Florida residential address, and pay a $25 fee.¹ The card is available to any Florida resident age five or older who does not hold a driver’s license.²

Who Qualifies

You need to be a Florida resident and at least five years old. The one exception to the age minimum is for people with disabilities who qualify for a disabled parking permit, who can apply at any age.²

You cannot hold both a Florida ID card and a valid driver’s license. If you already have a driver’s license from Florida or another state, you have to surrender it at the counter when you apply. This is a federal REAL ID Act rule: one credential from one state at a time.³

Documents to Bring

Every document has to be an original or a certified copy. FLHSMV groups them into three categories: identity, Social Security number, and residential address. If the name on your Social Security record does not match the name you want on your card, update it with the Social Security Administration before your appointment.

Proof of Identity for U.S. Citizens

Bring one of the following:

U.S. birth certificate, original or certified copy (Puerto Rico birth certificates must be issued after July 1, 2010)
Valid U.S. passport or passport card
Consular Report of Birth Abroad
Certificate of Naturalization, Form N-550 or N-570
Certificate of Citizenship, Form N-560 or N-561

If your name has changed since that document was issued, bring certified proof of the change, such as a marriage certificate issued by the county court or a court-ordered name change. Commemorative marriage certificates signed by an officiant are not accepted.⁴

Proof of Identity for Non-U.S. Citizens

Non-citizens bring one of these instead:

Valid green card (Form I-551)
I-551 stamp in a passport or on Form I-94
Immigration judge’s order granting asylum, with a valid passport
Approved refugee application (Form I-797 with A-number), with a valid passport

FLHSMV verifies immigration status through the federal SAVE system, which is why non-citizen applications take longer.⁵

Proof of Social Security Number

Bring one original document showing your full number. Your Social Security card is the simplest choice. A W-2, a 1099, or a pay stub also works, as long as it is not handwritten. If you have never been issued a number, you may need a letter from the Social Security Administration confirming that.⁴

Two Proofs of Residential Address

You need two different documents showing your current Florida residential address. Your existing driver’s license or ID card does not count. Common choices include:

A deed, mortgage statement, or residential lease agreement
A Florida voter registration card
A Florida vehicle registration or title
A utility bill dated within the last 60 days (water, gas, electric, cell phone, or cable)
A bank or investment account statement dated within the last 60 days
A homeowner’s or auto insurance policy or bill

Printouts and faxes are fine. Out-of-state or U.S. territory addresses are not accepted for Florida ID applicants.⁴

How to Apply

First-time applicants have to go in person. Book an appointment in advance if you can; some offices require one, and it saves a long wait. Bring every document, because a missing item means starting over on another day.

At the counter, staff verify your documents, you complete an application, and you sit for a photograph. There may be a basic vision screening. The examiner will ask whether you want to register as an organ donor, which you can accept or decline on the spot.⁶ Tax collector offices that issue Florida IDs can also register you to vote if you are eligible.⁷

Fee and Who Pays Nothing

The fee is $25, whether the card is a first-time issue, a renewal, or a replacement.¹ Offices generally accept cash, check, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

Florida waives the fee entirely for people who can show they are homeless, juvenile offenders in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, and inmates receiving a card through a correctional facility program.⁸ Veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating who present a valid VA identification card get the card, and the veteran designation, at no charge.⁹

Ask for the REAL ID Version

Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card to board domestic flights and to enter certain federal buildings. A standard Florida ID that is not REAL ID-compliant will not get you through airport security.¹⁰ A U.S. passport still works, but if your Florida ID is your only identification, get the compliant version.

Florida has issued REAL ID-compliant cards since 2010, but the upgrade is not automatic. You have to visit an office in person the first time.³ A compliant card carries a gold star in the upper right corner. The documents required are the same ones listed above, so if you bring everything on your first visit, there is no reason to leave with anything else.

What Happens After You Apply

You leave the office with a temporary paper ID or receipt that covers you until the permanent card arrives. For most applicants, the permanent card reaches the residential address on the application in 7 to 10 business days.¹¹

Non-U.S. citizens should expect longer. FLHSMV has to verify immigration status and legal presence through the federal SAVE system before the permanent card is issued, and that can take up to 60 days.¹²

Renewing, Replacing, and Keeping It Current

Florida lets you renew online every other cycle through the MyDMV Portal. If you renewed online last time, your next renewal has to be in person. You also have to renew in person if you are not yet REAL ID-compliant, need a new photo, or are changing your name.¹³

If your card is lost or stolen, you can order a replacement through the MyDMV Portal or at any office. The fee is $25, plus a $2 processing fee for online transactions, which take two to three weeks to arrive. Online renewals and replacements only work if FLHSMV can verify your Social Security number electronically.¹³

After a move or a legal name change, update your card within 30 days, either through the MyDMV Portal or at any FLHSMV office or tax collector’s office.¹⁴

1
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Fees
2
The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 322.051 – Identification Cards
3
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. REAL ID
4
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. U.S. Citizen – What to Bring
5
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Immigrant – What to Bring
6
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Donation of Tissues and Organs
7
Florida Division of Elections. Register to Vote or Update Your Information
8
Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 322.051 – Identification Cards
9
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Military and Veterans Information
10
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
11
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. FAQ
12
USCIS. SAVE
13
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Renew or Replace Your Florida Driver License or ID Card
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Name and Address Changes