How to Get a Kentucky ID Card: Documents, Fees, and Appointments

To get a Kentucky ID card, visit a Driver Licensing Regional Office with proof of identity, your Social Security number, and proof of Kentucky residency. A standard card costs $11.50, and your permanent card arrives by mail within 10 to 15 business days after your visit. You’ll leave the office with a 30-day temporary document to use in the meantime.¹

Decide Between a Standard ID and a REAL ID

Kentucky issues two versions of its ID card. A standard card works for driving, voting, age-restricted purchases, and social benefit services. A REAL ID, marked with a star, does all of that and is also accepted at TSA airport checkpoints and federal facilities like military bases.²

Since May 7, 2025, TSA no longer accepts standard state IDs at airport security. If you fly domestically or enter restricted federal buildings, you need a REAL ID or an acceptable substitute such as a valid U.S. passport, passport card, or military ID.³ If you never fly and don’t visit those federal buildings, the standard card is enough and costs less.

Non-drivers can get either version as an identification-only card. It functions like a driver’s license for ID purposes without granting driving privileges.¹

Documents to Bring

Get your paperwork together before you go. Missing documents are what send people home empty-handed.

Proof of Identity

Bring one original or certified copy: a certified U.S. birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport or passport card, a certificate of naturalization, or a permanent resident card.⁴ Hospital-issued birth certificates don’t count. A certified copy comes from the issuing government agency with an official seal; a photocopy or notarized copy won’t be accepted.⁵

Social Security Number

You need one document showing your full Social Security number. If this is your first Kentucky credential, you must bring your actual Social Security card. A W-2 or 1099 only works for renewals and replacements.⁵

Proof of Kentucky Residency

This is where the two card types split. A standard ID requires one proof of residency document. A REAL ID requires two.⁵ Accepted items include utility bills, bank statements, lease agreements, mortgage statements, a property tax bill, a Kentucky voter registration card, and postmarked U.S. mail. Most must be dated within the past year, and the documents must show a physical Kentucky address; a P.O. box alone is not enough.

Name Change Documentation

If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your identity document, bring a certified marriage certificate, a certified divorce decree that specifically grants a name change, or a certified court order for a legal name change.⁴

For a REAL ID, your name must already be updated with the Social Security Administration before you apply. If SSA records still show your old name, the office cannot process the application. Handle SSA first. And even if your existing Kentucky credential already displays your married name, you still need to bring the certified marriage certificate for a REAL ID.

If You’re Not a U.S. Citizen

Non-U.S. citizens and permanent residents can apply at any Driver Licensing Regional Office.⁶ Permanent residents present a current, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). Other non-citizens bring all original documentation proving lawful presence; those documents are reviewed case by case. Foreign-language birth certificates, marriage licenses, and driver’s licenses must come with a notarized English translation. Applicants under 18 applying for the first time also need their birth certificate, with a notarized translation if it’s not in English.

Book an Appointment and Visit the Office

Kentucky ID cards are issued at Driver Licensing Regional Offices, which replaced the older circuit court clerk model.⁷ Find your nearest office and book at drive.ky.gov. Walk-ins are accepted on a limited basis, but appointments move faster.

At the appointment, staff review your documents and verify them against federal and state databases. You’ll complete an application, have your photo taken, and provide a digital signature. Once everything checks out, you pay the fee and receive a 30-day temporary document on the spot. That temporary is valid for identification while your permanent card is produced and mailed.⁸

What It Costs

Standard ID card: $11.50¹
REAL ID, 4-year: $24
REAL ID, 8-year: $48
REAL ID upgrade: $15 if your current credential has more than six months left before expiration; you keep your existing expiration date⁹
Replacement for lost or stolen card: $15¹⁰

Non-CDL applicants age 21 or older can choose the four-year or eight-year option.⁹ Regional offices generally take credit cards, debit cards, and money orders. Not every location accepts cash, so bring a card.

After the Office Visit

Your permanent card should arrive by mail within 10 to 15 business days, and the 30-day temporary covers you until it does.⁸ If nothing has arrived after three weeks, contact the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for a status update.

Once you have the card, Kentucky law requires you to update your name or address within 10 days of any change.¹⁰ Address updates can be handled by mail, in person, or in some cases online. Letting it slide past the deadline can create problems with vehicle registration notices and other mail tied to your record.

If You’re Missing a Birth Certificate or Social Security Card

The office cannot process your application without the required identity and Social Security documents, so replace anything missing before you schedule.

For a certified birth certificate, contact the vital records office in the state where you were born. Kentucky-born residents can request one through the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at chfs.ky.gov or by calling (800) 241-8322.⁵

For a replacement Social Security card, use ssa.gov/ssnumber or contact your local Social Security Administration office. SSA issues up to three replacement cards per year and ten over a lifetime, with some exceptions, and there is no fee.

If you planned to use a U.S. passport as your identity document and it’s lost, report it through the State Department right away; once reported, a passport is permanently canceled, even if you find it later.¹¹ You can use your certified birth certificate as the identity document for your Kentucky ID application instead.

1
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. First Issuance
2
Commonwealth of Kentucky. REAL ID vs Standard ID
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Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. What Do I Need to Apply
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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Valid Proof Documents
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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Non-US Citizen
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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Kentucky Driver Licensing
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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Real ID Frequently Asked Questions
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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Pricing
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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Renew, Replace, Update a Credential
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U.S. Department of State. Report Your Passport Lost or Stolen