How to Get a Maryland ID Card: Requirements, Documents, and Fees

To get a Maryland ID card, you apply in person at a Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) branch with proof of age, identity, your Social Security number, and two documents showing your Maryland address. The fee is $40 for most adults, and the finished card arrives by mail within seven to ten business days.¹ Before you go, decide which of Maryland’s three ID versions you actually need, because that choice affects what you can do with the card once you have it.

Pick the Right Type of ID

Maryland issues three versions of the state ID card.

The REAL ID meets federal security standards under the REAL ID Act of 2005 and is what you need to board a domestic flight or enter a federal facility. It carries a star in the upper corner.²
The standard ID works for everyday identification in Maryland (banking, age verification, state agency business) but is not accepted for federal purposes.
The non-compliant ID is available to residents who cannot provide proof of lawful U.S. presence but who have filed Maryland income taxes. It works for everyday purposes only.¹

If you already carry a U.S. passport and rarely fly, a standard card may be all you need. If you fly domestically and don’t want to bring your passport, get the REAL ID version.

Who Qualifies

Any Maryland resident can apply, at any age. You don’t need to drive or own a vehicle.³

For a REAL ID or a standard card, you must live in Maryland and have lawful status in the United States. For a non-compliant card, lawful status is not required, but you must have filed a Maryland income tax return, or been claimed as a dependent on one, for each of the two years before your application.⁴¹

Applicants under 18 also need proof of a parental relationship or dependency, such as a tax return, health insurance card, or health insurance policy showing the connection.⁵

Documents to Bring

The MVA will not accept photocopies for most of these documents, so bring originals or certified copies. A missing document is the most common reason people leave without a card.⁴

Proof of Age and Identity

A birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport satisfies this requirement. If you are 65 or older and have a DD-214 military discharge document, that alone works. Without a DD-214, seniors can pair a Social Security benefits statement with a supporting document such as a baptismal certificate, hospital birth certificate, or census birth record.⁵

Social Security Number

Bring your Social Security card. If you don’t have it, the MVA also accepts a current W-2, SSA-1099, non-SSA-1099, or a pay stub showing your name and full Social Security number. If you are not eligible for a Social Security number, bring documentation from the Social Security Administration confirming that ineligibility.⁴ The MVA verifies the number electronically with the SSA while you’re at the counter.

Two Proofs of Maryland Residency

You need at least two documents showing your name and current Maryland address, from two separate sources. Utility bills, mortgage statements, residential lease agreements, bank statements, insurance cards, vehicle registrations, and mail from government agencies all count.⁶

Name Change Documents

If the name on your identity documents doesn’t match your current legal name, bring the original or certified document showing the change: a marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order, or passport with the updated name. Photocopies aren’t accepted. If your Social Security card still shows the old name, update it with the SSA first when possible.⁷

Applying at the MVA

Appointments aren’t strictly required, but they’re recommended and cut wait times significantly. Schedule one at mymva.maryland.gov.⁸

At the branch, you hand over your documents, have a digital photo taken, and pay the fee. The card is not printed on site. Your application goes to a central secure facility for verification and printing, and the finished card comes to you by mail within seven to ten business days.¹

What It Costs

A new adult ID card is $40.⁹ A duplicate, for a lost, stolen, or damaged card, is $30.¹⁰

Maryland waives the fee entirely for several groups:

Residents 65 or older.⁹
People with a disability that limits a major life activity.⁹
People within 60 days of release from a correctional facility.
Residents currently experiencing homelessness.
Youth aged 14 to 20 in approved Department of Human Services programs, under Department of Juvenile Services care, or under Maryland Department of Health care.⁵

How Long It Lasts

Adult ID cards are valid for up to eight years. Cards issued to minors under 18 last up to five years.⁹

As expiration approaches, the MVA sends a renewal notice telling you whether you can renew online or need to come in. You’ll have to renew in person if your card is limited-term based on legal presence, if it’s been expired more than a year, or if the MVA has told you that updated documents are needed.¹¹

A Note on Flying

Federal REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025. A standard or non-compliant Maryland ID will not get you through a TSA checkpoint for a domestic flight on its own; you need the REAL ID version or another federally accepted document such as a U.S. passport, passport card, military ID, DHS Trusted Traveler card, or a photo ID issued by a federally recognized tribal nation.¹²¹³ Factor that in when you decide which version to request at the counter.

1
MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Identification (ID) Card
2
Department of Homeland Security. REAL ID Act of 2005
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MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Get a New License, Permit or ID
4
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 12-301 – Identification Cards
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MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Get a Maryland Drivers License or ID Card
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Cornell Law School – Legal Information Institute. COMAR 11-17-09-04 – Source Documents for Proof of Age, Name, Identity, Residence, Social Security Number, and Lawful Status or Temporary Lawful Status
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MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Update Name, Address or Other Info on Your Maryland Drivers License or ID
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MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Appointments and Online Services
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MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Fees and Payment Options
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MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. License and ID Fees
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MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Renew a License or ID
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
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Transportation Security Administration. About TSA ConfirmID