How to Get a Massachusetts ID Card: Documents and Application

To get a Massachusetts ID card, start your application on the RMV’s Online Service Center, gather original documents proving your identity, Social Security status, and Massachusetts address, then book an in-person appointment at an RMV Service Center and bring $25.¹ Your permanent card arrives by mail in about two weeks; you’ll leave the appointment with a temporary paper ID valid for 60 days.

Choose Between a Standard Mass ID and a REAL ID

Massachusetts issues two versions of the non-driver ID card. Both are valid for five years and both cost $25.² Pick before you book your appointment, because the document rules differ.

A REAL ID has a gold star in the upper right corner. Since May 7, 2025, TSA and other federal agencies require anyone 18 or older to show a REAL ID, a passport, or another federally accepted credential to board a domestic flight or enter certain federal buildings.³ A Standard Mass ID has no star and won’t get you through airport security, but it works for state purposes: proving age, verifying identity to employers, opening bank accounts, and similar everyday needs.⁴

If you might fly domestically and don’t carry a passport, choose the REAL ID. The fee is identical, and the only added burden is stricter document rules.

Who Qualifies

You need to meet three basic requirements to apply:¹

Be at least 14 years old.
Not hold a current driver’s license in Massachusetts or any other state.
Live in Massachusetts and be able to prove your residential address.

You also have to show lawful presence in the U.S. Citizens and permanent residents meet this with a passport or birth certificate. Non-citizens must present immigration documents showing a legal stay of at least 12 months.⁴

Documents to Bring

Every applicant provides proof in three categories: lawful presence and date of birth, Social Security status, and Massachusetts residency. All documents must be originals. Photocopies and laminated documents are not accepted. For a REAL ID, one document cannot count in more than one category.⁵

Lawful Presence and Date of Birth

Bring one of the following:⁵

U.S. passport or passport card.
Original or certified U.S. birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state of birth, listing your full name, date of birth, place of birth, and parents’ names.
Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551).
Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) or Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561).
Foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and an I-94 record, if you are a non-citizen without permanent residency.

Social Security Number

The RMV may verify your SSN electronically. If it can’t, bring your Social Security card (not laminated) or a W-2. If you don’t have an SSN, bring a denial notice from the Social Security Administration along with your foreign passport, visa, and I-94.⁵

Massachusetts Residency

A REAL ID needs two residency documents. A Standard Mass ID needs one.⁵ Each must show your name and current residential address. P.O. boxes and “in care of” addresses are not accepted. Common options:

A utility bill dated within 60 days (electric, phone, water, cable, or heating).
A bank statement dated within 60 days.
A current lease or mortgage agreement.
A current Massachusetts driver’s license, learner’s permit, or RMV-issued mail dated within 60 days. Only one RMV document counts.

Name Change Paperwork

If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your birth certificate or lawful presence document, bring paperwork that connects the two. The RMV accepts a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.⁶ If you’ve changed your name more than once, bring a document for each change so the RMV can trace the full chain from your birth name to your current name. This is the requirement that trips people up most often.

Apply Online, Then Visit in Person

Start at the RMV’s Online Service Center. You complete the application form and confirm your document list there. You can’t finish online, but getting through this step ahead of time shortens your counter visit.¹

Then book an appointment at an RMV Service Center. If you’re applying for a REAL ID and you’re a AAA member, you can reserve at a participating AAA location instead; those branches handle limited RMV services by appointment only.⁴⁷ Bring your completed application, all original documents, and the $25 fee. Staff will take your photo and capture a digital signature at the appointment.

Gender Marker Options

You can choose M, F, or X as the gender designation on your card. The X marker is available on non-driver IDs and driver’s licenses alike, and no supporting documentation is needed to select it or to switch designations.⁸

After the Appointment

Once the RMV approves your application, you’ll leave with a temporary Mass ID that is valid for 60 days.¹ Your permanent card is mailed to the address on file and typically arrives in 10 to 14 business days. If it hasn’t shown up after 30 days, contact the RMV.

If your lawful presence in the U.S. is authorized for less than five years, the RMV issues a limited-term ID that expires when your authorized stay ends. The fee for a limited-term card is prorated at $5 per year.¹

What About a Liquor ID

The RMV also issues a separate Liquor ID for residents 21 or older who want a dedicated proof-of-age card. It costs the same $25 and requires one document proving your SSN and one proving your date of birth.⁹ A Liquor ID is narrower than a Mass ID. It proves identity, signature, and age within Massachusetts, but it is not a REAL ID and doesn’t cover the broader uses a Mass ID does.¹⁰ For most people, a standard Mass ID is the better choice at the same price.

1
Mass.gov. Apply for a Massachusetts Identification Card (Mass ID)
2
Mass.gov. Renew Your REAL or Standard Massachusetts ID (Mass ID)
3
Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025
4
Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID in Massachusetts
5
Mass.gov. Massachusetts Identification (ID) Requirements
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Mass.gov. Change Information on Your Driver’s License or ID Card
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Mass.gov. RMV Services at AAA Locations
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Mass.gov. Massachusetts Allows Nonbinary Marker on Licenses, IDs
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Mass.gov. Apply for a Liquor ID Card
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Mass.gov. RMV-Issued Identification Cards