How to Get a Montana ID Card: Requirements, Fees, and Appointments

To get a Montana ID card, you schedule an appointment at a Motor Vehicle Division Driver Exam Station, bring original identity and residency documents, pay either $17 for a standard card or $42.23 for a REAL ID-compliant card, and wait two to four weeks for the permanent card to arrive by mail.¹² There is no mail-in option for a first-time card. The card is valid for eight years and serves as official identification for anyone who does not hold a Montana driver’s license. You cannot hold both a license and a separate ID card at the same time.³

Decide Between a Standard Card and a REAL ID

Your first decision shapes both the documents you need to bring and the fee you’ll pay. Montana issues two versions of the ID card, and the only visible difference is a star-in-a-circle symbol in the upper right corner of the REAL ID version. A standard card is printed with “NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES” in that same spot.⁴

You want the REAL ID version if you plan to fly domestically or enter federal buildings that require it. Since May 7, 2025, TSA has required a REAL ID-compliant credential or another federally accepted document, such as a valid U.S. passport, passport card, or a trusted traveler card like Global Entry or NEXUS, at airport checkpoints.⁵ Beginning February 1, 2026, travelers without a REAL ID can attempt identity verification through TSA’s ConfirmID program for a $45 fee, but verification is not guaranteed.⁶

If you don’t fly and don’t visit federal facilities, the standard card does the job and saves you about $25.

Who Can Apply

Montana will issue an ID card to anyone who can document Montana residency and whose presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. There is no minimum age. Non-citizens who are lawfully present qualify, and the MVD verifies immigration status through the federal SAVE program before issuing the card.³ Former foster children under 21 pay no fee.⁷

Gather Your Documents

MVD staff inspect originals at the counter. Photocopies won’t work, and showing up with the wrong documents means another trip.

For a Standard ID Card

You need two documents proving identity: either two primary documents, or one primary and one secondary.⁸ Primary documents include:

A certified U.S. or Canadian birth certificate bearing the registrar’s seal (not a hospital-issued copy)
A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
An unexpired U.S. military ID with photo and date of birth
A digital tribal ID from a federally recognized Montana tribe showing photo, date of birth, and enrollment number
A color photo driver’s license or ID from a U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction, not expired more than four years

Secondary documents include a Social Security card, a certified school transcript with your full name, a current school photo ID, a Medicare or health insurance card, or a certified court order. You’ll also need to provide a verifiable Social Security number at the appointment.⁸

For a REAL ID-Compliant Card

REAL ID follows stricter federal rules. You need documents from four categories:⁹

Lawful authorized presence, one document: a certified U.S. birth certificate with official seal, valid U.S. passport, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, consular report of birth abroad, or permanent resident card. Non-citizens may use an unexpired foreign passport with a Form I-766 or I-94.
Social Security number: no physical card required, but you must provide the number, and the name on file with the SSA must match your legal name. If you recently changed your name with SSA, wait at least 48 hours before applying.
Montana residency, two documents: each must show your full legal name and current physical address. P.O. boxes are not accepted. A utility bill, bank or credit card statement, rental agreement, pay stub, W-2, hunting or fishing license, mortgage document, voter registration card, or first-class mail with a dated postmark all qualify.
Name change, one document per change: a certified marriage license, court order granting the name change, or certificate of naturalization for each time your name changed. Affidavits of common-law marriage are not accepted.

The name-change category is where applications most often fall apart. If your birth certificate shows your maiden name and you’ve been married twice, you need two separate certified documents forming an unbroken chain from your birth name to your current legal name.⁹ A missing link means you’ll be sent home.

Book an Appointment and Visit a Driver Exam Station

Only MVD Driver Exam Stations issue ID cards. County treasurer offices, which handle vehicle registration and titles, cannot process them.² Schedule online through the MVD’s scheduling system before you go. Walk-ins may be possible at some locations, but hours vary across the state and smaller offices run only a few days per week.

At the counter you’ll complete an application, hand over your originals for inspection, have a digital photo taken, and sign the card.² Permanent cards are not printed on-site. You leave with a paper receipt, and the finished card arrives by mail in roughly two to four weeks. Confirm the mailing address on your application before you leave.

Pay the Fee

Standard ID card: $17.00
REAL ID-compliant card: $42.23 (the $17 base fee plus a $25.23 REAL ID surcharge)

These fees cover all administrative costs.¹ Most exam stations accept cash, personal checks, and credit or debit cards.

How Long the Card Lasts

A standard adult card is valid for eight years, expiring on the anniversary of your birthday eight years after the issue date.⁷ Cards issued to people with temporary federal immigration authorization expire no later than the date their federal documents expire, which means shorter validity and more frequent renewals. Renewal uses the same in-person process as the first application, and if your name has changed, you need to bring the certified paperwork linking old to new.²

If You Have Travel Coming Up

The paper receipt you leave with has one important gap. TSA does not accept temporary driver’s licenses or ID receipts at airport security checkpoints.¹⁰ If you have a flight before the permanent card is likely to arrive, apply well in advance or plan to carry a passport as backup until the card shows up in your mailbox.

1
Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Licensing Fees
2
Montana Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division. Identification Card
3
Montana Legislature. Montana Code Annotated 61-12-501 – Authority of Department to Issue Identification Cards
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Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Real ID
5
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
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Defense Travel Management Office. Travelers Without REAL ID Could Pay $45 Fee for TSAs ConfirmID Beginning February 1, 2026
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Montana Legislature. Montana Code Annotated 61-12-504 – Fees for Identification Cards – Expiration of Cards
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Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Required Documents for Driver Licenses / IDs
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Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Montana REAL ID Checklist
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Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint