How to Get a REAL ID in CT: Documents, Appointment, and Cost

To get a REAL ID in Connecticut, you make a one-time in-person visit to the DMV with original proof of identity, your Social Security number, two documents showing your Connecticut address, and a completed Form R-229. Fees run from $30 if you’re adding the gold star to a valid license, up to $96 for an eight-year renewal.¹² Federal enforcement began May 7, 2025, so a standard Connecticut license without the gold star will no longer get you through airport security or into certain federal buildings.³

Who Can Get a Connecticut REAL ID

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents qualify for a full-term REAL ID. Connecticut also issues a limited-term REAL ID to residents with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status; DACA holders must present a valid Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) with Category C33. The card expires when the holder’s authorized period of stay ends.¹

If you hold a Drive Only license, you cannot upgrade to a REAL ID.¹

Documents to Bring

Every document must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies and notarized photocopies are not accepted.⁴ This document review happens once. After it’s on file, future renewals don’t require you to bring the paperwork again.¹

Proof of Identity

Bring two identity documents, at least one from the primary list: a U.S. passport, a U.S. passport card, or a certified birth certificate issued by a state or U.S. territory. Hospital-issued certificates don’t count, and Puerto Rico certificates issued before July 1, 2010 aren’t accepted. A Social Security card or other secondary document fills the second slot.⁴

Social Security Number

You’ll write your SSN on the application so the DMV can verify it electronically with the Social Security Administration. You don’t need to bring a physical Social Security card, W-2, or other SSN document; the REAL ID Modernization Act removed that requirement.⁵ If you’re not eligible for an SSN, bring an ineligibility letter from the SSA.⁴

Proof of Connecticut Residency

You need two documents from different sources showing your name and Connecticut address. Most must be computer-generated hard copies dated within 90 days. Acceptable options include:⁴

Utility, bank, mortgage, credit card, or medical bills within 90 days
Bank statements showing the bank’s name and mailing address
Pre-printed pay stubs with your employer’s name and address
Property or excise tax bills within the previous 12 months
A homeowner’s, renter’s, or motor vehicle insurance policy within the previous 12 months
A residential mortgage, lease, or rental agreement signed by all parties within the previous 12 months
Current Connecticut motor vehicle registration
Postmarked mail (the address may be handwritten)

Name-Change Documents

If your current name doesn’t match the name on your identity documents, bring certified proof of the change: a marriage or civil union certificate, a dissolution decree, or a probate court name-change order. Multiple changes require documents that trace the full chain from the original name to your current one.⁴ Update your name with the Social Security Administration before your DMV appointment so the electronic SSN check matches.⁶

Application Form

Fill out Form R-229, the Application for Non-Commercial Driver License or Identity Card, before you arrive.⁷ The address on the form has to match the address on your residency documents exactly.

Booking Your Appointment

Schedule through the Connecticut DMV online portal.⁸ Walk-in service exists at most offices but comes with long waits. The Cheshire, Putnam, and Stamford locations don’t accept walk-ins at all, and no DMV office offers Saturday walk-in service.¹

Some AAA offices and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union branches also handle REAL ID transactions by appointment. These express locations add a convenience fee of up to $8 per transaction.²

What It Costs

Adding a REAL ID to a currently valid license (duplicate fee): $30¹
Six-year license renewal with REAL ID: $72
Eight-year license renewal with REAL ID: $96²

What Happens at the Appointment

A clerk reviews your Form R-229 and originals, then takes a new digital photograph. You leave with a temporary paper credential that serves as your valid license. Your permanent card arrives by U.S. mail within 20 business days, with a gold star in the top right corner.¹ Confirm your mailing address on the application so the card isn’t returned, and destroy your old license once the new one arrives.

Renewing Later

Because identity verification is a one-time step, renewals are simpler. If you already have the gold star and your name and address haven’t changed, you can renew online without another DMV visit or another document review. You can start up to 180 days before your license expires.⁹ First-time REAL ID applicants still need the in-person appointment.

Getting a REAL ID for a Child

Minors can get a REAL ID using the same document categories as adults, with one accommodation: a parent or legal guardian at the same address can supply their own residency documents to prove the child’s address.⁴ The child still needs their own primary identity document, such as a certified birth certificate. TSA does not require identification for passengers under 18 on domestic flights, so a REAL ID isn’t necessary for a child to fly.¹⁰

If You’d Rather Not Get a REAL ID

You don’t have to get one if you already carry another TSA-accepted document. A U.S. passport or passport card works, as do DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), a U.S. military ID including dependent IDs, a permanent resident card, federally recognized tribal ID, a Transportation Worker Identification Credential, or a Veteran Health Identification Card.¹⁰

If you show up at a checkpoint with none of those, TSA’s ConfirmID program is a last resort. You prepay $45 through Pay.gov, and TSA attempts an electronic identity verification. The receipt is valid for 10 days from your selected travel date, and verification is not guaranteed. If TSA cannot confirm your identity, you will not be allowed through security.¹¹

1
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Get a REAL ID
2
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV Fees
3
Department of Homeland Security. DHS Announces Extension of REAL ID Full Enforcement Deadline
4
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID Document Identity Verification Checklist
5
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
6
Social Security Administration. How Do I Change or Correct My Name on My Social Security Number Card
7
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Forms
8
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Make or Change DMV Appointment
9
Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. How to Renew Driver License
10
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
11
Transportation Security Administration. TSA ConfirmID