To get a Florida state ID card, you apply in person at a Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) service center or a county tax collector office that handles driver license services, bringing original identity, Social Security, and residential address documents and $25.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Driver Licenses and ID Cards There is no online option for a first-time card. You walk out with a temporary paper ID, and the permanent card is mailed to you.
Who Qualifies
You must be a Florida resident and at least five years old. Children under five qualify only if the card is needed for a disabled parking permit.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 322.051 – Identification Cards One important limit: you cannot hold a Florida driver’s license and a Florida ID card at the same time. If you have a valid Florida license, you’ll surrender it before the state will issue you an ID.3Sarasota Tax Collector. ID Card
Documents to Bring
Everything you bring must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies are not accepted. The name on every document should match; if it doesn’t because of marriage or a court-ordered change, bring the marriage certificate or court order that connects the names.
One Proof of Identity
Any one of the following works:
- Certified U.S. birth certificate (hospital souvenir certificates don’t count)
- Valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
- Naturalization certificate from the Department of Homeland Security
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad from the State Department
- A driver’s license or ID from another state issued under REAL ID standards
These are the same identity standards Florida uses for driver’s licenses.4Florida Senate. Florida Code 322.08 – Application for License; Requirements for License and Identification Card Forms
One Proof of Social Security Number
Bring one document showing your full name and complete Social Security number: a Social Security card, W-2, paycheck stub, SSA-1099, or any other 1099. Handwritten W-2s and 1099s are not accepted.5Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Immigrant
Two Proofs of Florida Residential Address
You need two different documents showing the same Florida address. FLHSMV Form 71120 lists what qualifies.6Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. HSMV 71120 – Certification of Address Household documents include a deed, mortgage statement, property tax bill, or a signed rental or lease agreement. Supporting documents include a Florida voter registration card, Florida vehicle registration or title, utility bills, homeowner’s or auto insurance policies, bank or credit card statements, and employer documents like a paycheck stub. Most supporting documents must be dated within the last 60 days.
If none of the address documents are in your name, a household member whose documents list that address can certify your residence for you on Form 71120.
How to Apply
First-time applicants must apply in person at any FLHSMV service center or a county tax collector office that handles driver license services.7Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. New Resident – Welcome to Florida! Some offices take walk-ins; others require an appointment. Check the local office’s website before you go.
At the counter you’ll hand over your originals, fill out an application, have your photo taken, and sign. Once the documents clear and the fee is paid, you’ll usually leave with a temporary paper ID. The permanent card comes by mail, generally within two to three weeks for U.S. citizens.8Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Renew or Replace Your Florida Driver License or ID Card If 30 days pass with no card, check with your mail carrier before contacting the FLHSMV; the state generally won’t reissue a card until 30 days after the original transaction.
What It Costs
The state fee for an original ID card is $25. County tax collector offices add a $6.25 service fee on top. Veterans who have previously provided proof of veteran status are exempt from that $6.25 surcharge.9Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Fees Payment methods vary by office but typically include cash, debit and credit cards, and checks.
Florida law makes the ID card free for several groups:
- People experiencing financial hardship, who present a valid Florida voter registration card and state that they are in hardship. The FLHSMV cannot require proof beyond your own statement.
- People experiencing homelessness, with a certification from a shelter, public assistance agency, school district homeless liaison, or the Department of Children and Families. The certification must be dated within 90 days and presented each time.
- Youth in the custody or supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice who are receiving transition services.
- Individuals receiving an ID through Department of Corrections reentry programs.
These waivers apply only to ID cards, not driver’s licenses.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 322.051 – Identification Cards
If You’re Not a U.S. Citizen
Non-citizens follow a different document track. Permanent residents show a valid green card (Form I-551) or an I-551 stamp in a passport. Refugees and people granted asylum can present the immigration judge’s order with a valid passport, or an I-797 approval notice showing the A-number with a passport.5Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Immigrant Non-immigrants show USCIS proof of legal presence each time they apply, renew, or replace a card, and that document must have at least 61 days left before it expires. If your status doesn’t authorize employment and you have no Social Security number, bring an SSA denial letter (Form L-676).10Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Non-Immigrant
Non-citizen applicants don’t walk out with a card. The FLHSMV issues a receipt while it verifies identity and status with federal agencies, and the permanent card is mailed within 60 days.10Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Non-Immigrant
REAL ID Compliance
A Florida ID issued through the process above is automatically REAL ID-compliant and carries a gold star in the upper corner. Florida has been issuing compliant cards since 2010.1Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Driver Licenses and ID Cards Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID or another acceptable federal ID like a passport to board domestic flights or enter most federal facilities; travelers who show up at TSA without one face a $45 fee.11Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID The card is valid for eight years, with the expiration date printed on the front.