To get a temporary ID in Texas, book an appointment at a Department of Public Safety driver license office, bring documents proving your identity, Social Security number, and Texas residency, and pay the fee based on your age. You walk out the same day with a paper receipt that includes your photo and works as your legal ID for 60 days while your permanent card is printed and mailed.1Department of Public Safety. Section 3 – Issuing a Temporary Permit
One thing to know before you start: you cannot hold a Texas driver’s license and a Texas ID card at the same time. If you currently have a license, you have to surrender it before DPS will issue the ID, and vice versa.2State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code Chapter 521 – Drivers Licenses and Personal Identification Cards Any Texas resident is otherwise eligible regardless of age, as long as you’re a U.S. citizen or have lawful immigration status.3Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
Documents to Bring
DPS requires three categories of documents. Missing any one of them means you’ll be turned away, so gather everything before your appointment.
- Proof of identity (one document): An unexpired U.S. passport or a certified copy of your birth certificate. Non-citizens can use a certificate of citizenship or permanent resident card.
- Proof of Social Security number (one document): Your Social Security card is the simplest. A W-2 or 1099 showing your full SSN also works.
- Proof of Texas residency (two documents): Two separate documents showing your name and current Texas address, such as a lease, utility bill, bank statement, or mortgage document.
If your name differs from what’s on your birth certificate, bring legal proof of the change, such as a marriage certificate or court order linking the two names.4Texas.gov. Texas REAL ID
Non-citizens go through federal SAVE verification and may need additional documents like an I-94, Employment Authorization Document, or a foreign passport with an admission stamp.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Guide to Understanding SAVE Verification Responses A non-citizen receives a limited-term card that expires with their authorized stay rather than the standard six-year cycle.6Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
Ask for the REAL ID Version
Since May 7, 2025, TSA and other federal agencies require a REAL ID-compliant card for boarding domestic flights and entering certain federal buildings.7Transportation Security Administration. TSA Reminds Public of REAL ID Enforcement Deadline of May 7, 2025 Request REAL ID at your appointment and your card arrives with a gold star in the upper corner. The document rules are slightly stricter: identity proof must be an original or certified birth certificate or an unexpired U.S. passport specifically, and your Social Security proof must be the physical card.4Texas.gov. Texas REAL ID Show up with weaker substitutes and DPS will still issue an ID, but it won’t get you through airport security.
Which Form to Use
Adults aged 17 years and 10 months or older fill out Form DL-14A.8Texas Department of Public Safety. DL-14A – Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application (Adult) Younger minors use Form DL-14B, which requires a parent or guardian signature.9Texas Department of Public Safety. DL-14B – Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application (Minor) Both are on the DPS website. Filling them out at home saves time.
Booking and Attending Your Appointment
DPS driver license offices operate by appointment. Schedule at txdpsscheduler.com. Walk-ins can try a self-service kiosk for same-day openings, but availability isn’t guaranteed.10Department of Public Safety. Driver License Services – Appointments
At the office, staff review your documents, take your photograph and thumbprint, and process your payment. Once everything checks out, the clerk prints your temporary paper receipt on the spot. That receipt carries your photo and is your legal ID until the permanent card, manufactured at a centralized production facility, arrives in the mail.
What It Costs
Texas ID fees are set by age, and each amount below includes a $1 administrative fee for in-office transactions.6Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
- Age 59 and younger: $16, valid for six years.
- Age 60 and older: $6, valid for six years.
- Replacement card (any age): $11 for a lost, stolen, or damaged card. Expiration date stays the same.
- Limited-term card (temporary visitors): $16, expiring when the authorized stay ends.
DPS does not refund fees once your application is submitted. Confirm your documents are complete before you pay.
What the Temporary Receipt Can and Cannot Do
Your paper receipt is valid for 60 days from the date of the transaction.1Department of Public Safety. Section 3 – Issuing a Temporary Permit Within Texas, it’s your legal ID: age verification, bank transactions, and local government offices generally accept it. A few places do not, and these are the ones that catch people.
Air Travel
TSA does not accept a temporary driver’s license or ID receipt at the airport.11Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you need to fly during the waiting period, use an unexpired U.S. passport, or, starting February 1, 2026, TSA’s ConfirmID service. ConfirmID costs $45, is valid for 10 days from your travel date, and lets TSA attempt to verify your identity electronically. Verification isn’t guaranteed; if it fails, you won’t be allowed through security.12Transportation Security Administration. TSA ConfirmID
Social Security Administration
SSA will not accept a receipt showing you applied for an ID. Their policy requires current, unexpired documents.13Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card Bring a passport or other unexpired ID if you need to visit an SSA office in the meantime.
Voting
Texas election law lists seven acceptable forms of photo ID for voting, and the temporary paper receipt isn’t one. A DPS receipt without a photo does qualify as a supporting form of ID: if you lack one of the seven primary photo IDs, you can present the receipt along with a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls.14Texas Secretary of State. Voter Identification Procedures
When the Permanent Card Arrives
The permanent card typically arrives within two to three weeks of your appointment.15Department of Public Safety. Where’s My Driver License or ID Card? With 60 days on the receipt, most people receive their card well before it expires.
If three weeks pass with nothing in the mail, check status through the DPS website or call customer service. Common causes for delay are an address mismatch on your application or a hold during background verification. If the receipt is close to expiring and the card still hasn’t come, contact DPS about issuing a new temporary receipt to cover the gap.