How to Get a Virginia State ID Card: Documents, Fees, and REAL ID

To get a Virginia state ID card, you visit a Department of Motor Vehicles customer service center with proof of your identity, legal presence, Social Security number, and Virginia residency, complete Form DL 1P, have your photo taken, and pay $2 for each year of validity (a $10 minimum and $16 maximum, with a $10 add-on if you want the REAL ID version).¹ You leave the office with a paper receipt, and the permanent card arrives by mail.

Who Qualifies

Any Virginia resident can apply, at any age.² Applicants under 18 need a parent or legal guardian involved in the process, and children under 15 use a separate application (covered below).

You cannot hold a Virginia driver’s license and a Virginia ID card at the same time. If you have a license from Virginia or any other state, you must surrender it before the DMV will issue the ID card.² This trips up people who let a license lapse and assume they can pick up an ID alongside it.

Standard Card or REAL ID

Virginia issues two versions. Since May 7, 2025, anyone 18 or older needs a REAL ID-compliant credential, a passport, or another federally approved document to board a domestic flight or enter a secure federal facility.³ A standard Virginia ID card no longer works for those purposes.

The REAL ID version adds a one-time $10 fee and requires an in-person visit with physical documents; you cannot get it online.⁴ If you don’t fly domestically and don’t need access to federal buildings or military bases, the standard card is cheaper and does the same job as government-issued ID for banks, employers, and state agencies.

Documents to Bring

The DMV wants documentation in four categories. Missing paperwork is the most common reason people have to make a second trip.

Identity. One document showing your full legal name and date of birth. An unexpired U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate from a state or local vital records office both work.
Legal presence. One document proving you’re authorized to be in the United States. For U.S. citizens, the identity document usually doubles as proof. Non-citizens should consult the DMV’s document guide or the DMV 141 reference sheet for the immigration documents that qualify.
Social Security number. If you have one, bring your Social Security card, a W-2, or a payroll stub showing the full number. The DMV can sometimes verify electronically, but a physical document avoids delays.
Virginia residency. Two separate documents with your name and current physical address. A recent utility bill (not a cell phone bill), a bank statement, a lease, or a mortgage document all qualify. You need either two primary documents or one primary plus one secondary from the DMV’s lists.

Every document must be an original or a certified copy. Photocopies are not accepted, and the DMV can reject any document it suspects is not legitimate.⁵

REAL ID applicants may need extra documentation on top of the standard set; the DMV’s document guide walks through what applies to your situation.⁴

How to Apply

Adults and teens 15 and older fill out the Driver’s License and Identification Card Application (Form DL 1P). You can complete it online in advance or pick up a paper copy at any customer service center.¹ The form asks for your full legal name, address, and physical descriptors like height and eye color.

At the office, you hand over the completed form and your supporting documents. A DMV representative reviews everything, takes your photograph, and captures a digital signature. You can schedule an appointment online or walk in. Appointments tend to move faster.

Virginia produces ID cards at a central secure facility rather than printing them at the local office, so you’ll leave with a temporary paper receipt that serves as your ID until the permanent card arrives by mail. The DMV does not publish a delivery window, so plan for some wait and keep the receipt on you. Make sure your mailing address is current before you apply: the U.S. Postal Service does not forward ID cards.⁶

What It Costs and How Long It Lasts

Virginia charges $2 per year of validity, with a $10 minimum and a $16 maximum.⁷ A five-year card costs $10; an eight-year card costs $16. REAL ID adds $10. Adults 21 and older can also pay an extra $5 for a scenic version.

Cards expire on your birthday at the end of the validity period. Most are issued for five or eight years. People on the sex offender registry receive a five-year card only. If you’re in the country on a temporary authorized stay, your card expires when your legal presence authorization ends.

The DMV takes cash, checks, and major credit or debit cards at customer service centers.

Fee Waivers for Homeless Youth

Virginia waives all fees for homeless youth under 21 who lack a fixed, regular nighttime residence. You bring the standard ID documents plus a Virginia Affidavit Certifying Homeless Youth Status (Form DL 60), signed by an authorized certifier: a government social services provider, a nonprofit homeless services agency, a licensed attorney, or a school liaison for homeless students.⁸ The affidavit is valid for 90 days from the signature date, so don’t get it signed too far ahead of your DMV visit.

Optional Add-Ons

A few designations can go on the card itself when you apply.

A veteran indicator, if you served in the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge. Bring documents showing your branch, discharge date, and discharge status.⁹
A coded medical condition indicator, with a physician’s signed statement. Conditions covered include insulin-dependent diabetes, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, speech impairment, vision impairment, intellectual disability, and non-apparent disability. Code “9” appears in the restriction field on the front of the card, with the specific condition decoded on the back, so first responders can understand your needs if you can’t communicate.¹⁰
Your blood type, printed on the card.

Separately, the DMV runs a free emergency contact program that stores up to two contacts in a database accessible only by law enforcement. You can enroll through your myDMV account, in person using Form DL 569, or by mailing the form to the DMV’s Data Integrity Work Center in Richmond.¹¹ Minors under 18 can’t create a myDMV account, so a parent or guardian handles enrollment in person or by mail.

Children Under 15

Children under 15 use a different form, the DL 5, instead of the DL 1P.¹² A parent or legal guardian signs a certification on the back of the form affirming that the child is a Virginia resident and that the information is accurate. The card itself is designed to look visibly different from an adult ID or a driver’s license.⁷

1
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Get an Identification Card
2
Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 46.2-345 – Issuance of Special Identification Cards; Fee; Confidentiality; Penalties
3
Transportation Security Administration. TSA to Highlight REAL ID Enforcement Deadline of May 7, 2025
4
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID
5
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Getting a Virginia Driver’s License or Identification Card
6
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Replace Your Identification Card
7
Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code Title 46.2 Chapter 3 Article 7 – Form of Licenses; Identity Documents Issued by Department
8
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. No-Cost Credentials and Vital Records for Homeless Youth
9
Virginia Department of Veterans Services. Veterans Driver’s License Indicator
10
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Adult ID Card
11
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Emergency Contact Information
12
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Identification Card Application for Minors Under Age 15