How to Get an ID in Oregon: Requirements, Documents, and Fees

To get an ID in Oregon, gather documents proving your identity, Oregon residency, and Social Security number, book an appointment at a DMV office, and pay $47 for a standard eight-year card or $77 for a REAL ID. You’ll leave with a paper interim card and receive the permanent one in the mail within about 20 days.¹

Any Oregon resident can apply, at any age. If you already hold a valid license, permit, or ID card from Oregon or anywhere else, you’ll surrender it at the counter.¹ Oregon law directs the DMV to issue an ID card to any person domiciled in or a resident of the state.²

Decide Between a Standard ID and a REAL ID

Your first choice sets the paperwork and the price. A REAL ID carries a gold star in the upper right corner and is federally compliant. Since May 7, 2025, adults 18 and older need a REAL ID or another federally accepted document, like a passport, to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities including military bases and nuclear plants.³ A standard Oregon ID without the star is no longer accepted at TSA checkpoints.⁴

If you don’t fly and don’t need access to secure federal buildings, a standard card handles everything else: proving your age, cashing checks, dealing with state agencies, general identification. The REAL ID costs $30 more and requires two separate residency documents instead of one.

Starting February 1, 2026, travelers who arrive at an airport without a REAL ID or other federally accepted document can pay a $45 fee to use TSA ConfirmID, which attempts to verify identity so they can proceed through security.⁴ It’s a costly fallback and isn’t guaranteed to work.

Documents to Bring

The DMV requires original or certified documents. Photocopies and digital files aren’t accepted. Every applicant proves three things: identity, Oregon residency, and Social Security number.⁵

Proof of Identity and Date of Birth

One document that shows your name and date of birth. Accepted options include:

A U.S. birth certificate issued by a state, territorial, or D.C. government (hospital-issued certificates and baptismal records don’t count)
A U.S. passport or passport card that hasn’t been expired for more than five years
A Certificate of Naturalization

If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your identity document, bring the paperwork that connects them: marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree, or court-ordered name change.⁶

Proof of Oregon Residency

A standard ID needs at least one document showing your name and current Oregon address. A REAL ID needs two, from different sources.⁵ Accepted residency documents include:

A utility bill or utility hookup order
A rental or lease agreement
A pay stub, W-2, or 1099
A bank or financial institution statement
Mortgage documents

Social Security Number

You must provide your Social Security number if you have one, but you don’t need the physical card. Give the number verbally and the DMV will verify it electronically with the Social Security Administration.⁷ If you were never assigned a number, you can certify that electronically at the office.¹

Legal Presence for Non-Citizens

Non-citizens applying for either type of card must present an unexpired immigration document. Accepted forms include a Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Document, Refugee Travel Document, or Temporary Resident Identification Card, among others.⁶ Applicants on a temporary basis, such as those on student or employment visas, receive a limited-term ID. It looks the same as a regular card except for “LIMITED TERM” printed at the bottom right, and it expires when your lawful presence status expires rather than on your birthday. Maximum validity is eight years.⁸

What It Costs

The DMV’s fees for a first ID card are:⁹

Original eight-year ID: $47
Original eight-year REAL ID: $77
Original REAL ID, limited-term: $50

The DMV accepts cash, checks, money orders, and debit and credit cards.

At the DMV Office

Applications happen in person. Book an appointment online through the DMV’s appointment tool before you go.¹⁰ Standby service exists for walk-ins, but wait times are unpredictable and often long.

Before your visit, run through the DMV’s online documents guide. It generates a personalized checklist for the card type you want, and it’s the single best way to avoid being turned away for a missing document. That happens often.

At the counter, staff review your documents, verify your Social Security number electronically, take your photo, and collect your signature.

After You Apply

You’ll walk out with an interim paper card. Oregon administrative rules cap its validity at 30 days.¹¹ Many agencies and businesses, including TSA and the Social Security Administration, do not accept the interim card as proof of identification. Call ahead before relying on it for anything important.¹

The permanent card is mailed to the address on your application. Allow up to 20 days. If you move before it arrives, the DMV won’t forward it, so confirm your mailing address is correct at the counter. If nothing has arrived after 20 days, check the status online or contact the DMV directly.¹

1
Oregon Department of Transportation. Oregon Identification Cards
2
Oregon Public Law. ORS 807.400 – Issuance; Application; Proof of Address
3
Oregon Department of Transportation. REAL ID Information
4
Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
5
Oregon Department of Transportation. Required Identity Documentation
6
Oregon DMV. Acceptable Proof of Identity and Date of Birth, Residence Address and Proof of Legal Name Change
7
Oregon Department of Transportation. Oregon REAL ID FAQs
8
Willamette University. Oregon Limited-Term Drivers Licenses and ID Cards
9
Oregon Department of Transportation. Driver Information – Section: Non-driver Identification Cards
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Oregon Department of Transportation. How to Make an Appointment
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Oregon Public Law. OAR 735-062-0094 – Interim Cards