Las Vegas ID: Requirements, Documents, Appointments, and Fees

To get a Nevada state ID card at a Las Vegas DMV, you need to book an appointment, bring documents proving your identity, Social Security number, and Nevada residency, complete the application form, and pay the fee. For adults ages 18 through 64, an original card costs $21.50 and is valid for eight years.¹ The Las Vegas ID card requirements below cover exactly what to bring, how to book, and what you’ll pay.

Documents to Bring

Nevada law requires every ID applicant to prove three things: identity, Social Security number, and Nevada residency. Gather everything before you go. Showing up short on paperwork means a wasted trip.

Proof of Identity

Bring one primary document showing your full legal name and date of birth. The most common choices are a certified U.S. birth certificate (original or certified copy) or a valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card.¹ If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on that document, you also need paperwork for every name change in between: a marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption record, or court order.²

Social Security Number

You need one document proving your Social Security number. The card itself works, but so does a W-2, an IRS Form 1099, or a printed pay stub.²

Two Proofs of Nevada Residency

You need two separate documents showing your name and a Nevada residential address. Utility bills, rent receipts, and residential leases all qualify. Any document carrying a date must be an original or certified copy dated within the last 60 days.¹ Other acceptable options include bank or credit union statements, a pre-printed pay stub with your address, or a mortgage document.

If you don’t have those, the DMV accepts two alternative forms. A property owner can vouch for you using a Property Owner Residency Affidavit (DMV 116). A shelter or relief agency can certify your address using a Relief Agency or Shelter Certification (DMV 115).¹

The Application Form

Fill out Form DMV-002 (Application for Driving Privileges or ID Card) before your visit. It asks for your full legal name, physical address, and physical descriptors such as height, weight, and eye color. It’s posted in English, Spanish, and Tagalog on the DMV website.³

Standard ID or Real ID

Nevada issues two versions of the ID card. A standard ID handles everyday needs like cashing checks, picking up prescriptions, and proving your age. A Real ID, marked with a gold Nevada outline and a star cutout, meets federal standards and is accepted for boarding domestic flights, entering federal buildings, and accessing nuclear power plants.²

Federal enforcement of the Real ID Act began on May 7, 2025. If you try to board a domestic flight without a Real ID or another federally accepted document, TSA may charge a $45 fee.⁴ A standard Nevada ID isn’t your only option for flying, though. A U.S. passport, passport card, military ID, permanent resident card, and several other federal documents are still accepted at TSA checkpoints.⁵

Both card types require the same core documents. The difference is that a Real ID application goes through stricter verification at the counter. If you already hold a standard Nevada ID and want to upgrade, bring every document again and apply in person.

Booking Your Appointment and What Happens at the Office

You need an appointment. The DMV uses a system called WaitWell for scheduling and check-in at every office, including the East Sahara and West Flamingo locations in Las Vegas.⁶ Book through the DMV website and pick your preferred office. When scheduling, choose “Drivers License – New” even though you’re applying for an ID card.¹

On arrival, scan the QR code at the office to check in through WaitWell. The system texts you when your turn is close, so you don’t have to sit in the lobby.⁶ At the window you’ll hand over the completed Form DMV-002 and all original supporting documents. A technician reviews everything, takes your photo, and captures your electronic signature. If you hold a driver’s license, permit, or ID card from any other U.S. state, bring it along; you’ll be asked to surrender it.

You walk out with a paper interim document that works as valid identification while the real card is produced. The permanent card arrives by mail, typically within 7 to 14 business days.

Fees

What you pay depends on your age at the time of issuance:

Ages 18 to 64: $21.50 for an original eight-year card.
Ages 10 to 17: $9.50 for an original card.
Age 65 and older: $11.50 for an original eight-year card, $7.50 for a four-year or limited-term card, or $3.50 for a renewal.

The minimum age for a Nevada ID card is 10.¹ The DMV accepts cash, checks, money orders for the exact amount, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Debit cards are processed as credit transactions.⁷

Fee Waivers for Applicants Experiencing Homelessness

Nevada waives ID card fees for people who declare themselves homeless, but the rules split by age. Applicants under 25 qualify for fee exemptions on an original, renewal, or duplicate card and never have to reimburse the DMV. You must apply in person and complete a Declaration of Homeless Status form (DMV 128). Applicants 25 and older get a one-time fee exemption, but only for a duplicate card.¹

Homeless youth under 25 also get flexibility on identity documents. If you can’t produce a birth certificate or passport, you can satisfy the identity requirement with a school ID card showing your name, school name, and photo, together with an unofficial school transcript that includes your date of birth.⁸

Non-U.S. Citizens

Non-citizens with valid U.S. immigration documents can get a Nevada ID card, but it is marked “LIMITED TERM.” The expiration matches the period you’re authorized to stay in the country. If your immigration status has no definite end date, the card is issued for one year at a time.⁹

The DMV may ask for additional immigration paperwork such as an I-20 or DS-2019 depending on your status. Any document not in English must be translated by a DMV-approved translator before submission.² Consular identification cards are not accepted as proof of identity for a Nevada ID card. That is a hard statutory prohibition.⁸

Renewals, Replacements, and Address Changes

Nevada ID cards run on an eight-year cycle. The expiration date is printed on the card, and the DMV does not send reminders, so track it yourself.⁹

ID cardholders of all ages can renew online through the DMV website as long as the card’s expiration date is March 12, 2020 or later. Commercial driver’s licenses, instruction permits, and limited-term cards under four years don’t qualify for online renewal.¹⁰ An eligible online renewal ships directly to your address with no in-person visit.

If you move within Nevada, state law requires you to notify the DMV of your new address within 30 days.¹¹ You can update your address online or in person. A name change from marriage, divorce, or court order requires an in-person visit with the supporting documentation.

If your card is lost, damaged, or stolen, you can request a duplicate through the DMV. The fee exemptions for homeless applicants described above also apply to duplicates.¹

1
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Nevada Identification Cards
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Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Proof of Identity and Residency
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Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Application for Driving Privileges or ID Card
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
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Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
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Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. New Appointment System Launched at All Offices
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Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver License and ID Fees and Exemptions
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Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 483.860 – Proof of Full Legal Name and Age
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Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 483.875 – Expiration as Prescribed by Regulation
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Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. License and ID Card Renewals Now Available Online
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Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 483 – Drivers Licenses