Louisiana ID Card: Documents, Fees, and How to Apply

A Louisiana ID card is issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles in person at any OMV office or licensed Public Tag Agent. If you’re 16 or older, the card costs $15 and stays valid for six years.¹ Bring proof of identity, your Social Security number, and proof of Louisiana residency, and decide before you go whether you want the standard card or the REAL ID version.

Standard Card or REAL ID

Louisiana issues two versions of the ID card. The REAL ID version has a white star with a gold outline near the top; a standard card has no star.² Since May 7, 2025, TSA has required a REAL ID (or a passport or other federally accepted document) to board a domestic flight or enter a federal facility.³

The fee is the same either way. If there’s any chance you’ll fly domestically or need to enter a federal building, ask for the REAL ID version when you apply. If not, the standard card still works for banking, age verification, and voting.

Documents You Need to Bring

Louisiana requires the same identity documents for an ID card as for a driver’s license.¹ First-time applicants need to prove three things: who they are, their Social Security number, and where they live.

Identity and Date of Birth

You need one primary document plus two secondary documents, or two primary documents. Primary documents include a certified U.S. birth certificate, a valid U.S. passport or passport card, or a certificate of naturalization or citizenship. Secondary documents include your Social Security card, a Social Security number verification letter, a W-2 form from the past two years, an insurance policy in your name, or a payroll stub with your name and Social Security number on it.⁴

Social Security Number

Every applicant who has a Social Security number must provide it, and the OMV is required by law to collect it and keep it confidential.⁵ Bringing your Social Security card counts as one of your secondary identity documents, so it does double duty. Noncitizens who are ineligible for a Social Security number may still qualify by presenting immigration documents that show lawful presence.

Proof of Louisiana Residency

For a standard card, one document showing your Louisiana address is enough. A local utility statement, an insurance policy, or a receipt showing utilities were turned on at your address all work.⁴

For a REAL ID, you need two residency documents from separate sources. Two utility bills from different companies work, and so does a utility bill paired with a bank statement.⁶ This is the most common reason REAL ID applicants get turned away. Gather both before your visit.

Applying at the OMV

Louisiana ID cards are issued in person only. You can schedule an appointment through the OMV’s online portal to skip the wait, though walk-ins are generally accepted. At the counter, a staff member reviews your documents, takes your digital photograph, and captures your signature.

You leave with a temporary paper receipt that works as valid ID until your card arrives. The physical card can take up to 30 days to reach you by mail.⁷ If it hasn’t arrived after 30 days, you have 60 days from your application date to return to an OMV office for a free replacement. During your visit, the OMV also offers organ donor and voter registration on the spot. Neither is required.

Fees and Free ID

The fee depends on your age at the time of issuance:

Age 16 or older: $15 for a six-year card.
Under 16, two-year card: $3.
Under 16, six-year card: $7.50.

The same fees apply to originals and renewals.¹ OMV offices accept credit cards, debit cards, and money orders.

The fee is waived in two situations. Any Louisiana resident who does not hold a Louisiana driver’s license can get a free ID card by presenting a voter registration card or certificate. Children in foster care pay nothing.¹ The voter registration waiver effectively makes a basic ID free for adults who register to vote but don’t drive.

How Long the Card Lasts and How to Renew

A standard card for someone 16 or older is valid for six years. Cards for people under 16 last either two or six years depending on the option you pay for. Cards may be issued for a shorter period when medical restrictions or limited-duration immigration status apply; for documented noncitizens, the card expires when the immigration documents expire or six years after issuance, whichever comes first.¹

You may be eligible to renew online if the OMV mails you a computer-generated renewal invitation. Online renewals accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.⁸ If you need to change your name, address, or other personal information, you have to renew in person.

ID Cards for Children

Children of any age can be issued a Louisiana ID card, but a parent or legal guardian has to appear at the office, present their own ID, and sign the application. Applicants age 15 and under fall under Louisiana’s Protect and Save our Children Program, which offers the two-year or six-year issuance option.⁹ Starting at age 17, applicants no longer need a parental signature as long as they bring their own qualifying documents.¹

Veteran Designation

Louisiana veterans can have the word “Veteran” printed under the photograph at no extra charge. Bring a copy of your DD Form 214 or an equivalent discharge document when you apply or renew.¹

LA Wallet Digital ID

Once your physical card is issued, you can download a digital version through the LA Wallet smartphone app. A credential displayed inside the app carries the same legal validity as the physical card under Louisiana law.¹⁰ A screenshot or photo of your card does not qualify.

Set up an account, link your card number and personal details, and the system verifies your information against OMV records before displaying the digital card. LA Wallet is now accepted at more than 250 U.S. airports where TSA checkpoints support digital identification.¹¹ To use it at TSA, your LA Wallet has to be linked to a REAL ID-compliant card; a linked standard card won’t get you through security without a passport or other federally accepted document.

1
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code 40-1321 – State Identification Cards
2
Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID
3
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
4
Louisiana Department of Public Safety. Office of Motor Vehicles Policy 6.00 – Identification Requirements
5
Justia Law. Louisiana Code 32-409.1 – Application for Identification
6
Louisiana Department of Public Safety. Office of Motor Vehicles REAL ID Requirements
7
Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Louisiana Identification Card Renewal
8
Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Louisiana Card Renewal
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Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. ID Cards
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Justia Law. Louisiana Code 39-17.2 – Digitized Credentials
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LA Wallet. Share mDL with TSA