Louisiana ID Requirements: Documents, REAL ID, and Costs

To get a Louisiana driver’s license, you need one primary identity document, one secondary identity document, and proof of your Social Security number. To get a Louisiana state ID card, you need one primary document and two secondary documents. Those are the baseline Louisiana ID requirements set by the Office of Motor Vehicles, and if you want a REAL ID-compliant credential (the one with the gold star, now required by TSA for domestic flights as of May 7, 2025) you’ll also need to bring two proofs of a Louisiana street address on top of the identity and Social Security paperwork.1Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Identification Requirements

Every document has to be an original or a certified copy issued by the agency that produced it. Photocopies are not accepted, and if the name on your primary document doesn’t match the name on your secondary documents, you’ll need paperwork bridging the two before the OMV will process your application.

Primary Documents

A primary document establishes who you are. Any one of the following works:1Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Identification Requirements

  • A birth certificate — long form or short-form birth card — from a state or county bureau of vital statistics. A raised seal is not required.
  • A valid, unexpired U.S. passport book or passport card. Applicants 17 and under presenting a passport must also show a certified birth certificate or proof of custody or guardianship.
  • A Certificate of Naturalization from the Department of Homeland Security.
  • A Certificate of Birth Abroad from the U.S. Department of State.
  • A Native American tribal document.
  • Military documents: current U.S. military ID, dependent ID, DD-214, Selective Service notification, draft record, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card.
  • A foreign passport, properly stamped and accompanied by valid immigration documents.
  • A Permanent Resident Card (I-551).

Secondary Documents

Secondary documents back up the identity established by the primary. The list is broad, which gives most applicants room to work with what they already have:1Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Identification Requirements

  • An out-of-state driver’s license or ID with a photo, issued by a state motor vehicle department. If the out-of-state license is lost, bring an official driving record from that state instead.
  • A Social Security card or an official verification letter from the Social Security Administration.
  • A photo ID card from a Louisiana college or university, a Louisiana middle or high school, a law enforcement agency, a major employer, or any federal, state, or local government agency.
  • Educational records: a high school or college diploma, yearbook photo, school records, report cards from at least two separate years, or a certified professional license or degree.
  • A Medicare card, Medicaid card, or medical eligibility card.
  • Utility bills showing your name and address, insurance policies (health, home, life, or auto), voter registration cards, and similar documents.

What a REAL ID Requires on Top of the Basics

Louisiana lets you choose between a REAL ID-compliant credential and a standard card marked as not REAL ID compliant.2Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code RS 32:410 – Form of License If you pick the standard card, the OMV won’t ask for REAL ID paperwork and won’t scan your identity documents. If you want the gold star, federal regulations require documents in three categories:3eCFR. 6 CFR Part 37 – Real ID Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards

  • Identity. One document such as a valid U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Permanent Resident Card, unexpired Employment Authorization Document, Certificate of Naturalization, or foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and approved I-94.
  • Social Security number. A Social Security card is the standard proof. If the card isn’t available, bring a W-2, an SSA-1099 or non-SSA-1099, or a pay stub showing your name and full SSN.
  • Residency. Two documents from separate sources showing your name and a Louisiana street address.

The OMV also verifies your Social Security number electronically with the Social Security Administration, so the number is cross-checked against federal records even when you bring a physical document.4Louisiana Department of Public Safety. Office of Motor Vehicles Policy 6.03 – Requirements for Issuance of a Real ID Drivers License or Identification Card

Proof of Louisiana Residency

Two residency documents from separate sources are required for a REAL ID, and each must show your name and a Louisiana street address. A P.O. box does not satisfy the federal rule.3eCFR. 6 CFR Part 37 – Real ID Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards Documents the OMV accepts include:5Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID

  • Utility bills (water, electric, gas, cable, internet, phone, or garbage collection)
  • Bank, credit union, investment, credit card, or loan statements
  • A paycheck, pay stub, W-2, or letter from your employer on company letterhead
  • Health insurance statements, explanation of benefits, or medical bills
  • State or federal income tax returns
  • Mortgage documents, property tax bills, deeds, or escrow statements
  • Homeowners or auto insurance policies
  • A current rental contract, rent payment receipts, or a letter from a shelter
  • A Louisiana voter registration card
  • An unexpired firearms license
  • Your current, unexpired Louisiana driver’s license or ID showing your current address

If none of those are in your name, an immediate family member who lives with you can present their valid Louisiana driver’s license or ID, but that family member must appear at the OMV in person with you.

When Your Name Doesn’t Match Your Documents

Your credential has to display your current legal name, which Louisiana defines as the name on your birth certificate unless you’ve changed it through marriage or a court order.2Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code RS 32:410 – Form of License If your name has changed since your birth certificate was issued, bring certified copies of every document connecting your birth name to your current name — marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or court orders for each step.

Married applicants get one shortcut: if your out-of-state license already shows your married name, the OMV will not require a marriage certificate.4Louisiana Department of Public Safety. Office of Motor Vehicles Policy 6.03 – Requirements for Issuance of a Real ID Drivers License or Identification Card Without the connecting paperwork, an application with mismatched names will be denied until the discrepancy is resolved.

Non-Citizen Applicants

Non-citizens can get a Louisiana driver’s license or ID, but eligibility and expiration are tied to your immigration status. For a first-time application, non-immigrants must have at least 180 days remaining on their I-94 or Employment Authorization Document. H-2A agricultural workers need only 60 days remaining. For renewals, any non-immigrant with at least 30 days of documented legal presence remaining is eligible.6Louisiana Department of Public Safety. Office of Motor Vehicles Policy – Requirements for Non-Citizens

If your immigration documents show fewer than six years of legal presence remaining, Louisiana issues a Limited-Term credential that expires on your last day of authorized stay rather than the standard six-year expiration. Accepted immigration documents include the Permanent Resident Card (I-551), Employment Authorization Document (I-766), I-94 arrival/departure record, I-797 receipt notices, and status-specific forms for refugees, asylees, students, and exchange visitors.

Applicants Under 17

Minors aged 16 and under can get a Louisiana ID card, but a parent or legal guardian must come along and sign the application. The minor still has to present the required primary and secondary identity documents.7Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. ID Cards Children 15 and younger can choose a two-year or four-year card under the Protect and Save Our Children Program.

Male U.S. citizens and permanent residents between 15 and 26 must provide their Social Security number for any license or ID card transaction, because Louisiana’s OMV registration is linked to Selective Service. Failure to provide the number results in denial.

What It Costs

A standard Class “D” driver’s license costs $42.75, though New Orleans residents pay $54 for the same license. Applicants aged 70 and older pay $22.13 outside New Orleans, or $27.75 within the city. A Class “E” license costs $20.25 regardless of location.8Justia Law. Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 32 RS 32:412 – Amount of Fees Add a $12 handling fee for every Class “D” or “E” license transaction and every ID card transaction, including new applications, renewals, and duplicates,9Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code RS 32:412.1 – Handling Charges plus a $15 nonrefundable application fee. Come with a payment method that covers all three.

A Note on LA Wallet

Louisiana recognizes a digital driver’s license through the LA Wallet app, which carries the same legal authority as the physical card for in-state use.10LA Wallet. LA Wallet The digital ID supplements the physical card rather than replacing it. Federal agencies including TSA may not accept it in place of a physical REAL ID, so if air travel is the reason you’re applying, plan to carry the plastic card.