Louisiana Identification Card: Requirements, Fees, and Renewal

A Louisiana identification card is issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) to residents who need government-issued ID but do not drive. You apply in person at an OMV field office with proof of identity, proof of your Social Security number, and two documents proving Louisiana residency. Adults ages 16 to 59 pay between $27 and $35 depending on the location; residents 60 and older pay nothing, and their card never expires.

Who Can Get a Louisiana ID Card

Any Louisiana resident can apply, and there is no minimum age. Parents commonly get ID cards for children who need identification for travel or school enrollment. Applicants under 16 need a custodial parent or guardian to sign the application. If neither is available, someone over 21 who lives with the child, or who works for a nonprofit that assists children, can sign instead. A child cannot get a REAL ID through that alternative signer route.¹

You cannot hold a Louisiana driver’s license and an ID card at the same time. If you have a license and want to switch, you surrender the license at the OMV. A suspended or revoked license does not disqualify you from getting an ID card, because those penalties affect only your right to drive.

Documents You Need to Bring

Louisiana follows the federal REAL ID Act’s document rules. Bring originals or certified copies. Photocopies and notarized copies generally will not be accepted, and a single missing document is enough to send you home.

Proof of Identity and Date of Birth

One primary document establishing who you are. A certified U.S. birth certificate or an unexpired U.S. passport is the usual choice. Non-citizens can use a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) or an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766).²

Proof of Social Security Number

Your Social Security card, a W-2, or a pay stub showing your full number. If you do not have a Social Security number, bring an official denial letter from the Social Security Administration confirming your ineligibility.

Two Proofs of Louisiana Residency

Two separate documents showing your name and current Louisiana street address, each from a different source. Utility bills, bank or credit card statements, a Louisiana voter registration card, and a current lease or rental agreement all qualify.³ Minors and people without bills in their own name can use a parent’s or guardian’s residency documents paired with a notarized affidavit.

Applying in Person

First-time applicants must apply in person at an OMV field office or a participating public tag agent.⁴ There is no mail-in or online option for a new card. The OMV needs to verify your documents and take your photo in person.

Check in when you arrive and take a service ticket. Some locations accept appointments, which usually cuts the wait. A representative reviews your documents on the spot. If something is missing or does not match, the application goes on hold until you come back with a correction.

Your photo is taken during the visit. The OMV requires a neutral facial expression and a clear view of your face. Head coverings are permitted only for a documented religious or medical reason. You will also be offered the chance to register with the Louisiana Donate Life Registry as an organ and tissue donor.

What It Costs

The base card fee depends on your age, and OMV offices and public tag agents add a service fee of $0 to $8, which is why the total ranges by location.

Adults ages 16 to 59: $15 license fee plus a $12 handling fee, for a total of $27 to $35.⁵
Age 60 and older: free, with no license fee, handling fee, or service fee, and the card is permanent.⁵
Under age 16: $3 for a two-year card or $7.50 for a six-year card, plus handling and any service fee.¹

The OMV accepts cash, credit and debit cards, and money orders. Renewing through the LA Wallet app adds a $23 convenience fee on top of the base cost. Third-party locations and OMV Express offices may also charge convenience fees. A REAL ID-compliant card costs the same as a standard one; only the documentation differs.

REAL ID and Air Travel

Full REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025. A Louisiana ID card without the REAL ID gold star will not get you through TSA security for a domestic flight. Travelers who arrive with a non-compliant ID and no passport or other acceptable alternative face extra screening, delays, and possible denial of boarding.⁶

The same requirement applies to federal facilities and military installations. Visitors without a REAL ID typically need a passport or birth certificate as backup, and access decisions are made case by case. Foreign nationals visiting military bases generally need both a REAL ID and their passport with legal entry documentation.⁷

If you want your Louisiana card to work at the airport, visit an OMV field office in person. You cannot obtain a REAL ID through online renewal, and a card renewed online will be marked “Not for Federal Identification” if you did not already have a REAL ID.⁸

Renewing Your Card

Cards issued to people 16 and older are valid for six years. Cards for people 60 and older are permanent. Cards for children under 16 expire every two years or every six years depending on which fee was paid, and can only be renewed in person.¹

Adults can renew in person, by mail, or online.¹ Online renewal requires a valid credit card and does not allow changes to your name or address. If you need updates, or if you want a REAL ID and don’t have one yet, go to an OMV office instead.⁸

Mailed cards can take up to 30 days to arrive. If yours hasn’t shown up within that window, visit a field office within 60 days of your application date to get a replacement at no charge.⁸

Replacing a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Card

A duplicate ID card for someone age 59 or younger costs $17 to $25, depending on the card’s remaining duration and the location’s service fee. Replacements for residents 60 and older are free.⁵ Bring proof of identity such as a birth certificate or passport if your original card is missing. A police report for a stolen card is optional but can help if someone tries to use your identity.

Changing Your Name or Address

A name change requires legal documentation: a certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Update your name with the Social Security Administration first, because the OMV will check that your name matches across records.

Louisiana law requires you to report an address change within 10 days of moving.⁹ You’ll need two residency documents showing your new address.³ Name and address changes cannot be processed online; both require an in-person visit, and the duplicate card fee applies.⁸

Veteran Designation

Veterans can have the word “Veteran” printed below their photo by presenting a DD Form 214 or equivalent discharge document. Veterans rated 100 percent disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can request a “100% DAV” designation by providing the DD-214 along with proof of the VA rating.¹ Neither designation adds a fee.

LA Wallet Digital ID

Louisiana residents can carry a digital version of their ID through LA Wallet, the state’s official digital credential app. Within Louisiana, the digital ID carries the same legal authority as the physical card and can be shown to law enforcement, used for age verification, and presented at businesses that accept it.¹⁰ The app also stores vehicle registration and other state credentials.

LA Wallet is a useful backup, but federal agencies including TSA are still rolling out acceptance of mobile IDs under separate standards. Keep your physical card for air travel and federal facility access. You can renew through the app for a $23 convenience fee on top of the standard renewal cost.

Penalties for Fraudulent IDs

Louisiana treats fake IDs as a serious criminal matter. Possessing a fake or altered ID is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. Manufacturing, producing, or distributing fraudulent IDs is a felony carrying up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Calling a fake ID a “novelty item” is not a defense.¹¹

Using a fake ID to commit identity theft, meaning obtaining money, credit, goods, or services under someone else’s name, triggers a separate and harsher set of penalties scaled to the value stolen, ranging from up to six months in jail for amounts under $300 to up to ten years in prison for $1,000 or more. Mandatory minimum prison terms apply at the higher value thresholds when the victim is elderly, has a disability, or is under 17. Using someone else’s ID solely to misrepresent your age falls under the fraudulent documents statute rather than identity theft.¹²

1
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 40:1321 – State Identification Cards
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. List A Documents That Establish Identity and Employment Authorization
3
Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID
4
Louisiana Department of Public Safety Office of Motor Vehicles. Policy 6.03 – Requirements for Issuance of a REAL ID Driver’s License or Identification Card
5
Louisiana Department of Public Safety Office of Motor Vehicles. Policy 2.00 – Fees and Duration of License / Identification Card
6
Transportation Security Administration. TSA Begins REAL ID Full Enforcement on May 7
7
The United States Army. REAL ID Requirement to Access Military Installations Begins May 7, What to Know
8
Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Identification Card Renewal
9
Justia Law. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 32:406 – Licensee Must Give Notice of Change of Address
10
LA Wallet. LA Wallet – Louisiana’s Official Digital Credential App
11
Justia Law. Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 14 RS 14:70.7 – Unlawful Production, Manufacturing, Distribution, or Possession of Fraudulent Documents for Identification Purposes
12
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 14:67.16 – Identity Theft