Nevada Affidavit of Residency: DMV-116, Notarization, and Proof

A Nevada affidavit of residency is a sworn, notarized statement used to prove where you live in Nevada when you can’t produce a utility bill, lease, or other standard document in your own name. The Nevada DMV accepts three versions of this affidavit, and you sign each one under penalty of perjury. It never stands alone: you still need a second proof of address, and you have to submit everything in person.

When You Actually Need One

The DMV requires proof that you live in Nevada before issuing any driver’s license, instruction permit, or identification card.¹ Most applicants clear that bar with a utility bill, bank statement, or lease. The affidavit exists for people who can’t: someone living with a family member or friend without a formal lease, a young adult still at a parent’s home, or anyone in a housing arrangement where no bills are in their name.

The Three DMV Residency Forms

The DMV accepts three special forms in place of conventional address proof, each built for a different living situation:¹

Property Owner Residency Affidavit (DMV-116), used when you live at a property owned by someone else who fills out and signs the form.
Certification of Nevada Residency (DMV-005), a broader certification for other residency situations.
Relief Agency or Shelter Certification (DMV-115), for individuals living at a shelter or receiving services from a relief agency.

The DMV-116 covers the most common case, so it’s the one most people mean when they ask about a residency affidavit. You can download it from the DMV website or pick one up at any branch.

How to Fill Out the DMV-116

The form has two parts. You provide your full legal name, Nevada residential address, mailing address if it’s different, driver’s license or ID number if you already have one, and Social Security number.² The property owner completes their own section with their name and address, then chooses one of two certification statements:

The applicant maintains a primary residence at the owner’s home without a rental or lease agreement.
The applicant has maintained a primary residence on the owner’s property for at least 60 days under a rental or lease agreement, with the start date of that agreement.

Both people sign and date. Your legal name on the affidavit has to match your other identification exactly. A nickname or shortened version will get the form kicked back.

Getting It Notarized

The DMV treats the DMV-116 as a notarized statement from the property owner, and Nevada law requires that any notarized document be signed in the physical presence of the notary public.³ Remote or pre-signed documents will not work. The notary verifies the signer’s identity, watches the signature, and applies an official stamp with their commission expiration date.

Under NRS 240.100, a Nevada notary can charge up to $15 for a jurat, which is the notarial act used for sworn affidavits.³ That’s a ceiling, not a floor; some notaries charge less. Banks, shipping stores, and private offices commonly provide notary services. Without a valid seal, the DMV rejects the document.

The Second Proof of Address You Still Need

The affidavit only counts as one of two required address documents for a Real ID-compliant credential, which is what Nevada now issues by default.⁴ You need a second document from the DMV’s approved list showing your name and Nevada residential address.

Documents dated within the last 60 days include:

A public utility record for a service address (gas, electric, water)
A bank or credit card statement
An employment pay stub
A rent or lease receipt
A voter registration card
A document from a state or federal court

Documents accepted without a 60-day limit include:

An insurance card or insurance bill
A medical provider bill or receipt
Property tax records
A deed of trust or current mortgage documentation
Tax records other than property taxes

All documents must be valid originals or certified copies issued in the United States. Photocopies aren’t accepted, though online account printouts are.¹ If the name on your second document doesn’t match the affidavit, expect a rejection at the counter. Check name consistency across every document before you leave home. This is the single most common reason people waste a trip.

Submitting the Affidavit at the DMV

The DMV doesn’t accept residency affidavits by mail or online upload. You appear in person, and appointments are now required for license and ID services.⁵ Set one up through a DriveNV account on the DMV website, pick your service type, upload documents in advance if prompted, and choose an office and time.

At the appointment, a technician checks the affidavit and your supporting document for completeness. If everything passes, you leave with an interim document that works as temporary ID while the permanent card is mailed. The property owner does not need to come with you as long as the form is already notarized and complete.

Penalties for a False Statement

Lying on the affidavit creates two separate legal exposures, and they can stack.

NRS 483.530 makes it a category E felony to knowingly make a false statement, conceal a material fact, or commit fraud on a driver’s license or ID application.⁶ A category E felony carries one to four years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, though Nevada courts are generally required to suspend the sentence and grant probation for category E offenses.⁷ Probation conditions can still include up to a year in county jail. Separately, the DMV can cancel any license obtained through fraud or incorrect information under NRS 483.420.⁸

Because the affidavit is sworn, a false statement can also be prosecuted as perjury under NRS 199.120. Perjury is a category D felony, with the same one-to-four-year range and $5,000 fine but without the mandatory probation rule that applies to category E offenses.⁹ The DMV-116 form warns applicants directly that misstatements may be treated as a misdemeanor or felony and references NRS 483.530 and NRS 193.130.²

Even without prison time, a canceled license cascades into problems with employment, insurance, and anything else that requires valid state ID.

What the Property Owner Is Signing

The property owner is not just doing a favor. They are making their own sworn statement under penalty of perjury, and the felony provisions that apply to the applicant apply to them as well. Signing the DMV-116 for someone who doesn’t actually live at the address exposes the owner to a category D perjury charge.⁹ Only sign when you can truthfully certify that the applicant lives at your address.

A Note on University Residency

Nevada’s higher education system has its own residency process for in-state tuition, with a separate NSHE Residency Form, a 12-month continuous-presence requirement, and institution-specific deadlines.¹⁰ The DMV affidavit does not satisfy that process, and the NSHE process does not satisfy the DMV. If you need both, treat them as two separate filings with different rules.

1
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Proof of Identity and Residency
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Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Property Owner Residency Affidavit
3
Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 240 – Notaries Public and Commissioned Abstracters
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Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Real ID
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Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Nevada DMV Appointments
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Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 483 – Drivers Licenses
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Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 193 – Criminality Generally
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Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 483.420 – Authority of Department to Cancel License
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Nevada Legislature. Nevada Code 199 – Crimes Against Public Justice
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Nevada System of Higher Education. Title 4 Chapter 15 Regulations for Determining Residency and Tuition Charges