New Texas ID Card: Requirements, Fees, and REAL ID

To apply for a Texas ID card, gather your identity, Social Security, and Texas residency documents, book an appointment at a Department of Public Safety driver license office through txdpsscheduler.com, and complete a short in-person visit that includes fingerprinting and a photo. The card costs $16 if you’re 59 or younger and $6 if you’re 60 or older, and it stays valid for six years.¹ Bring everything the first time. Show up missing one document and you’ll leave without a card and rebook an appointment that could be weeks out.

Who Can Apply

Texas law directs DPS to issue a personal identification certificate to anyone who applies and meets the requirements, and there is no minimum age.² Children and infants can receive a card, but a minor generally needs a parent or legal guardian present at the appointment to authorize the application.

You must be able to prove either U.S. citizenship or lawful presence. Non-citizens have to present documentation from the appropriate federal agency showing authorization to be in the country, and without it DPS will not issue a card. For non-citizens, the card’s expiration is tied to the end of the authorized stay, or one year from issuance if the stay has no fixed end date.²

You also have to be a Texas resident. DPS wants proof that you’ve lived in the state for at least 30 days before applying. That 30-day rule is waived if you’re surrendering a valid, unexpired ID or license from another state.³

What to Bring

DPS requires documents in three categories: identity, Social Security number, and Texas residency. Bring originals or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted.

Proof of Identity

You have three paths, and the one you use depends on what you can produce:⁴

One primary document, such as a valid U.S. passport, unexpired U.S. military ID, Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization, or an unexpired immigration document with a photo like a Permanent Resident Card. A Texas driver’s license or ID that expired no more than two years ago also works, though you’ll need to prove citizenship if you haven’t done so previously.
Two secondary documents, such as an original or certified U.S. birth certificate, a court order showing a legal name change, or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
One secondary document plus two supporting documents. Supporting documents include a Social Security card, a voter registration card, a school ID with photo, or an insurance policy.

A U.S. passport is the easiest single item to bring because it handles identity and citizenship at once. If you don’t have one, a certified birth certificate paired with another secondary document is the most common combination people use.

Social Security Number

You must provide your Social Security number or prove you’re not eligible for one.⁵ A Social Security card, a W-2, or a pay stub showing your full SSN are the documents people most commonly bring.

Proof of Texas Residency

You need two separate documents that show your name and a Texas residential address, and the two documents cannot come from the same source. A water bill and an electric bill from the same utility company won’t count as two.³ Acceptable options include:

A current deed, mortgage statement, or residential lease
A utility bill, internet bill, or cell phone statement dated within 180 days
Bank or credit card statements dated within 180 days
A preprinted paycheck or pay stub dated within 180 days
A W-2 or 1099 from the current tax year
A valid Texas voter registration card or vehicle registration
Government mail dated within 180 days

Watch the 180-day window on time-sensitive documents. If you can’t produce two acceptable residency documents, DPS lets you submit a Texas Residency Affidavit (Form DL-5) with whatever documentation you do have.³

The Application Form

You also need Form DL-14A, the Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application. It collects your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, physical description, citizenship status, and contact information, and asks about organ donor registration, veteran status, and voter registration.⁶ Fill it out in ink. A digital signature is not accepted. Download it from the DPS website and complete it before your appointment to save time at the office.

What It Costs

Standard fees for a Texas personal identification card:¹

New card, age 59 and younger: $16
Renewal, age 59 and younger: $16
New or renewal, age 60 and older: $6
Replacement for a lost, stolen, damaged card, or an address or name change: $11

A $1 administrative fee is built into each amount and is waived for transactions completed by mail.

Free ID Cards

Some applicants pay nothing. Foster children and youth in the managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services are exempt from all ID card fees, and so are homeless children and youth.⁷ Veterans with an honorable discharge and a service-connected disability rating of at least 60 percent also qualify for a free card.⁸

If you only need ID for voting and don’t already hold an unexpired Texas ID, driver’s license, passport, military ID, or handgun license, you can get an Election Identification Certificate at no charge. The EIC works for voting only, not for banking, age verification, or other everyday uses.⁹

Booking the Appointment

DPS driver license offices operate by appointment only, though some locations open same-day slots when they become available.¹⁰ Book through the DPS scheduler at txdpsscheduler.com and select the option for a new identification card so the office allocates the right amount of time.¹¹

In Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and other metro areas, appointments often book several weeks out. If your local office shows nothing, check nearby offices. Rural locations tend to have shorter waits. Don’t wait until you need the ID urgently to start.

At the DPS Office

Check in at a self-service kiosk when you arrive. A DPS specialist reviews your completed Form DL-14A and all your original documents. Once your documents clear, the specialist captures your digital thumbprints and takes your photo. Cards issued to anyone under 21 are printed with “UNDER 21” on the face.²

You’ll also be offered voter registration during the transaction.¹² After you pay, you receive a temporary paper receipt with your photo and information that serves as valid identification while your permanent card is produced at a central facility. The plastic card typically arrives by mail within two to three weeks.

REAL ID and the Gold Star

Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID-compliant card to board a domestic flight or enter most federal buildings.¹³ Texas has been issuing compliant cards since 2016, marked with a gold star in a circle in the upper right corner.¹⁴ Because Texas already requires proof of identity, date of birth, Social Security number, lawful status, and residential address for a standard ID, there’s no separate REAL ID application. If you bring everything listed above, your new card will be REAL ID-compliant automatically. If you hold an older Texas ID without the star, renew or replace it before you fly.

After You Have the Card

Expiration

A Texas ID card is valid for six years from your birthday, whether you’re over or under 60.¹ Non-citizens are the exception, with cards expiring when the authorized stay ends or after one year if the stay has no fixed end date.²

Address Changes

If you move, you have 30 days to notify DPS and apply for a duplicate card with your new address. Missing the deadline is a citable offense, but a court can dismiss the charge if you fix it within 20 working days and pay a reimbursement fee of up to $20.¹⁵ The duplicate card costs $11.¹

Renewing Online

You don’t have to return to a DPS office every six years. Texas allows online ID renewal if all four are true:¹⁶

You renewed in person last time. You can’t do two online renewals in a row.
Your card expires within two years or has been expired for less than two years.
You’re at least 18 years old.
You’re a U.S. citizen with a Social Security number on your DPS record.

You’ll need your current card number, the audit number printed on the card, and a credit card to complete the transaction through the Texas by Texas portal.

Replacing a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Card

You can order a replacement online with your card number, date of birth, the last four digits of your SSN, and the audit number from your most recently issued card. DPS won’t look the audit number up for you for security reasons, so if you don’t have it, book an in-person appointment instead. Only one identity document is required for an in-person replacement, which is lighter than the full documentation set for a new card. The replacement fee is $11 and your original expiration date stays the same.¹⁷

1
Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
2
State of Texas. Texas Code Transportation Code 521.101 – Personal Identification Certificate
3
Department of Public Safety. What to Bring With You When Applying for a Texas Driver License or Identification Card
4
Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
5
Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code 521.142 – Application for Original License
6
Department of Public Safety. DL-14A – Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application
7
State of Texas. Texas Code Transportation Code 521.1015 – Personal Identification Certificate Issued to Foster Child or Youth or Homeless Child or Youth
8
Department of Public Safety. Driver License and Identification Services for Veterans
9
Department of Public Safety. Election Identification Certificate (EIC)
10
Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License
11
Department of Public Safety. Driver License Services – Appointments
12
United States Department of Justice. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA)
13
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
14
Department of Public Safety. Federal Real ID Act
15
State of Texas. Texas Code Transportation Code TRANSP 521.054
16
Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID
17
Department of Public Safety. Replace Your Driver License, Commercial Driver License or ID Card