To get a Texas ID card, you bring the right identity and residency documents to a scheduled appointment at a Department of Public Safety driver license office, pay $16 (or $6 if you’re 60 or older), give a photo, signature, and thumbprints, and wait two to three weeks for the card to arrive by mail. The process itself is short. What trips people up is the paperwork, so most of the work happens before you ever walk into the office.
What Documents You Need
Texas uses a tiered document system under 37 Texas Administrative Code § 15.24. You need one of the following combinations to prove your identity: one primary document, or one secondary document plus two supporting documents, or two secondary documents.1Cornell Law Institute. Texas Code 37 Tex. Admin. Code 15.24 – Identification of Applicants
Primary documents include an unexpired U.S. passport or a U.S. citizenship certificate with a photo. Secondary documents include a certified birth certificate from a state vital statistics bureau. Supporting documents include a Social Security card, a W-2, or a 1099. The full list appears on DPS Form DL-17, and printing it before your visit is the cleanest way to avoid a wasted trip.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Acceptable Identification Documents
A common misconception is that you must bring a passport, a birth certificate, and a Social Security card together. You don’t. You need one working combination from the tiers above.
How to Prove Texas Residency
Separate from identity, you have to show you actually live in Texas. That means two documents with your name and residential address, such as a lease, mortgage statement, utility bill, or current Texas vehicle registration. Utility bills must be dated within 180 days of your application.3Legal Information Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 15.49 – Proof of Domicile
If you don’t have two documents in your own name, which is common if you live with family, you can use a Texas Residency Affidavit. A relative or roommate at the same address fills it out and provides their own two residency documents. If the person signing is not related to you, they need to come with you to the office and show valid ID.4Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards
Rules for Non-Citizen Applicants
If you’re not a U.S. citizen but have lawful immigration status, you can still get a Texas ID. Instead of citizenship documents, you show proof of lawful presence: a valid Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), an unexpired foreign passport with a valid I-94, or a current Employment Authorization Document (I-766).5Department of Public Safety. U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Presence Requirement
Cards issued this way are marked “Limited Term” and expire whenever your underlying immigration status expires. If your work permit runs two years, your ID runs two years. DPS verifies your status through the Department of Homeland Security, which can add processing time.
Filling Out the Application
The application is Form DL-14A, available from the DPS website or in the office. It asks for your full legal name, physical descriptors like height, weight, and eye color, and whether you have a health condition that could affect communication with a police officer. If you answer yes to the health question, a physician has to complete a separate form (DL-101). Completing the application at home before your appointment cuts down office time.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application
You’ll also be offered the option to register as an organ donor. Opting in places a heart symbol on the card. You can register to vote at the same time; federal law requires state motor vehicle agencies to give you that opportunity when you apply for or renew an ID.7VoteTexas.gov. Update Your Voter Registration in Texas
Booking Your DPS Appointment
Nearly every DPS driver license office runs on appointments only. Walk-ins generally aren’t accepted, and while some locations release same-day slots, you shouldn’t count on one being open when you need it.8Department of Public Safety. Driver License Services – Appointments
At the appointment, staff review your documents, take your photo, capture your signature, and collect your thumbprints. Texas stopped collecting all ten fingerprints in 2015, but the thumbprints feed into an image verification system that uses facial recognition to confirm you don’t already hold a credential under another name.9Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS Statement Regarding Driver License Fingerprinting Process
When everything checks out, you leave with a paper temporary ID that works while your permanent card is being made.
Fees
- Age 59 and younger: $16 for a card valid six years.
- Age 60 and older: $6 for a card valid six years.
DPS offices accept credit cards, cash, checks, and money orders.10Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
When Your Card Arrives
The permanent card is mailed to the address on your application, typically within two to three weeks.11Department of Public Safety. Where’s My Driver License or ID Card
If it hasn’t come after several weeks, use the DPS online status tracker or contact customer service. Confirm the address you gave was correct; a typo in the apartment number is one of the most common reasons a card doesn’t arrive. If mail theft is the issue, file a police report and schedule an appointment for a replacement.
REAL ID and What Your New Card Looks Like
Since May 7, 2025, federal REAL ID enforcement has been in effect. You need a REAL ID-compliant card (or a passport) to board a domestic commercial flight or enter a secure federal building.12Department of Public Safety. Federal Real ID Act
You don’t have to ask for REAL ID compliance separately. All new, renewed, and replacement Texas ID cards now come with the REAL ID marking automatically, as long as you brought the documents that were already required for a standard application.13Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License/Identification Card and REAL ID Checklist
The card design itself changed in late 2025. It’s built from polycarbonate, with personal information laser-engraved into the card rather than printed on the surface. The REAL ID star is now black and laser-engraved in the upper right corner instead of the older gold sticker style.14IDEMIA. IDEMIA Public Security to Launch New State Drivers Licenses and IDs With Enhanced Security Features for Texas
Renewing Your ID Online Later
Once you have a Texas ID, you can often renew online instead of returning to the office. You qualify if:
- You renewed in person the last time (two online renewals in a row aren’t allowed).
- Your card expires within two years or has been expired for less than two years.
- You’re at least 18, a U.S. citizen, and have a Social Security number on file.
You’ll need your current card number, the audit number printed on the card, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and a credit card. After you finish, you can print or email a temporary ID while the new card is mailed.15Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID
Replacing a Lost or Stolen Card
If your card is lost or destroyed and you still know your card number, date of birth, Social Security number, and the audit number from your most recent card, you can order a replacement online.16Department of Public Safety. Replace Your Driver License, Commercial Driver License or ID Card
Without that information, which is often the case after a stolen wallet, you’ll need an in-person appointment. Bring at least one identity document from the tiered list and be ready for a new photo and thumbprints. If the card was used fraudulently, file a police report first and bring a copy; DPS will decide whether to issue a new card number to protect you from further misuse.
Keeping the Card Current
Texas Transportation Code § 521.054 requires you to notify DPS within 30 days of moving or changing your name. You do that by applying for a duplicate card with the updated information. A court can dismiss a charge for missing the deadline if you correct it within 20 working days and pay a reimbursement fee of up to $20.17State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code 521.054 – Notice of Change of Address or Name
Address changes can be handled through the DPS online portal. Name changes from marriage, divorce, or a court order require an in-person visit with supporting documentation, such as a marriage certificate or court decree.18Department of Public Safety. How to Change Information on Your Driver License or ID Card