To get a REAL ID in New Hampshire, you need to visit a DMV office in person with four things: one document proving your identity, one showing your Social Security number, two documents proving your New Hampshire address, and any paperwork linking your current legal name back to your birth certificate. The fee is $60, and the card is mailed to you within about 60 days. Since May 7, 2025, the TSA no longer accepts standard New Hampshire licenses at airport security, so if your license doesn’t have the compliant marking on the front, you need either a REAL ID or an accepted alternative like a passport to fly.1Transportation Security Administration. TSA Reminds Public of REAL ID Enforcement Deadline
One Document Proving Your Identity
U.S. citizens generally bring one of three things: a certified birth certificate with a raised seal or stamp from the issuing authority, a valid unexpired U.S. passport or passport card, or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship.2New Hampshire Department of Safety. Identity and Residency Requirements The birth certificate doesn’t have to come from the state where you were born. A certificate issued by a city, town, court, or federal agency works too, as long as it carries the official seal.
Non-citizens must show proof of lawful presence, such as a valid unexpired Permanent Resident Card, a valid I-94 showing asylee or refugee status, or other government documentation of current immigration status.2New Hampshire Department of Safety. Identity and Residency Requirements The DMV verifies these against federal immigration databases before issuing the card.
One Document Showing Your Social Security Number
The simplest option is your Social Security card, but the DMV will not accept it if it’s laminated or badly worn, and the name on it has to match your current legal name.2New Hampshire Department of Safety. Identity and Residency Requirements
If you can’t find your card, a W-2, a 1099, or a pay stub showing your full nine-digit Social Security number is accepted as a substitute. Most people can download one of those from a payroll portal in minutes, which is usually faster than waiting weeks for a replacement card from the SSA.
Two Documents Proving a New Hampshire Address
REAL ID applicants need two separate documents showing a current New Hampshire residential address. A P.O. box doesn’t count.2New Hampshire Department of Safety. Identity and Residency Requirements This is a higher bar than a standard license, which asks for just one.3New Hampshire Department of Safety. New Hampshire Driver License Identity and Residency Requirements The DMV accepts:
- Utility bills for gas, electric, oil, water or sewer, cable, or telephone service
- A signed lease or rental agreement (a month-to-month lease must be dated within 60 days of your visit)
- A property deed for your legal physical address
- A property tax bill for the current year
- A payroll check, pay stub, or employment contract
Some of these documents must be dated within the last 60 days, so pull fresh copies before your appointment rather than digging up something that’s been sitting in a drawer.2New Hampshire Department of Safety. Identity and Residency Requirements
Documents for Any Name Change
If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your identity document, you need paperwork for every change along the way. That means a marriage certificate, civil union certificate, divorce decree, or probate court order for each step.2New Hampshire Department of Safety. Identity and Residency Requirements If you were born Smith, married into Jones, divorced and took Williams, you need both the marriage certificate and the divorce decree, not just the most recent one.
Documents issued by any state or government agency are accepted.4New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Update Personal Information – Section: Name Change If you’re missing one, order a certified replacement from the vital records office in the state where the event happened, and build in a few weeks for it to arrive. This is the step that catches people out, so check your chain before you book an appointment.
What It Costs and How Long It Lasts
A REAL ID-compliant operator license is $60, which is $10 more than the $50 standard non-compliant license.5New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 263:42 – Driver’s License Fees Commercial driver licenses also cost $60.6New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees The card expires on the fifth anniversary of your birth date following issuance, so you won’t repeat this document-gathering process for another five years.7New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Section 263:10
Applying in Person
REAL ID applications have to be completed in person at a New Hampshire DMV office. Book an appointment through the scheduling tool on the DMV homepage.8NH Division of Motor Vehicles. NH DMV Homepage Walk-ins may work at some locations, but an appointment avoids being turned away on a busy day.
Fill out the application form before you arrive, selecting the REAL ID-compliant option and entering your full legal name and physical address exactly as they appear on your supporting documents. At the counter, staff review your form, inspect each document, take your photo, and collect the fee. You’ll walk out with a temporary paper license valid for driving for 60 days.9NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Temporary Paper License
Important catch: that temporary paper is not REAL ID-compliant. It lets you drive, but the TSA will not accept it at the airport.9NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Temporary Paper License The permanent card is mailed to your New Hampshire address and can take up to 60 days to arrive.10New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Renew a Driver License/CDL/Non Driver ID If you have a flight before then, plan on using a passport or another accepted ID.
Alternatives if You Don’t Want to Rush
You don’t have to get a REAL ID to fly. The TSA accepts several other documents at the checkpoint:
- U.S. passport or passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including dependent IDs
- Permanent resident card
- Valid foreign passport
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card
The TSA is also piloting digital IDs, including Apple Digital ID and Google ID pass, at participating airports.11Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you already carry a passport when you fly, there’s no urgency to upgrade your license.
Children Under 18
Children under 18 traveling with an adult on a domestic flight don’t need to show any ID at the TSA checkpoint. The identification requirement only applies to passengers 18 and older.11Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint You don’t need to get your child a REAL ID before a family trip.