North Dakota ID Card: REAL ID, Cost, and Renewal

A North Dakota ID card is the nondriver photo identification issued by the North Dakota Department of Transportation to any state resident who needs a government-issued ID but doesn’t hold a driver’s license. The first card is free for adults 18 and older, it stays valid for eight years, and you apply in person at an NDDOT driver’s license site with documents proving your identity, Social Security number, and North Dakota address.¹ At the counter you’ll choose between a REAL ID-compliant version and a standard version, a choice that matters most if you plan to fly or enter federal buildings.

REAL ID or Standard

Every applicant picks one of two versions. The REAL ID-compliant card carries a gold star and meets the federal standards set by the REAL ID Act of 2005. The standard card has no star and is marked “Federal Limits Apply.”²

Since May 7, 2025, TSA has required a REAL ID-compliant card or an accepted alternative (such as a U.S. passport) to board a domestic commercial flight or enter most federal facilities and military installations.³ If you never fly and don’t visit federal buildings that check ID at the door, a standard card works for banking, age verification, and voting. The REAL ID version requires stricter documentation at the visit.

Who Can Apply

There is no minimum age.⁴ Parents commonly get cards for minors who need photo ID for school or travel. To qualify as a resident, you must have lived in North Dakota for at least 90 consecutive days.⁵ You do not have to surrender a driver’s license first; any qualifying resident can receive a nondriver card.¹

Non-citizens with documented legal presence may also apply. Their card will look visually distinct from a citizen’s card.¹

Documents You Need to Bring

Bring originals or certified copies. Photocopies are not accepted, and everything is reviewed in person.

Identity and Legal Presence

One document proving your identity, date of birth, and legal presence in the United States. A state-certified birth certificate or a valid, unexpired U.S. passport is the usual choice. Hospital-issued birth certificates don’t qualify. Other options include a Certificate of Naturalization, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a valid permanent resident card.⁶

Social Security Number

One document showing your full name and full Social Security number. The Social Security card itself is simplest, but a W-2, SSA-1099, non-SSA 1099, or a pay stub showing both name and full number will also work.⁷

Two Proofs of North Dakota Residence

Two documents showing your name and physical North Dakota address. Post office boxes don’t count. Utility bills, property tax statements, bank statements, lease agreements, and mail from a government agency are commonly accepted. Each must show the same current physical address.⁶

Name Change Paperwork, If Applicable

If your current legal name doesn’t match your identity document, bring certified paperwork bridging the gap: a certified government-issued marriage certificate, a certified adoption document, or a certified court order bearing the court seal.⁵

Applying in Person and What It Costs

You must go in person to a North Dakota driver’s license site.⁵ Scheduling an appointment through the NDDOT online system where available saves time. Staff will review your documents and take your photo. Fees depend on age:

Age 18 or older, first card: no fee
Under age 18: $8
Replacement of a lost, stolen, or damaged card: $8

Your first adult card is free.⁵ After approval you’ll leave with a temporary paper document; the permanent card is mailed. NDDOT advises allowing about 10 business days for delivery on online substitute orders.⁸

How Long the Card Lasts

A North Dakota nondriver ID card expires eight years from the date it’s issued.¹ Cards issued to applicants under 18, and to those between 18 and 20, use a distinctly colored photo background so businesses and officials can quickly identify the cardholder’s age group.

Replacing a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Card

You can order a duplicate through NDDOT’s online substitute license portal or by visiting a driver’s license site. Online avoids the wait; you’ll need your ID card number and current information, and if your address has changed you’ll need updated proof of residence. The replacement fee is $8.⁹ Upgrading a standard card to a REAL ID at the same time requires an in-person visit with the full set of REAL ID documents.

Residents who are temporarily out of state, such as college students or seasonal travelers, may be able to receive a replacement by mail. Contact NDDOT by email with your ID card number and out-of-state address to check eligibility.⁹

Using the Card to Fly

Since May 7, 2025, TSA checkpoints require a REAL ID-compliant ID or an accepted federal alternative for domestic flights.³ The same requirement applies to most federal buildings and military bases.¹⁰ Without the gold star, your card won’t get you through those checkpoints. Accepted alternatives include a U.S. passport, passport card, DHS trusted traveler card such as Global Entry or NEXUS, or a military ID. Children under 18 traveling domestically don’t need identification.¹¹

A REAL ID is not required to drive, vote, apply for federal benefits like Social Security or VA services, or enter federal buildings that don’t check ID for general access.¹⁰

Using the Card to Vote

North Dakota is the only state without voter registration, so your ID is your voting credential. Under state law, the two accepted forms are a driver’s license or nondriver ID card issued by NDDOT, or an official tribal government ID issued to a tribal member living in the state.¹²

The ID must show your legal name, current residential street address in North Dakota, and date of birth. If something is missing or out of date, usually because you’ve moved since the card was issued, you can supplement it at the polls with:

A current utility bill or bank statement
A paycheck or pay stub
A check or document from a federal, state, tribal, or local government agency
A college or university letter with the required information, paired with a student photo ID from the same institution

The supplemental document only needs to fill in what your ID is missing, typically an updated address.¹³ If you arrive without any valid ID, you can still mark a ballot that will be sealed and set aside; you have until the canvassing board meets, roughly two weeks after the election, to present valid identification to the election official responsible for the election.¹²

Adding a Veteran Designation

North Dakota offers a veteran indicator that can be added to your nondriver ID card or driver’s license. You’ll need your DD Form 214 and a completed NDDOT form, submitted at a driver’s license site. A veterans’ service officer can help. The designation lets you show veteran status for discounts and benefits without carrying your DD-214.

1
Justia Law. North Dakota Century Code Title 39, Chapter 39-06
2
USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel
3
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
4
North Dakota Department of Transportation. Driver License
5
North Dakota Department of Transportation. ID Card Requirements
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North Dakota Department of Transportation. REAL ID Information
7
North Dakota Department of Transportation. North Dakota REAL ID Checklist
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North Dakota Department of Transportation. Drivers License Online Services – Substitute License
9
North Dakota Department of Transportation. Replace a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged License
10
Department of Homeland Security. ID Requirements for Federal Facilities
11
Defense Travel Management Office. Travelers Without REAL ID Could Pay $45 Fee for TSA’s ConfirmID Beginning February 1, 2026
12
North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Code 16.1 – Elections – General Provisions
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North Dakota Secretary of State. Forms of Voter ID