To get an IDNYC card, you need documents worth at least four points: three or more points proving your identity and at least one point proving you live in New York City. You also have to be a city resident and at least 10 years old. Immigration status does not matter, and the card is free.
Who Qualifies
The only hard requirements are living in one of the five boroughs and being 10 or older.1NYC.gov. Document Calculator – How to Apply – IDNYC There is no citizenship or immigration test. The program was built so that undocumented residents, people experiencing homelessness, and others who struggle to obtain state or federal ID can still get a government-issued photo card.
Applicants aged 10 to 13 must apply alongside a caretaker: a parent, legal guardian, foster parent, court-appointed custodian, or other authorized adult.1NYC.gov. Document Calculator – How to Apply – IDNYC The caretaker has to attend the appointment and bring proof of the relationship, such as the child’s birth certificate, an adoption decree, or a court order. Anyone 14 or older can apply on their own.
How the Point System Works
IDNYC verifies applicants with a point system. You need four points total, split into two categories:
- At least three points from identity documents
- At least one point from a residency document
Documents are worth one, two, or three points depending on how strong the ID is. You can stack items to reach the identity threshold, which is the reason the system exists. Someone without a passport or state ID can combine a birth certificate with a voter registration card, for example, and still qualify.
Three-Point Identity Documents
Any one of these clears the identity requirement by itself:1NYC.gov. Document Calculator – How to Apply – IDNYC
- U.S. passport
- Machine-readable foreign passport
- U.S. permanent resident card (green card)
- Current work permit
- Certificate of naturalization
- State-issued ID or driver’s license
Two-Point Identity Documents
These get you most of the way there; pair one with a one-point document to reach three:1NYC.gov. Document Calculator – How to Apply – IDNYC
- U.S. birth certificate
- Non-machine-readable foreign passport
- Social Security card
- Veterans ID card
- ITIN assignment letter
One-Point Identity Documents
These fill gaps when combined with higher-value items:
- Voter registration card
- Selective Service card
- Reduced Fare MetroCard
- EBT card without a photo
- Marriage certificate
Residency Documents
You need at least one point showing your name and a current NYC address. Common options include a utility bill, a bank or credit card statement, a residential lease, or official mail from a city, state, or federal agency. A letter from a homeless shelter also counts. Middle-school students applying through a school pop-up event can use the IDNYC for Middle School Students Application signed by a caretaker, which covers both identity and residency in a single document once verified by the Department of Education.2NYC311. IDNYC Documents Required to Apply
Bringing Your Documents to the Appointment
Fill out the application on the IDNYC online portal or pick up a paper form at any enrollment center. The form asks for your full legal name, date of birth, current address, height, and eye color, and all of it must match what appears on your documents.3NYC. How to Apply – IDNYC
Most enrollment centers require an appointment, bookable through the portal or by calling 311.4NYC. Make an Appointment – IDNYC Four locations across the city accept walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis one day per week; the days are listed on the enrollment center page.5NYC.gov. Enrollment Centers – IDNYC
Bring originals, not copies. An enrollment specialist reviews your documents, takes your photo, and processes the application. If everything checks out, the card arrives by mail in roughly 14 business days.6NYC311. IDNYC Municipal ID Card There is no fee for a first-time card.7NYC.gov. About – IDNYC
What IDNYC Will Not Cover
IDNYC is recognized as valid ID by New York City agencies and police, works for entering city buildings and applying for jobs, and qualifies as a List B identity document on the federal Form I-9.8NYC. Frequently Asked Questions – IDNYC9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-9 Acceptable Documents
It is not REAL ID compliant. You cannot use it for domestic air travel, because the TSA’s list of acceptable identification at airport checkpoints does not include municipal ID cards.10Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint Since May 2025, most federal facilities also require REAL ID-compliant identification or a passport for entry, and IDNYC does not meet that standard.11U.S. Department of Homeland Security. ID Requirements for Federal Facilities For flying or entering federal buildings, you will need a state-issued REAL ID, a U.S. passport, or another federally accepted document.