To apply for a Pennsylvania state ID card, visit a PennDOT Photo License Center or Driver License Center in person with your original identity, Social Security, and Pennsylvania residency documents, have your photo taken there, and pay $43.50 for a standard card or $73.50 for a REAL ID-compliant version. The card is available to any Pennsylvania resident age 10 or older who doesn’t have a driver’s license.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Get a Photo ID
Who Can Apply
Any Pennsylvania resident at least 10 years old is eligible.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Get a Photo ID Applicants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or spouse who is at least 18. That adult needs to bring their own ID, and if their last name differs from the applicant’s, proof of the relationship (such as a birth certificate naming them as parent).
Documents to Bring
PennDOT wants originals, not photocopies, and uploaded documents online are not accepted.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. REAL ID FAQs You’ll need paperwork in three categories, plus name-change documents if applicable.
Proof of Identity (one document)
- A certified birth certificate with a raised or embossed seal (hospital birth certificates don’t qualify)
- A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
- A Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS Form N-550 or N-570)
Non-citizens who are not permanent residents need a valid unexpired foreign passport along with USCIS documents showing lawful status, such as an Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766) or an unexpired visa with an approved I-94.3PennDOT. REAL ID Document Checklist Fact Sheet
Proof of Social Security Number
Bring your original Social Security card showing all nine digits in your current legal name. Laminated cards are not accepted. A W-2 form with your full Social Security number and current legal name also works.3PennDOT. REAL ID Document Checklist Fact Sheet
Proof of Pennsylvania Residency (two documents)
Two separate documents showing your name and the same current Pennsylvania address. Utility bills (cell phone, electric, gas, or cable), a lease, mortgage papers, a W-2, and pay stubs all qualify.3PennDOT. REAL ID Document Checklist Fact Sheet
Name Changes
If your current legal name differs from the name on your identity document, bring original documents tracing every change. A certified marriage certificate from the county court that issued the license covers a name change through marriage. Any other legal name change requires a court order.3PennDOT. REAL ID Document Checklist Fact Sheet
Standard Card or REAL ID
Pennsylvania issues two versions of the photo ID. The REAL ID version carries a gold star in the upper corner and meets federal verification standards; as of May 2025, TSA requires a REAL ID (or another acceptable document such as a passport) to board a domestic flight or enter certain federal buildings.4Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID A standard card still works for general identification, like opening a bank account or verifying your age.
The REAL ID adds a one-time $30 fee on top of the standard card fee, so the first REAL ID costs $73.50 total. Later renewals carry only the standard renewal fee, with no additional REAL ID charge.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. REAL ID FAQs Document requirements are the same for both, but REAL ID verification is stricter and every document must reflect your current legal name.3PennDOT. REAL ID Document Checklist Fact Sheet
What Happens at the Visit
At the counter you’ll complete Form DL-54A, “Application for Initial Identification Card,” hand your original documents to staff for verification, and have your photo taken on-site. No need to bring a photo of your own.1Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Get a Photo ID Come ready for the picture: face clearly visible, no hats or sunglasses. Head coverings worn for religious reasons are generally allowed as long as your face is visible from chin to forehead.
Where you apply changes how fast you get the card. REAL ID Centers, a subset of PennDOT locations, can issue a REAL ID the same day. At a standard Driver License Center, staff verify your documents on-site but mail the finished card, which can take up to 15 business days. You’ll leave with a temporary ID in the meantime.2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. REAL ID FAQs
Fees and Payment
An initial standard photo ID is $43.50. The REAL ID version is $73.50 (the $43.50 card fee plus the one-time $30 REAL ID fee).5Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Payments and Fees2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. REAL ID FAQs
Driver License Centers accept debit cards, credit cards, checks, and money orders, but not cash. The Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg is the one location that also takes cash. Make checks and money orders payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.5Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Payments and Fees
Pennsylvania waives the photo ID fee for residents experiencing homelessness. A 2020 state law allows eligible applicants to get an initial ID or renewal at no cost by visiting a Driver License Center in person and certifying homeless status on the application. The waiver does not cover duplicate cards.6United States Government Accountability Office. Homelessness: Barriers to Obtaining ID and Assistance Provided to Help Gain Access If you need a replacement Social Security card as a supporting document, the Social Security Administration issues those for free.
Voter Registration and Organ Donor Options
Under the National Voter Registration Act, PennDOT must offer you the chance to register to vote or update your registration when you apply for a photo ID. The application also lets you designate yourself as an organ donor. Both are optional and neither affects your ID application.