To apply for a Texas ID card, book an appointment at a Department of Public Safety driver license office and bring documents proving U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, your identity, your Social Security number, and Texas residency. The card costs $16 if you are 59 or younger and $6 if you are 60 or older, and it is valid for six years.1Department of Public Safety. How to Apply for a Texas Identification Card
Who Can Apply
Texas law lets DPS issue a personal identification certificate to any resident, with no minimum age.2State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code Title 7 Chapter 521 – Section 521.101 Applicants under 18 need a parent or legal guardian to give consent during the application.1Department of Public Safety. How to Apply for a Texas Identification Card
You must be a U.S. citizen or have documentation of authorized presence in the country. If you are not a citizen, the card’s expiration date is tied to the end of your authorized stay, or one year from issuance if that stay has no fixed end date.2State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code Title 7 Chapter 521 – Section 521.101
First-time applicants must have lived in Texas for at least 30 days. That requirement is waived if you surrender a valid, unexpired ID or driver license from another state.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards
Documents You Need to Bring
DPS asks for four categories of documents. Gathering everything before your appointment is the single best way to avoid a wasted trip; being turned away for a missing item is common.
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence: a birth certificate, U.S. passport, certificate of citizenship, or certificate of naturalization. Non-citizens bring documentation from the appropriate federal agency showing authorized presence.
- Proof of identity: a document such as a passport, military ID, or school records. DPS lists acceptable primary, secondary, and supporting documents on its identification requirements page.4Department of Public Safety. Identification Requirements
- Social Security number: your Social Security card, a W-2, or an SSA-1099 showing the full number.
- Two proofs of Texas residency: both must show your name and residential address, and at least one must confirm you have lived in Texas for 30 days or more. Utility bills dated within 180 days, a current mortgage statement, a lease, a bank statement, or a voter registration card all qualify.3Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards
Bring originals. Photocopies are not accepted. DPS also publishes a printable checklist of every acceptable document.5Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License and Identification Card Document Requirements
Fill out the application in advance if you can. Adults aged 17 years and 10 months or older use Form DL-14A;6Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License or ID Card Application – Adult (17 Years 10 Months of Age or Older) younger applicants use Form DL-14B, which includes parental consent fields.7Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License or ID Card Application – Minor (Under 17 Years 10 Months of Age) Both are on the DPS website, and the office will also hand you one. You will need your full legal name, date of birth, residential address, and a physical description including height, weight, and eye color.
Booking the Appointment and Visiting the Office
All DPS driver license offices operate by appointment only.8Department of Public Safety. Driver License Services – Appointments Schedule at txdpsscheduler.com and choose the “New ID” service category. A limited number of same-day slots open throughout the day at most offices, so checking back can help if nothing is available for weeks.
At the office, you check in through a kiosk or with staff, then hand your completed application and supporting documents to a specialist. Once the review is done, staff collect your thumbprints, capture your digital signature, and take your photo. The whole visit usually runs 30 to 60 minutes depending on how busy the office is, with most of that time spent waiting rather than at the counter.
Fees and Who Pays Nothing
The fee depends on your age, and the card is valid for six years either way:9Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
- Age 59 and younger: $16
- Age 60 and older: $6
Two groups pay nothing. Disabled veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 60 percent or higher qualify for a fee waiver, with details on the DPS Veteran Services page.9Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees Individuals who qualify as homeless under state law are also exempt, a provision added by the Texas Legislature to remove barriers to identification.
DPS offices accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, along with cash, checks, and money orders.
Getting a REAL ID-Compliant Card
Since May 7, 2025, federal agencies including TSA require a REAL ID-compliant credential to board a domestic flight or enter a federal facility.10Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025 A standard Texas ID that lacks the REAL ID marking will not clear airport security for a domestic flight, though a valid U.S. passport still works.
Texas has issued compliant cards since October 2016. You will know your card is compliant by the gold star inside a circle in the upper right corner. There is no separate REAL ID application; the standard ID process produces a compliant card as long as you bring the full set of identity and residency documents described above.
After You Apply
Before you leave the office, you receive a temporary paper ID at the counter. That paper works as valid identification until the permanent card arrives in the mail, typically within two to three weeks.1Department of Public Safety. How to Apply for a Texas Identification Card You can track production through the Texas by Texas (TxT) portal. If several weeks go by with no card, contact DPS; mail delivery issues do happen and a replacement may be needed.
Later on, you can renew online, by phone, or in person, and you can update your address through the TxT portal.11Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID Texas requires you to update the address on your ID within 30 days of moving.12Department of Public Safety. How to Change Information on Your Driver License or ID Card
If You Only Need ID to Vote
If the sole reason you want an ID is to vote, and you do not already hold an unexpired (or recently expired) Texas ID, driver license, passport, military ID, or handgun license, you may qualify for a free Election Identification Certificate instead of a paid ID.13Department of Public Safety. Election Identification Certificate (EIC)
To qualify, you must be a Texas resident and U.S. citizen, at least 17 years and 10 months old, and eligible to vote. You apply in person at a DPS office using Form DL-14C and bring proof of citizenship, identity verification, and a valid voter registration card. The EIC is valid for six years, with no expiration for applicants 70 or older. One limitation matters: an EIC can only be used for voting. It will not be accepted as identity verification for any other purpose, including applying for a regular Texas ID or driver license.13Department of Public Safety. Election Identification Certificate (EIC)