A Texas ID card is a state-issued photo identification for residents who do not drive but need reliable proof of identity. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) issues the card for $16 (or $6 if you are 60 or older), and it stays valid for six years. You can use it to open bank accounts, board domestic flights if it is REAL ID-compliant, and vote in Texas elections.
Who Can Get One
Any Texas resident qualifies regardless of age, so parents can apply on behalf of an infant or young child. The one firm requirement is establishing a home in the state. Texas Transportation Code Section 521.101 bars DPS from issuing a card to anyone who has not established a domicile in Texas.1Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code Section 521.101 – Personal Identification Certificate
You cannot hold a valid Texas driver license and a Texas ID card at the same time. DPS uses a biometric image verification system to ensure each person is issued only one original license, permit, or certificate.2Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS Statement Regarding Driver License Fingerprinting Process If you currently hold a driver license and want an ID card instead, surrender the license when you apply.
Non-citizens can apply but must present documentation from the Department of Homeland Security showing they are authorized to be in the United States.1Texas Public Law. Texas Transportation Code Section 521.101 – Personal Identification Certificate
Documents You Need to Bring
Gathering paperwork is the slowest part of the process. DPS requires documents in four categories: identity, U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, Texas residency, and Social Security number.
Proof of Identity
Texas uses a tiered system with primary, secondary, and supporting documents. You need one of these combinations:3Cornell Law Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 15.24 – Identification of Applicants
- One primary document, such as an unexpired U.S. passport, birth certificate, or certificate of citizenship. Nothing else is required.
- One secondary document (like an original or certified foreign birth certificate) plus two supporting items such as a Social Security card, voter registration card, or school records.
- Two secondary documents, without additional supporting items.
The full list in each tier is on the DPS website in Form DL-17.4Texas Department of Public Safety. Acceptable Identification Documents
Social Security Number
You must provide your Social Security number on the application. DPS verifies it electronically through the Social Security Administration during processing, so you do not strictly need to bring the physical card.5Texas Department of Public Safety. Social Security Number (SSN) Bringing it anyway is smart, because it doubles as a supporting identity document if you need one.
Texas Residency
You need two documents showing your name and Texas residential address. Utility bills, bank statements, government mail, mortgage documents, lease agreements, and preprinted paychecks all work.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Residency Requirement for Driver Licenses and ID Cards Both can come from the same source only if that source is a local government or utility providing multiple services (for example, separate water and gas statements from the same municipal utility).
Documents with a date (utility bills, bank statements, government mail, paychecks, and medical bills) must be dated within 180 days of your application.7Cornell Law Institute. 37 Texas Administrative Code 15.49 – Proof of Domicile Mortgage documents and lease agreements have no 180-day window; a current lease or deed works regardless of when it was signed.8Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License and Identification Card Document Requirements
Standard ID or REAL ID
Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID-compliant card or another federally accepted document (like a passport) to board a domestic commercial flight or enter certain federal facilities.9Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID A compliant Texas ID card has a gold star in the upper corner. A card without the star will not get you through a TSA checkpoint unless you show an alternative.
Getting the REAL ID version does not require extra documents. DPS just verifies the standard identity and residency paperwork against federal standards before issuing the compliant card.10Texas Department of Public Safety. Federal Real ID Act If you already have a Texas ID without the star, you can request a duplicate with REAL ID compliance in person or through Texas.gov. There is no extra fee beyond the standard replacement cost.
Starting February 1, 2026, travelers without a REAL ID or acceptable alternative can attempt identity verification at TSA checkpoints through a program called TSA ConfirmID, but it costs $45 per use and is not guaranteed to work.11Defense Travel Management Office. Travelers without REAL ID Could Pay $45 Fee for TSA ConfirmID Beginning February 1, 2026 Adding the gold star to your card ahead of your next flight is far cheaper.
Applying for a Minor
Children of any age can receive a Texas ID card, but the application differs. Minors use Form DL-14B rather than the adult DL-14A, and a parent, legal guardian, or person with legal custody must sign the application authorizing DPS to issue the card.12Texas Department of Public Safety. DL-14B – Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application Plan to attend the appointment together and bring the same four categories of documents for the child.
The Appointment
All DPS driver license offices operate by appointment only. Book a time slot at TXDPSScheduler.com, and check in at the self-service kiosk when you arrive.
Adults 17 years and 10 months or older complete Form DL-14A, the standard application, which asks for height, weight, eye color, and hair color.13Texas Department of Public Safety. Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application Filling it out before your appointment saves noticeable time at the counter.
During the visit, a DPS employee takes your photo and captures your thumbprints for the state’s image verification system.2Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS Statement Regarding Driver License Fingerprinting Process You also provide a digital signature that will appear on the finished card.
Once the clerk processes everything, you leave with a temporary paper receipt that serves as valid identification for 60 days. Your permanent card arrives by mail in roughly two to three weeks.14Texas Department of Public Safety. How to Apply for a Texas Identification Card
Fees
What you pay depends on your age:15Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
- Under 60: $16 for a new or renewed card, valid for six years from your birthday.
- 60 and older: $6 for a new or renewed card, also valid for six years from your birthday.
- Replacement card: $11 if yours is lost, stolen, or damaged. The expiration date stays the same.
A $1 administrative fee is already included in each amount. DPS offices accept cash, credit cards, checks, and money orders.15Texas Department of Public Safety. Driver License Fees
Renewing
Texas ID cards expire every six years. You can renew online instead of visiting a DPS office if all of the following are true:16Texas Department of Public Safety. Renew Your Texas DL, CDL, Motorcycle License or ID
- You renewed in person last time.
- Your card expires within two years or has been expired for less than two years.
- You are 18 or older.
- You are a U.S. citizen with a Social Security number on file with DPS.
The practical effect of the “in person last time” rule is that you alternate between online and in-person renewals, so DPS updates your photo and verifies your identity in person at least once every two cycles. If you do not meet the online criteria, schedule an appointment and bring the same documents you would for an original application.
Replacing a Lost or Stolen Card
Report a lost, stolen, or damaged card and request a replacement promptly. You can start the process online through the DPS website or visit a local office.17Texas Department of Public Safety. Replace Your Driver License, Commercial Driver License or ID Card The replacement fee is $11, and the new card keeps your existing expiration date. You are not buying a fresh six-year term. If you go in person, you will verify your identity again. The replacement arrives by mail in about two to three weeks.
Voting With Your Texas ID Card
A Texas personal identification card is one of seven forms of photo ID accepted at the polls. The others are a Texas driver license, a handgun license, a U.S. military ID, a U.S. passport, a U.S. citizenship certificate, and a Texas Election Identification Certificate.18VoteTexas.gov. Texas Voter ID Requirements Voters between 18 and 69 can use an ID that has been expired for up to four years. Voters 70 and older can use one that has been expired for any length of time.
If you cannot afford or obtain a standard ID card, DPS issues a free Election Identification Certificate (EIC) specifically for voting. You qualify if you are at least 17 years and 10 months old, eligible to vote in Texas, and do not already hold an unexpired (or recently expired) driver license, personal ID card, handgun license, passport, or military ID.19Texas Department of Public Safety. Election Identification Certificate (EIC) The EIC is valid for six years, except for citizens 70 and older, whose certificates never expire. The EIC works only at the polls; DPS will not accept it as identity verification for other applications.