A Washington state ID card is issued by the Department of Licensing (DOL) to residents who don’t hold a Washington driver’s license, and it costs between $61 and $137 depending on the type you choose and how long you want it to last. You apply in person at a DOL office, bring documents proving your identity and residency, and receive a temporary paper card that day while the permanent card arrives by mail in 7 to 10 days. The card works as official proof of identity and age for banking, housing, employment verification, and government services.
The choice you make at the counter matters, because Washington offers three tiers and only two of them will get you through airport security.
Which Type of ID Card You Need
Washington issues three versions of its identification card. Pick the wrong one and you’ll pay for capabilities you don’t use, or you’ll find out at TSA that your card doesn’t work.
Standard ID Card
The standard card is the basic photo ID. It proves your age, opens bank accounts, and works with most state and local government agencies. Since July 2018 these cards carry a “federal limits apply” marking, which means they cannot be used to board domestic flights or enter certain restricted federal facilities. For riding trains, visiting federal courts, Social Security offices, and national parks, and traveling as a passenger across state lines, the standard card is enough.
REAL ID-Compliant Card
The REAL ID-compliant card meets the federal security standards set by the REAL ID Act of 2005 and shows a star in the upper corner. It satisfies TSA requirements for boarding domestic flights. REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025, so this now matters at the airport: travelers without a REAL ID-compliant card, an Enhanced ID, or another acceptable document like a passport face a $45 fee and possible denial of boarding.
Enhanced ID Card
The Enhanced ID (EID) does everything the REAL ID-compliant card does and adds the ability to cross the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders by land or sea without a passport. That authority comes from the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Washington is one of only five states that issue enhanced identification cards.
One boundary worth knowing: an Enhanced ID does not replace a passport for international air travel. If you’re flying to Canada or Mexico, you still need a passport.
Who Can Get One
Under RCW 46.20.117, you must be a Washington state resident, you must not hold a valid Washington driver’s license, and you must prove your identity with acceptable documentation. There is no minimum age. Infants and children qualify as long as their identity can be verified.
Applicants under 18 must be accompanied to the DOL office by a parent or legal guardian under RCW 46.20.035. That adult brings their own valid photo ID plus documentation of the relationship, such as a birth certificate naming the parent.
The Enhanced ID adds a citizenship layer. RCW 46.20.202 requires U.S. citizenship and Washington residency, though the law also permits Enhanced IDs for certain non-citizens, including lawful permanent residents in specific visa categories and victims of human trafficking who have been granted legal status.
Documents to Bring
Washington sorts acceptable identity documents into three groups: Stand-alone, A-List, and B-List. You can satisfy the requirement with any of these combinations:
- One Stand-alone document, such as a valid U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, or Employment Authorization card (I-766).
- Two A-List documents, such as a driver’s license from another state combined with a military ID.
- One A-List document plus two B-List documents, for example an out-of-state ID card with a Social Security card and a certified birth certificate.
- Four or more B-List documents, at least one of which establishes your name and date of birth.
Watch out for a common trap. A birth certificate and a Social Security card are both B-List items in Washington’s system because neither carries a photo. If a birth certificate is all you have, plan on bringing several other B-List documents. If a document from a higher tier lacks an easily identifiable photo, the DOL downgrades it to B-List for verification.
You’ll also need to give your Social Security number, which the DOL verifies electronically. If you don’t have one or aren’t eligible for one, you can sign an affidavit in lieu of providing the number. Bring your current Washington residential address, and a separate mailing address if it’s different.
How to Apply
First-time applicants have to visit a DOL office in person. The agency needs to take your photo, verify your documents, and capture your signature. Schedule an appointment through the DOL website if you can; walk-in waits at busy offices can run past an hour.
At the counter, an employee reviews your documents, takes your digital photo, and processes payment. You leave with a temporary paper ID that’s valid proof of identity until the plastic card arrives in the mail. The DOL estimates 7 to 10 days.
Renewals are easier. If your information hasn’t changed and your previous card had a photo taken in person, you can renew online through the DOL’s License eXpress portal. The DOL reuses your existing photo. To update the photo, make an appointment and go in.
Fees
- Standard ID card: $61 for six years or $81 for eight years.
- Enhanced ID card: $103 for six years or $137 for eight years.
- Replacement (lost or stolen): $20 for either card type.
- Address change with a new card: $20. Updating your address in the system is free, but printing it on a physical card costs extra.
A reduced-fee ID is available for $5 if you receive public assistance through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), participate in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, or are under 25 without a permanent home address. Qualifying documents include a DSHS benefits approval letter, a WIC provider confirmation letter, or your Washington Connection account history. People recently released from a state correctional or juvenile rehabilitation facility also qualify for the reduced production-cost fee. If you qualify for the reduced-fee standard ID but want an Enhanced ID, enhanced pricing still applies on top of the reduced base.
Cash is accepted only at DOL offices. Paying by check online avoids convenience fees.
Replacing a Lost or Stolen Card
You can replace a lost or stolen card online through License eXpress or in person at a DOL office. The fee is $20 for either card type, and the replacement uses your existing photo. If your current card expires within 90 days, the DOL won’t process a replacement and will direct you to renew instead.
Updating Your Address
Washington law gives you 10 days after moving to update the address on your ID card. You can make the change for free online through License eXpress or by mailing in the address change form. The record updates immediately, but your physical card will still show the old address unless you pay $20 for a new one. You can also wait until your next renewal, though the card won’t work as proof of your new address in the meantime.
Voter Registration and Organ Donor Options
When you apply for or renew an ID card at a DOL office, you can register to vote at the same time under federal “Motor Voter” requirements. Residents who are 16 or 17 can pre-register, with the registration activating automatically at 18. If you get an Enhanced ID, Washington election officials automatically register you to vote or update your existing record from the application information. You can opt out.
You can also designate yourself as an organ donor during the application. The designation appears on the face of the card and is added to the state’s donor registry, so no separate signed document is needed.