To get a REAL ID in South Carolina, you need to bring the SCDMV one document proving your identity and U.S. citizenship, one document showing your Social Security number, two different documents proving your current South Carolina address, and paperwork covering any legal name changes that connect those documents to the name you use now. The license costs $25 and is valid for eight years.
First, Check Whether You Already Have One
Look at your current South Carolina driver’s license or ID card. A gold star in the upper corner means it is already REAL ID compliant and you do not need to do anything. If the card says “Not for Federal Identification” and has no star, you need to upgrade.1SCDMV. REAL ID
Proof of Identity and U.S. Citizenship
Bring one original or certified document. Photocopies, notarized copies, and printouts of scans will not be accepted.2SC State Library Digital. REAL ID Brochure September 2017 Any of the following works:
- Certified U.S. birth certificate from a government vital records office
- Unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
- Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS Form N-550 or N-570)
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad from the U.S. Department of State
If your birth certificate is from another country, it alone is not enough. You will need a separate citizenship document from the list above.
Proof of Your Social Security Number
One document showing your SSN is enough, but the name on it has to match Social Security Administration records exactly. Options include:3USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel
- Social Security card
- W-2 form
- SSA-1099 form
- Non-SSA 1099 showing your full SSN
- Pay stub showing your full SSN
If the name on your Social Security record is out of date, correct it with the SSA at least 48 hours before your SCDMV visit. Otherwise the mismatch will stop your application at the counter.1SCDMV. REAL ID
Documents for Any Name Changes
If the name you use today is different from the name on your birth certificate or passport, you need paperwork that traces every change in between. The SCDMV calls this name traceability, and a missing link in the chain will send you home.4South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. United States Citizens Checklist – SCDMV Form MV-93
Say you were born Jane Smith, changed your name to Jane Williams by court order, then married and became Jane Jones. You need the court order and the marriage license. Acceptable name-change documents include:
- Government-issued marriage license, which can change your middle name, last name, or both (but not your first name) one time per marriage
- Divorce decree that specifically orders a name change
- Court order for a legal name change
- Unexpired U.S. passport or passport card showing your current legal name
Two shortcuts are worth knowing. If you once changed your name but have since reverted to the name on your birth certificate, you do not need to document the intervening changes. And if you have used a single name consistently for at least fifteen years, three documents showing your full name under that identity can satisfy the requirement, as long as the name has a reasonable link to your other identity documents.4South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. United States Citizens Checklist – SCDMV Form MV-93
Two Proofs of a South Carolina Address
You need two documents showing your name and current physical South Carolina address. P.O. boxes do not count, and the two documents must come from different sources, so two bills from the same electric company will not work.1SCDMV. REAL ID Any two of these are acceptable:
- Utility bill (electric, gas, water, phone)
- Bank or financial institution statement
- Current rental agreement or lease
- Mortgage statement
- Property tax bill
- Vehicle registration card
- Voter registration card
- Pay stub with your name and SC address
- Current school enrollment documentation
If you live in a shelter, group home, or similar facility, a letter from the director stating that you are a resident can serve as your proof of address.
One thing to keep in mind after you get the card: South Carolina law requires you to notify the SCDMV of any address change within ten days.
If You Are Not a U.S. Citizen
Lawful permanent residents and other non-citizens with authorized legal status can get a South Carolina REAL ID, but the process runs differently. The SCDMV treats these as “international customer” applications, which cannot be handled online, and not every branch processes them. You will also need to prove your authorized length of stay, most commonly with an unexpired Form I-551 (green card) or a passport stamped with I-551 approval. Documents not in English must be translated using the SCDMV’s Translation Document (Form 4030).5South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. International Customers Checklist – SCDMV Form MV-94 The REAL ID issued to an international customer is valid only for the length of the authorized stay, up to a maximum of eight years.1SCDMV. REAL ID
Adding a Veteran Designation
Honorably discharged veterans can have a “Veteran” designation printed on the card. Bring your DD-214 or other discharge documentation showing honorable discharge along with your other paperwork.1SCDMV. REAL ID
How to Apply and What It Costs
Some South Carolina residents can buy a REAL ID online, but only if the SCDMV already has all the required documents on file and a passing vision exam has been electronically transmitted by an SC-licensed eye care professional. Commercial license holders and international customers cannot use the online option. If you log into the SCDMV system and the option to purchase a REAL ID does not appear, you have to go in person.1SCDMV. REAL ID
Most people apply at a branch. Bring the originals of everything: identity document, Social Security proof, two residency documents, and any name-change paperwork. The SCDMV will take your photo, run a vision screening, and verify your documents. You leave with a temporary identification certificate valid for up to 30 days, and your permanent card arrives by mail in seven to fifteen business days.6SCDMV. Identification Cards The temporary certificate is not accepted at TSA airport checkpoints, so do not plan to fly on it.7Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
A REAL ID driver’s license costs $25 and is valid for eight years. Identification cards are free for anyone 17 or older and $15 for applicants aged five through sixteen. Replacing a lost or stolen card costs $10.8SCDMV. Fees Commercial driver’s license holders pay a $15 application fee on top of the $25 license fee.1SCDMV. REAL ID