What Documents Do I Need for a California ID?

To get a California ID card, you bring the DMV proof of who you are, proof of your Social Security number, and — if you’re applying for a REAL ID — two documents showing your California address plus one document with your signature. The documents needed for a California ID differ depending on whether you want a REAL ID or a Standard ID, so the first decision shapes the rest of the checklist.

Decide Between a REAL ID and a Standard ID First

A REAL ID complies with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 and is required to board domestic flights, enter military bases, and access other secure federal facilities.¹ A Standard ID works for everyday identification within California but is no longer accepted by federal agencies for those restricted purposes.²

If you already have a valid U.S. passport, you can use that for flights and federal buildings and skip the REAL ID. Otherwise, the REAL ID handles both state and federal identification with a single card. The REAL ID requires more paperwork, so know which one you’re applying for before you start gathering documents.

Proof of Identity

Both applications require one identity document. For a REAL ID, the document must show your full legal name and date of birth.³ Acceptable options include:

A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
A U.S. birth certificate (original or certified copy from a state vital statistics office)
A Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
A Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. Citizenship
A foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and approved I-94 form
An Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)
A Consular Report of Birth Abroad from the U.S. Department of State

These must be originals or certified copies. Photocopies and laminated birth certificates are not accepted.⁴ If your birth certificate is abbreviated or stamped rather than a full certified copy, order a new one from the vital records office in the state where you were born before your appointment.

Name Change Documents If Your Name Doesn’t Match

If the name on your identity document doesn’t match the name you use now, you need paperwork that traces every step from one to the other. This catches a lot of people off guard, especially anyone who has been married, divorced, or married more than once. You need a separate document for each change in the chain.³

Acceptable name change documents include:

Marriage certificate
Court-ordered name change document showing both old and new legal names
Dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership decree that includes the resulting legal name
Adoption documents showing the legal name after adoption
Domestic partnership registration certificate or declaration

If you were born Jane Smith, married and became Jane Johnson, then divorced and became Jane Williams, you need both the marriage certificate and the divorce decree. Missing one link in the chain will send you home to come back later.⁵

Proof of Your Social Security Number

Both applications require your full nine-digit Social Security number. The DMV verifies it electronically with the Social Security Administration.²

For a REAL ID, you must bring a document that displays the full number. Photocopies are not accepted. Qualifying documents include:⁴

Social Security card
W-2 form
SSA-1099 form
Non-SSA-1099 form
A pay stub showing your full SSN

Some immigration documents, like a Permanent Resident Card or an Employment Authorization Document, can also serve as SSN verification for a REAL ID if the number appears on them.⁴

Proof of California Residency

For a REAL ID, everyone must present two different printed documents showing a California mailing address. Both must display your first and last name and match the address on your application.³ For a Standard ID, you only need residency documents if you’ve never held a California driver’s license or ID card before.²

Common accepted documents include:

Utility or cell phone bill (the DMV’s preferred option)
Bank or credit union statement
Rental or lease agreement signed by both landlord and tenant
Mortgage bill
Insurance documents (auto, health, home, or renters)
Employment documents
Tax return from the IRS or California Franchise Tax Board
School documents from a public or private institution that include your date of birth
U.S. Postal Service change of address confirmation
Vehicle title or registration issued by the California DMV
Voter registration confirmation from the California Secretary of State or a county elections office

Residency documents don’t need to be originals. If you use a P.O. Box, at least one of the two documents must show both the P.O. Box and your physical street address.³

A Signature Document for REAL ID Only

A REAL ID application requires one document bearing your signature. You can usually satisfy this with something you’re already bringing. A U.S. passport, a current California driver’s license, or an existing California ID card all work if they carry your signature.³ A signed credit card, debit card, or marriage certificate also qualifies. Standard ID applicants don’t need a separate signature document.

Applying for a Child

Children of any age can get a California ID card. A parent or legal guardian must go to the DMV office with the minor and sign the application.² The same identity and residency rules apply. Since minors rarely have utility bills or bank statements in their own name, a parent’s residency documents showing the shared address typically satisfy the requirement. Bring the child’s birth certificate as the identity document, and for a REAL ID be prepared with two residency documents tied to the minor’s name and address.

Adding a Veteran Designation

California veterans can add a “VETERAN” designation to an ID card, which can then serve as proof of military service for discounts and benefits. Three steps: obtain your DD-214 (military discharge certificate), take it to any County Veteran Service Officer to receive a Veteran Status Verification Form, and bring that form to your DMV appointment.⁶ The CVSO step is easy to overlook, and the DMV will not accept a DD-214 by itself.

Fees

A regular California ID card costs $40. A reduced-fee ID card is available for $11 for qualifying applicants. Seniors 62 or older pay nothing for a senior citizen ID card, and individuals experiencing homelessness (as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act, which includes people fleeing domestic violence) are also eligible for a no-fee ID card.⁷ Fees are nonrefundable whether or not the application is approved.

Before You Go to the DMV

Complete the online application on the California DMV website before your appointment. It fills out most of the paperwork in advance and lets you upload copies of your documents, but you still need to bring the originals.⁸ Book an appointment online rather than walking in. Walk-in waits at busy offices can run for hours; appointments move much faster. At the office you’ll have your photo taken and your thumbprint scanned.² A vision test is required for a driver’s license but not for an ID card. Once your application is processed, the DMV issues a temporary paper ID valid for 60 days, and your permanent card arrives by mail within three to four weeks.

1
Transportation Security Administration. About REAL ID
2
State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Identification ID Cards
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State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID Checklist
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State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID Document List
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State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Update Information on Your Driver’s License or ID Card
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CalVet. How Can I Get a Veteran Designation on My DL/ID
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State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees
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California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License / ID Card Application