Florida state ID cards are issued – and managed – by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. These credentials are available to residents five years of age and older. Like a license, a DMV ID card is universally accepted as primary proof of identity. Cardholders can use their IDs to prove who they are when applying for public assistance, requesting vital records or proving their ages when accessing age-restricted places or activities. There are additional benefits to obtaining a child ID card, in that doing so makes all of the information authorities need to issue an AMBER Alert immediately available in the event that the child ever goes missing.

As primary identity documents, identification card credentials are strictly controlled for both residents’ personal safety and public safety, at large. Applicants may apply for REAL ID-compliant IDs or non-compliant IDs, depending on their personal needs, preferences and available documents.

Florida DMV ID Requirements

Under Florida DMV state ID requirements, to apply for REAL ID-compliant IDs, applicants must prove their:

• Identity.
• Date of birth.
• Social Security Number.
• State residency.
• Citizenship, or other legal presence in the country.
• Proof of name change (where applicable).

There are other considerations for DMV identification card applicants These include that:

• Children must be at least 5 years of age to be issued a child identification card.
• IDs will not be issued to residents holding any other state-level ID documents from Florida or any other state. To obtain a Florida ID, applicants must surrender any other IDs or drivers licenses they hold at the time of application.
• Applicants names as they appear on their Social Security cards must match their current legal names. Applicants who need to update their SSN records must contact the Social Security Administration no less than 48 hours before attempting to apply for ID to allow time for the system to update.

What do you need to get an ID in Florida?

DMV ID card requirements state that applicants must provide the following when applying for REAL ID-compliant cards:

• Proof of identity and date of birth. Applicants must supply an original or certified copy of one of the following:
  • A U.S. birth certificate or Consular Report of Birth Abroad
  • An unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
  • A Certificate of Naturalization (form N-550 or N-570)
  • A Certificate of Citizenship (form N-560 or N-561)
• Proof of Social Security Number. Government issued ID applicants without an SSN must submit documentation from the Social Security Administration that they do not qualify for an SSN. All other applicants must provide one of the following showing their full real names and SSNs:
  • A Social Security card
  • A W-2 form
  • A Paystub
  • An SSA-1099 form or a non-SSA 1099 form.

• Florida residency. DMV state ID applicants must provide two documents of different types showing their names and current residential addresses. Acceptable documents include:
  • Property records, such as deeds, mortgage statements or payment booklets, or signed rental or lease agreements.
  • Florida voter registration
  • Florida vehicle registration or title, or a vehicle payment booklet.
  • Utility bills.
  • Selective service cards.
  • Medical or health cards.
  • Current insurance policies or bills.
  • Current year education transcripts.
  • Current professional licenses issued by U.S. government agencies.
  • W-2 or 1099 forms.
  • Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (Form DS2019).
  • Bank statements.
  • Certification of Address forms, together, with letters from homeless shelters or transitional housing service providers stating that they accept mail for the applicant.
  • Mail from local, state or federal government agencies.
  • An FDLE registration form completed by local sheriff’s department.
  • Residents (e.g. minors) without access to the above may alternatively provide two proofs of address from a parent, step-parent, legal guardian or other person with whom they reside, along with a Certification of Address form.
• Citizenship or other legal presence. Generally, this is proved by the same documents that prove identity and date of birth.
• Proof of name change. In the event that non-driver ID applicants’ documents do not reflect their current names, they must provide legal evidence of name change linking their documents to their current names. For instance, a resident might provide both a birth certificate and a marriage certificate linking his or her birth and married names. Applicants whose names have changed more than once (e.g. through marriage, then divorce and remarriage) must show documentation of all of the changes linking the original document and their current names; for example: a birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce decree and second marriage certificate.

Applicants who cannot prove these things, or who simply do not wish to hold REAL ID-compliant cards may apply for non-compliant identification cards under slightly less stringent documentation requirements.

How to Get an ID in Florida

Are you wondering where to get state ID for the first time in Florida? Due to the security measures necessary to verify identity, Florida residents cannot get ID online. Applicants must go to the DMV to get ID, and may apply at any drivers license service center. Appointments are available, but not required.

To apply for ID, residents should follow the required steps. These include:

1. Gathering the necessary documents.
2. Making an appointment (optional).
3. Taking their documents to a DMV service center.
4. Sitting for photographs.
5. Paying the required fees.
6. Surrendering any other state-issued IDs or licenses they hold.
7. Waiting to receive their new documents by mail.

REAL ID Cards in Florida

A Florida REAL ID card is an identification card that complies with all federal REAL ID standards. It carries a gold star and, as of October 2020, when new regulations go into effect, will offer holders the ability to board domestic flights and enter federal buildings. Residents with non-compliant IDs will need birth certificates, passports or other supplemental documentation, as their IDs, alone, will not be enough.

REAL IDs are the new standard in Florida, and authorities recommend that all new applicants apply for REAL ID-compliant cards. However, residents who cannot provide the documents required for REAL ID may still apply for non-compliant state IDs.

How to Renew or Replace a State ID in Florida

Florida residents with a damaged, destroyed or lost ID card may seek replacements from any DMV drivers license service center. Replacement ID card requests may also be processed through DMV service centers. In most cases, card holders are not required to resubmit their original documents when renewing their cards, unless their names, addresses or other key information has changed.

Many residents will qualify to renew their cards online for a small additional ID renewal fee in the state of Florida.

DMV ID Costs in Florida

How much does an ID cost in Florida? The standard Florida DMV ID cost is $25 to apply for, renew or replace a card. This cost applies, regardless of applicant age. Additional fees ranging between $1 and $3 typically apply when residents wish to have any of the following designations added to their cards:

• Deaf/hard-of-hearing.
• Developmentally disabled.
• Lifetime hunting and/or fishing permits.
• Insulin-dependent
• Organ donor.

Additionally, residents who renew their non-drivers license IDs online will be subject to a $2 convenience fee.

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