Non-driver Arkansas state ID cards are available to residents 5 years of age and older. A DMV ID card can be used in place of a drivers license for all legal purposes, except operating a motor vehicle. It can serve as a verified identification document for legal purposes, including requesting vital records, accessing age-restricted venues and applying for public assistance programs. It is important to note, however, that not all Arkansas non-driver IDs are REAL ID-compliant. Non-compliant IDs cannot be used to board domestic flights, or to access federal buildings, so applicants should carefully consider their needs before applying.

As with licenses, DMV identification card issuance is handled by the state Department of Finance and Administration. The procedures and documentation requirements for these IDs are almost the same as those needed to obtain a drivers license, aside from the vision and other exams motorists must pass to obtain driving privileges.

Arkansas DMV ID Requirements

Arkansas government issued ID is only available to residents who can demonstrate that they are United States citizens, or otherwise legally present in the country. Applicants must also:

• Have valid Social Security Numbers (or have affidavits explaining their ineligibility for an SSN).
• Be at least 5 years of age.
• Surrender any other IDs they hold, such as drivers licenses, issued by Arkansas or any other state.

Under DMV state ID requirements, applicants must provide their true full names, ages and birthdates, which will all be displayed on their cards.

What do you need to get an ID in Arkansas?

Residents wondering, “What do you need to get a state ID in Arkansas?” will find that they need several specific forms of documentation. They may not need very many documents, however, because a single document can often be used as proof that they meet several criteria.

When collecting documents needed for state ID, applicants should begin by proving identity and legal presence in the U.S. To this end, they may submit one primary document and one secondary document, or two primary documents. Examples of qualifying primary documents include:

• An original or certified copy of a United States birth certificate.
• A valid, unexpired U.S. passport (or passport card).
• A Department of Homeland Security photo ID.
• A foreign passport and U.S. visa with INS documentation.
• Qualifying INS documents proving identity and legal residency.

If applicants have changed their names from those displayed on their documents, their applications for DMV state ID credentials must also be accompanied by legal documentation of that change, such as marriage or divorce records, or court records.

Secondary documents required for state ID are required when you do not have two primary forms to submit. These include:

• Out-of-state licenses or IDs.
• Concealed handgun licenses.
• Pilot’s licenses.
• Vehicle registrations or car titles.
• School records.
• Prison release documents.
• Sealed court orders.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs or Indian Treaty cards (Tribal IDs are not accepted).
• Military ID cards or discharge papers.
• Parental affidavits (for child ID cards).

Applicants do not need physical Social Security cards, but must provide their Social Security Numbers, which will be verified during the application process.

How to Get an ID in Arkansas

When it comes to where to get state ID, there is no process to get ID online in Arkansas. Instead, applicants must take their documents and applications in person, to their local revenue offices, to apply. Note that Voluntary Enhanced Security IDs are only available from regional offices. Before going to the DMV to get ID, applicants can pre-register online to save time and, if they wish, schedule an appointment for prompter service.

To apply for ID, applicants must take the required steps. These include:

• Collecting their documents.
• Completing the pre-registration process online (optional).
• Scheduling an appointment at a local or regional revenue office (optional).
• Taking their documents and, where applicable, pre-registration receipts to a revenue office to apply.
• Having their photographs taken.
• Paying the applicable fee.
• Waiting to receive their IDs in the mail.

REAL ID Cards in Arkansas

An Arkansas REAL ID card is referred to as a Voluntary Enhanced Security ID card, and carries a gold star to differentiate it from non-compliant IDs. The term “REAL ID” refers to identification documents that comply with federal REAL ID standards. These standards require that applicants submit additional documentation of the highest caliber to verify their identities when they apply for REAL ID credentials.

Residents will need REAL ID as of October 1, 2020, if they wish to use their IDs as proof of identity when entering federal buildings or boarding domestic flights. Enhanced IDs can only be requested from regional revenue offices, not local ones. Residents with non-enhanced IDs will need supplemental or alternative documents to engage in those actions after the deadline.

In addition to the standard proofs necessary to apply for an ID, the following supplemental documents required for REAL ID must be provided at the time of application:

• Proof of Social Security Number (e.g. a Social Security card, W-2 form or Form 1099)
• Two proofs of residency (e.g. bills, paystubs, rental/lease agreements or tax returns)

How to Renew or Replace a State ID in Arkansas

If you have a damaged or lost ID card, you can order a replacement from any state revenue office. However, you will need the same documentation needed when you ordered your initial cards (e.g. one primary and one secondary document, or two primary documents). You will also need to pay a small replacement fee.

Similarly, cardholders will need to visit a revenue office to renew their cards. In most cases, ID cards require renewal less often than drivers licenses.

DMV replacement ID credentials or renewals may be available by mail in rare circumstances, such as for applicants serving out-of-state with the military. Cardholders in such situations should contact a revenue office for assistance and details.

DMV ID Costs in Arkansas

There are no differences in cost between Arkansas child identification card transactions and adult card transactions. However, standard DMV ID costs are consistently lower than those associated with drivers licenses, because no testing is involved.  Common fees include:

• State ID card: $5.
• Converting a regular ID to a Voluntary Enhanced (REAL ID) card: $5.
• Renew or replace an ID card: $5.

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