Identification Requirements for a Texas Driver License or Identification Card
NOTE: This page only outlines the identification requirements for receiving a Texas driver license or identification card. You must still meet all other requirements for a driver license or ID card. Additional documents may be required for other requirements.
A driver license is no longer used solely as authorization to drive. The driver license or identification cards are the nationally accepted forms of identification, and both are used daily to establish identity. Therefore, the Department has the responsibility to correctly determine an applicant's identity before issuing a driver license or identification card.
To satisfy the identity verification requirement for a Texas driver license or identification card, every applicant must present either one piece of:
These items are complete within themselves and require no supporting instruments: These documents must contain the applicant's complete name and full date of birth.
| Primary identification |
Must include full name, date of birth, and photo |
Accepted for identification without additional documentation |
Texas driver license (DL) or identification certificate (ID) with photo and within two years of expiration date Unexpired United States passport book or passport card United States Citizenship Certificate or Certificate of Naturalization with identifiable photo (N-560, N-561, N-645, N-550, N-55G, N-570 or N-578) Unexpired DHS or USCIS document The document must contain verifiable data and identifiable photo. Examples include:
Foreign Passport, visa (valid or expired), and Form I-94 with an undefined expiration date (e.g., duration of status). Foreign Passport, visa (valid or expired) and Form I-94 with a defined expiration date. Unexpired United States military ID card for active duty, reserve, or retired personnel with identifiable photo. |
These items are recorded governmental documents (United States, one of the fifty states, a United States territory, District of Columbia, or Canadian province).
| Secondary identification |
Recorded governmental documents |
An applicant must present either:
two secondary documents or
one secondary and two supporting documents |
Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by the appropriate State Bureau of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or a Canadian province. A birth record issued by a hospital is not acceptable under this category. Original or certified copy of U.S. Dept. of State Certification of Birth Abroad (issued to U. S. citizens born abroad) (Form FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545) Original or certified copy of court order with name and date of birth (DOB) indicating an official change of name and/or gender from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Canadian province. |
These items consist of other records or documents that aid examining personnel in establishing the identity of the applicant. The following items are not all inclusive. The examining or supervisory personnel may determine that an unlisted document meets the department's needs in establishing identity.
| Supporting identification |
Additional records and documents that |
An applicant must present one secondary and two supporting documents to establish identity |
|
Social Security card (actual card) Forms W-2 or 1099 Numident record from the Social Security Administration Temporary receipt for a Texas driver license or ID (actual receipt) Driver license or ID issued by another U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Canadian province (unexpired or within two years of the expiration date) (actual card) * Expired Texas driver license or ID (expired more than two years) (actual card) School records* (e.g., report cards, photo ID cards) Military records (e.g., Form DD-214) Unexpired U.S. military dependant identification card (actual card) Original or certified copy of marriage license or divorce decree (U.S. jurisdiction or foreign jurisdiction – if the document is not in English, a certified translation must accompany it) Voter registration card (actual card)* Pilot's license (actual card)* Concealed handgun license (actual card)* Professional license issued by Texas state agency ID card issued by government agency* A valid consular document issued by a state or national government Texas Inmate ID card or similar form of ID issued by TDCJ TDCJ parole or mandatory release certificate Federal inmate identification card Federal parole or release certificate Medicare or Medicaid card (actual card) Selective Service card (actual card) Immunization records* Tribal membership card from federally-recognized tribe Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood Unexpired foreign passport Insurance policy (e.g., auto, home, life) (valid continuously for the past two years) Texas Vehicle title (TRC §521.144) Current Texas vehicle registration Current Texas boat registration or title Veteran’s Administration card (actual card) Hospital issued birth record* *This document must be issued by an institution, entity, or government from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Canadian province. |
Supervisory personnel may determine that an unlisted document meets the Department’s needs in establishing identity in the “supporting” category only. You must visit your local driver license office if you have questions regarding acceptable documents.
All documents must be verifiable by the source that issued the document. Additional documentation may be required by driver license personnel to verify conflicting information, incomplete names, and date of birth.
| Accessibility | Site Policies | TRAIL | TSIEC | Report Fraud, Waste or Abuse | American Recovery and Reinvestment ACT |
| Outlook Web Access | ETA Time Entry | Texas Homeland Security | Public Information Act | Compact with Texans | Espanol |
| The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities | Personnel Complaint Process (Espanol) | Customer Survey |
| Texas Fusion Center Privacy Policy | texas.gov |
© 2000-2011 Texas Department of Public Safety.