A New York state ID is a special type of photo identification credential for qualifying residents who do not operate motor vehicles. This type of card does not provide residents with driving privileges, but cardholders may use their ID credentials as valid proof of age, identity and address. Additionally, New York residents may obtain a non-driver identification credential at any age.
When obtaining an identification card, state residents may choose from three different types of non-driving credentials, including standard, enhanced or REAL ID-compliant cards. A standard card does not meet the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005, but enhanced or REAL-compliant cards do. While residents may use the standard ID card for identification purposes when boarding domestic flights, they may only do so until October 1, 2020. After this date, travelers must present a federally compliant form of identification. To learn more about the process of obtaining identification credentials, review the sections below.
As part of the New York DMV state ID requirements, residents may obtain an identification credential at any age, as long as they can apply in person to present proof of their age and identification. When applying for a new non-driver credential, however, parents or legal guardians must accompany applicants to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if they are younger than 16 years of age, or younger than 21 years of age and submitting a Statement of Identity and/or Residence by Parent/Guardian (MV-45) as verification of identity.
In addition to these ID card requirements, applicants must reside in New York and be U.S. citizens or have legal presence in the country. Customers must also be able to provide any required documents for the specific type of credential they wish to obtain.
“What do you need to get a state ID in New York?” is a frequently asked question posed by potential applicants. To obtain a standard identification credential that does not comply with federal security standards under the REAL ID Act, customers must provide their local DMV offices with proof of birthdate and six points of acceptable proof of name. As proof of birthdate, for instance, applicants may provide one of the following zero-point documents:
The proof of name documents needed for state ID eligibility differ from the above. These include:
Additionally, customers must provide payment for the DMV ID card fee, depending on the type of credential they wish to purchase. While fees vary, DMV offices accept cash, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express), personal checks and money orders as payment. If paying by check or money order, payments must be written out to the “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.” If necessary, customers may pay with multiple forms of payment.
In some situations, additional documents required for state ID eligibility may also be needed. For instance, beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and minors younger than 21 years of age must submit additional materials, along with the above documents. To learn more about situations such as these, review the sections below.
To get a reduced-fee DMV ID card in New York, recipients of the Supplemental Security Income program must present proof of their eligibility for SSI benefits. For instance, acceptable proof of eligibility includes a Notice of Award, a Cost of Living Adjustment Letter (also known as COLA) or a Benefit Verification Letter from the SSA.
To get a New York DMV identification card as a customer younger than 21 years of age, a parent or legal guardian may verify the applicant’s identity by completing a Statement of Identity and/or Residence by Parent/Guardian (MV-45). However, a parent or guardian must sign this form at the DMV office. As such, a parent or guardian must accompany the minor to the DMV office if the applicant wishes to use this form to verify his or her identity. Additionally:
To obtain a New York child ID card for a resident who is younger than 16 years of age, a parent or legal guardian may apply on behalf of the minor. To do so, the parent or guardian must visit a local DMV office to provide the following:
Knowing where to get state ID credentials in advance helps New York residents to get their new identification materials in less time. To obtain a new credential, applicants must complete the following steps:
Moreover, applicants cannot get ID online in New York, as all customers must complete the process in person, at a local DMV office. Before leaving the DMV office, customers will receive a temporary identification document that may be used until their permanent cards arrive in the mail.
After customers apply for ID credentials, they typically receive their new cards in the mail within two weeks. However, applicants may check the status of their orders using the online “Photo Document Mailing Status” system under the DMV’s website. To check the status of any order, customers must provide their names or ID credential numbers, genders, and dates of birth.
If customers do not receive their credentials within two weeks of applying, they may contact the DMV at 518-486-9786 or 1-800-662-1220 (to use TDD).
An enhanced ID card in NY meets the requirements of the REAL ID Act, unlike a standard identification credential. With this type of identification document (known as an ENDID), travelers can board domestic flights and enter military bases or certain federal buildings – without additional proof of ID. To obtain an ENDID, customers must apply in person, at a local DMV office to submit proof of age, identity, state residency, Social Security status and U.S. citizenship.
An enhanced state ID, however, differs from a REAL-compliant credential in several ways. Unlike REAL ID-compliant cards, New York residents may use enhanced credentials to cross U.S. borders by land or sea from countries such as Mexico, Canada and some parts of the Caribbean.
A REAL ID card in New York is a type of identification credential that meets federal security standards under the REAL ID Act of 2005. Beginning October 1, 2020, anyone who wishes to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities must present a REAL-compliant form of identification, as standard IDs will no longer be accepted for these purposes after this date. However, REAL-compliant cards are optional, as ENDIDs, passport books or passport cards also comply with these federal security standards.
To apply for REAL ID credentials, New York residents (or their parents) must visit a local DMV office to submit a Statement of Identity and/or Residence by Parent/Guardian (MV-45), if they are younger than 21 years of age. Customers must also submit an Application for Permit, Driver License or Non-Driver ID Card (MV-44).
Additionally, applicants must submit original or certified copies of required documents. These include the below:
When REAL ID-compliant DMV ID card applicants present proof of their SSNs, they must meet several additional requirements. For instance, they must submit an original Social Security card or W-2 form that includes their full Social Security Numbers if they have a valid state-issued identification credential, permit or driver’s license. If they do not hold a valid state-issued driver’s license, permit, or ID credential, they must bring a Social Security card or a letter of ineligibility from the SSA.
To learn more about the documents required for REAL ID eligibility, customers may use the DMV’s online Document Guide. This interactive tool helps applicants to create a personalized checklist of the different types of documents they must provide when applying for a REAL-compliant credential.
After submitting these required documents for REAL ID eligibility, customers must provide payment for the application fee and take a photograph for their new ID credentials.
Note: The state did not begin to issue REAL ID cards until October 30, 2017. If New York residents obtained a non-enhanced identification credential prior to this date, their current cards will not comply with the requirements under the REAL ID Act. However, residents may upgrade their standard credentials to enhanced or REAL ID-compliant cards at any time.
To replace a lost ID card in NY after the original goes missing, state residents may complete the process online, in person, at a DMV office, or by mail. If replacing a credential online or by mail, however, customers cannot upgrade their standard card to an enhanced or REAL ID-compliant credential.
In addition to obtaining a replacement ID card, New York residents may renew their identification credentials as early as one year before their cards are set to expire, but no more than two years after the stated date of expiration. To apply for renewal, residents may do so in person, online or by mail. If customers wish to upgrade their standard cards to enhanced or REAL ID-compliant credentials, however, they must visit a DMV office.
In most cases, fees vary by credential type, validation period and the age of the applicant. Additionally, senior applicants, recipients of the SSI program or those who apply for credentials within six months of their next birthdays may qualify for a discount on the purchase of a new credential. To learn more about these costs, review the sections below.
Standard DMV id costs in NY range between $0 and 13, depending on the specific situation. For instance, these fees include the following:
New York DMV ID prices for enhanced credentials range between $30 and $43, in addition to the cost of purchasing a standard, non-driver credential. For instance, several common fees include the following:
REAL ID-compliant New York identity card fees range between $0 and $13. For example, the costs of purchasing or renewing REAL-compliant credentials include the following:
To replace an ID card in NY, customers must pay from a different set of fees. These include:
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Last updated on Wednesday, March 4 2020.