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Obtaining Your Florida Driver License or Identification Card

New - October 1, 2008
Effective October 1, 2008, there are several changes as to the acceptable documentation that customers must present to obtain an original driver license or identification card in Florida.
  • Customers must present proof of social security number, if issued (for example, social security card or any of the following documents showing your social security number: tax return, W-2 form, pay check, DD-214, school record)
  • All passports, permanent resident cards and employment authorization cards presented as proof of identification or legal presence must be valid. Expired documents will not be accepted.
  • The department will no longer accept driver licenses or identification cards issued by other states as primary identification. Out-of-state licenses will be used as a secondary form of documentation to reciprocate driving privileges.
  • All customers must present proof of residential address


More Information

General Information for Everyone



Where to Write for Vital Records

Updated February 3, 2009

United States Citizens

Florida law requires identification, proof of date of birth, proof of residential address, and proof of social security number (if issued, Chapter 322, Florida Statutes, requires the Department see proof of social security number for the issuance of driver license and identification cards) from all customers before a driver license or identification card can be issued. The name assigned to the social security number must match the name that will appear on the Florida driver license or identification card. If you have recently changed your name, update your records with the Social Security Administration before you apply for your license or identification card. Each U.S. citizen who applies for an original driver license or identification card must submit:

I. Proof of Residential Address

II. Proof of Social Security Number

III. Primary Identification - One of the following (3) documents:

  1. Certified United States birth certificate, including territories and District of Columbia (the birth certificate must be issued by a government agency. Hospital birth certificates cannot be accepted); or
  2. Valid United States passport; or
  3. Certificate of Naturalization
  • NOTE: Proof of citizenship or legal presence may be required for renewal or replacement licenses. Please come prepared to present one of the above identification documents as proof of citizenship or legal presence.
  • When necessary, marriage certificates, court orders, or divorce decrees must be provided to tie the name on the primary identification to the name the customer would like to place on the driver license or identification card.

IV. Secondary Identification - one secondary document, which substantiates the primary document, is required. Document may include, but is not limited to, the original or certified copy of one of the following. A second primary identification can be used as the required secondary identification.

  1. A driver license from the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, or one of our 50 states.
  2. School record stating date of birth, which must contain the registrar’s signature.
  3. Transcript of the birth record filed with a public officer charged with the duty of recording certificates.
  4. Baptism certificate, which shows date of birth and the place of baptism.
  5. Family Bible record or birth announcement in a baby book
  6. An insurance policy on the customer’s life which has been in force for at least two years and has the month, day and year of birth.
  7. United States military or military dependent identification card.
  8. An identification card from the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, or one of our 50 states.
  9. Florida license record or identification card record.
  10. Selective Service Registration (Draft Card).
  11. Florida Vehicle Registration certificate (HSMV 83399, owner’s copy) obtained from the tax collector’s office where the customer’s vehicle was registered, Florida, or out-of-state registration certificate, if name and date of birth are shown.
  12. Florida and out-of-state non-driver identification cards (state issued).
  13. Receipt copy of your last Florida driver license issuance.
  14. Immigration form I-571.
  15. Federal form DD-214 (military record).
  16. Marriage certificate.
  17. Court order, which includes legal name.
  18. A Florida voter registration card, which was issued at least 3 months previously.
  19. Personal identification by an examiner or by a person well known to the examiner.
  20. Social Security Card
  21. Parent consent form of minor, signed by the parent or legal guardian
  22. Government issued out-of-country passport, driver license, or identification card
  23. Concealed Weapons Permit

Name Change for United States Citizens

If you have legally changed your name by marriage or court order, you must submit the original or a certified copy of your marriage certificate or court order. No photocopies will be accepted unless certified by the issuing authority.


Non-United States Citizens

Original Driver License or Identification Card Florida law requires identification, proof of date of birth, proof of residential address, and proof of social security number (if issued, Chapter 322, Florida Statutes, requires the Department see proof of social security number for the issuance of driver license and identification cards) from all customers before a driver license or identification card can be issued. The name assigned to the social security number must match the name that will appear on the Florida driver license or identification card. If you have recently changed your name, update your records with the Social Security Administration before you apply for your license or identification card.

Immigrants

I. Proof of Residential Address

II. Proof of Social Security Number

III. Primary Identification - Each immigrant who applies for an original driver license or identification card must submit:

  1. Valid Alien Registration receipt card, (Green card, Form I-551); or

  2. I-551 stamp in passport or on I-94; or

  3. Immigration Judges Order, with the customer's A-number, granting asylum; or

  4. I-797, with the customer's A-number, stating the customer has been granted asylum; or

  5. I-797 or another form from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the customer's A-number, stating the customer's application for Refugee status is approved

IV. Secondary Identification - One secondary document, which substantiates the primary document.The list of secondary indentification is listed above under Section IV for U.S. Citizens.

Non-Immigrants


I. Proof of Residential Address

II. Proof of Social Security Number

III. Primary Identification - Each non-immigrant who applies for an original driver license or identification card must submit:

  1. Employment authorization card issued by the United States Department of Justice (Form I688B or I-766); or

  2. Proof of nonimmigrant classification provided by United States Department of Justice (Form I-94, not expired, with required supporting attachment(s). If in doubt regarding required documents, please bring all of your US BCIS documentation with you.). I-94s must be accompanied by a Passport. Certain classifications require additional documentation. Some examples are:
  • F-1 and M-1 classification must also be accompanied by an I-20.
  • I J-1 or J-2 designation must be accompanied by an IAP-66.
  • Refugee, asylee and parolee classifications must be accompanied by additional documentation.
  1. I-571 Travel Document/Refugee Travel Permit**
  2. I-512 Parole Letter Accepted**
  3. IJO- Asylum or Cancellation of Removal - Immigration Judges Order granting Asylum or Cancellation of Removal.**
    • All required and supporting documents MUST be original or certified.
    • Documents must be valid for more than 30 days from the date of issuance.
    • Non-U.S. citizens applying for an original driver license will be issued a 30-day, no photo, paper temporary permit and a receipt. Non-U.S. citizens applying for an identification card will be issued a receipt.
    • All records are transmitted to our database in Tallahassee, where the information will be examined and run against FDLE, FBI and US BCIS databases.
    • Upon identity and legal status verification, a driver license or identification card will be issued within 30 days from Tallahassee, mailed to the address on the driver record. The license or identification card will be issued for the period of time specified on the US BCIS document, up to a maximum of one year.
    • If a problem is detected, a denial of issuance letter will be mailed to the customer.

** These documents will only be accepted with a supporting document, including but not limited to a Passport, Florida Driver License or Identification Card, Driver License from any other state, Employment Authorization Card, Employer Identification, Identification from home country, Identification from school or college, Social Security Card (Chapter 322, Florida Statutes, requires the Department to see proof of social security number for the issuance of driver license and identification cards) or other US BCIS document.

IV. Secondary Identification - One secondary document, which substantiates the primary document The list of secondary identification is listed above under section IV for U.S. Citizens.

Canadian Citizens

Original Driver License or Identification Card Florida law requires identification, proof of date of birth, proof of residential address, and proof of social security number (if issued, Chapter 322, Florida Statutes, requires the Department see proof of social security number for the issuance of driver license and identification cards) from all customers before a driver license or identification card can be issued. The name assigned to the social security number must match the name that will appear on the Florida driver license or identification card. If you have recently changed your name, update your records with the Social Security Administration before you apply for your license or identification card.

I. Proof of Residential Address

II. Proof of Social Security Number (if issued)

III. Primary Identification - each Canadian Citizen is required to provide one of the following primary identification documents:

  1. Valid Canadian passport
  2. Original or certified Canadian birth certificate
  3. Canadian Naturalization Certificate
  4. Canadian Certificate of Citizenship

IV. Secondary Identification - One secondary document, which substantiates the primary document. The list of secondary identification is listed above under section IV for U.S. citizens.

All Canadian citizens will be issued an original or renewal driver license for one calendar year from the date of issue.

 

If you are not a Canadian citizen and have a Canadian driver license, you are required to provide the same proof of legal presence as any other non-U.S. citizen.

Renewals or Replacements for Non-United States Citizens
  • Any immigrant holding a driver license or identification card who needs a renewal, or replacement driver license or identification card must apply in person at a driver license office at least one time after March 1, 2002, and re-present his/her identification documents, proof of social security number (if issued) and proof of residential address is required by Florida law for each driver license and identification card application.
  • Any non-immigrant holding a driver license or identification card who needs a renewal, or replacement driver license or identification card must apply in person at a driver license office and present identification, legal presence documents, proof of social security number (if issued) and proof of residential address.
  • If you do not have the required documents showing legal presence, your driver license or identification card will be retained and a receipt issued. If you have an unexpired driver license, you will be issued a 30-day temporary permit. When you return with the required documentation, you will be processed for a renewal or replacement license and the expiration date will be changed to the expiration date on your USCIS document.
Name Change for Non-United States Citizens
  • If you have legally changed your name by marriage or court order, you must have your name changed on your Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS) documents.
  • Canadian Citizens: If you have legally changed your name by marriage or court order, you must have your name changed on your Canadian license, and/or passport before applying for a name change on your driver license or identification card.
  • Proof of residential address
  • Proof of social security number (if issued)

 


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