REAL ID Documents Checklist for 2027: What to Bring to the DMV

Most people who leave the DMV without a REAL ID weren’t missing some obscure form. They brought a photocopy of their birth certificate instead of a certified one. Or both of their proof-of-address documents went to a P.O. box. Or the name on their birth certificate doesn’t match the name on their license, and the marriage certificate that connects the two was sitting in a drawer at home.

The federal rule behind REAL ID is short. Your state has to see proof of four things before it can put the star on your card. Every state’s document list is longer than that, but each item on it fits into one of those four groups. Get each group right and the visit is routine.

The Four Things Every REAL ID Applicant Must Prove

What you’re proving	How many documents	Common examples
Identity, date of birth, and U.S. citizenship or lawful status	1	Certified U.S. birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, green card, Employment Authorization Document
Social Security number	1	Social Security card, W-2, SSA-1099 or other 1099, pay stub showing your full SSN
Current address in your state	2	Utility bill, bank statement, lease, mortgage statement, insurance policy, tax bill
Legal name change (only if your name has changed)	1 for each change	Certified marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order

Bring originals or certified copies. DMVs routinely refuse photocopies, laminated Social Security cards, and pictures of documents on your phone. Illinois, for example, states that images from a cellphone are not accepted, though you can print a statement you received electronically.

Proof of identity and lawful status

For most U.S.-born applicants, this is a certified birth certificate issued by a state or county vital records office. It usually has a raised or multicolored seal. The decorative certificate the hospital gave your parents doesn’t count. If you can’t find yours, order a certified copy before you book your appointment. Our guide to birth certificate documents explains what the vital records office will ask you for.

A valid U.S. passport is often the easier choice. It proves identity, date of birth, and citizenship in one document, and in several states it also removes the need for name-change paperwork when the passport already shows your current name. If yours is expired or close to it, see what you need for a new or renewed passport.

Naturalized citizens can use a Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship. Lawful permanent residents use their green card. Other noncitizens may use an unexpired Employment Authorization Document or a foreign passport with a valid visa and I-94. For temporary visitors, the REAL ID usually expires when their authorized stay ends. If your green card or work permit is about to expire, deal with that first. These guides cover green card renewal and work permit renewal.

Proof of your Social Security number

You don’t always need the card itself. Most states accept a W-2, a 1099, or a recent pay stub, as long as it shows your full nine-digit number and your name. A stub that shows only the last four digits won’t work.

The name on this document matters more than people expect. Minnesota, for example, tells applicants who changed their name to update it with the Social Security Administration before applying for a REAL ID. If your card is lost or still shows an old name, here is what you need to get a Social Security card reissued.

Two proofs of residency

This is where most applications fall apart. Both documents need your name and your current physical address in that state. P.O. boxes don’t qualify. Many states also want bills and statements to be recent, often dated within the last 60 or 90 days. Illinois, for one, wants bank statements dated within 90 days.

If you’ve just moved, update your address with your bank, insurer, and utility companies first so the next statements arrive with the right address. Filing a USPS change of address helps, but it won’t count as proof of residency in most states. If you’re coming from another state, compare this list with what you’ll need to transfer your driver’s license to a new state, and check how long you have to update your license after moving.

Living with parents or a partner and nothing is in your name? Many states have a residency affidavit. The person you live with signs it and brings their own proof of address. Ask your DMV which form it uses.

Name-change documents: the paper trail rule

The DMV needs to connect the name on your identity document to the name you use today. If you married once and took your spouse’s name, one certified marriage certificate does it. If you married, divorced, and remarried, you may need every document in the chain.

Two common fixes:

• Order a certified copy from the county clerk or vital records office if you only have the decorative certificate from your ceremony. See how to get a certified marriage certificate.
• If you changed your name by court order, bring the certified order. Our name change documents guide covers how to get one.

Check Your Documents the Night Before

1. Lay every document side by side and confirm the names match, or that a name-change document links each version.
2. Check the dates on both proof-of-address documents.
3. Make sure your birth certificate is a certified copy, not a photocopy or hospital keepsake.
4. Look for your state’s online pre-application. Many DMVs let you upload or list documents in advance, which shortens the visit.
5. Confirm the fee and which payment methods your office takes.

Do You Actually Need a REAL ID?

You need a REAL ID, or another accepted ID, to board domestic flights, to enter most federal facilities, and to enter nuclear power plants. You don’t need one to drive, vote, open a bank account, apply for federal benefits, or visit a post office or hospital.

Plenty of travelers already hold something TSA accepts instead:

If you already have…	Can you fly domestically without a REAL ID?
Valid U.S. passport or passport card	Yes
Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST card	Yes
U.S. military ID (including dependent IDs)	Yes
Green card	Yes
Enhanced driver’s license from Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington	Yes
Standard license with no star, and none of the above	Only by paying TSA’s ConfirmID fee

Children under 18 traveling with an adult don’t need to show ID at TSA checkpoints. For the full list, see what ID you need to fly. Military families can also check the military dependent ID documents guide.

Flying Without a REAL ID in 2027: the $45 ConfirmID Fee

Since February 1, 2026, adults who arrive at a TSA checkpoint without a REAL ID or other accepted ID can still try to fly by paying a $45 fee for TSA ConfirmID, an alternative identity check. A few details matter:

• Pay online at tsa.gov/ConfirmID before you get to the airport. You’ll get a receipt by email.
• One payment covers a 10-day travel window, which fits most round trips.
• The fee is nonrefundable, and paying it doesn’t guarantee TSA can confirm who you are.
• The extra screening can take up to 30 minutes, so you could miss your flight.

We break down who has to pay and how the process works in our TSA ConfirmID fee explainer. If your license recently expired, read whether you can fly with an expired driver’s license. Flights to U.S. territories follow the same rules; see REAL ID for Puerto Rico flights.

REAL ID vs. Standard License vs. Enhanced License

Feature	Standard license	REAL ID	Enhanced license
Domestic flights	No (ConfirmID fee applies)	Yes	Yes
Driving	Yes	Yes	Yes
Land and sea entry from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean	No	No	Yes
How to spot it	Often says “Federal Limits Apply”	Star in the upper corner	Flag or “Enhanced” marking
Where available	All states	All states	MI, MN, NY, VT, WA

Special Situations

You don’t drive. You can get a REAL ID–compliant state ID card instead of a license, with the same four groups of documents. See state ID card documents. Several states reduce or waive the fee for older adults; here’s how free state IDs for seniors work.

You were born at home or your birth was never recorded. Ask your state’s vital records office about a delayed birth certificate. Some DMVs also have an exceptions process for applicants who can’t get standard documents.

Your naturalization certificate is lost or damaged. You’ll need a replacement from USCIS on Form N-565. Here’s what to file to replace a naturalization certificate.

You’re upgrading at renewal time. Most states let you switch to REAL ID at your next renewal, but the first REAL ID must be done in person. The DMV has to see your original documents and take a new photo.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a REAL ID required to drive?

No. A standard license is still valid for driving in every state. REAL ID only matters for federal purposes like flying.

Can I use my passport instead of getting a REAL ID?

Yes. A valid U.S. passport or passport card works at every TSA checkpoint. Many travelers who already have one skip the REAL ID upgrade.

Will TSA accept the temporary paper license the DMV gives me?

No. TSA doesn’t accept temporary paper licenses or IDs. If your card hasn’t arrived by your flight date, bring a passport or another accepted ID.

Do I need my original Social Security card?

Usually not. Most states accept a W-2, a 1099, or a pay stub with your full number. Check your state’s list, because a few are stricter.

Can I apply for a REAL ID online?

Not for your first one. You can often start the application online, but you have to finish it in person so the DMV can inspect your originals and take your photo.

How much does a REAL ID cost?

It depends on your state. Some charge the regular license fee if you upgrade at renewal. Others charge a separate duplicate or upgrade fee. Your DMV’s fee page has the exact amount.

Is a digital driver’s license accepted at the airport?

TSA accepts digital IDs from participating states and wallet apps at some checkpoints as part of ongoing testing. Carry your physical card too, since not every airport or lane can read a digital ID.