On January 22, 2018, the CA DMV started to roll out the new REAL ID Driver License and ID Card. Now Californians have the option of requesting the federal compliant REAL ID Driver License or the federal non-compliant version.
Sample of a federal compliant REAL ID Driver License
The new REAL ID Driver License features images of golden poppies (the state’s flower), sailboats, an outline of the state through the background, and a Gold Rush miner to the card’s right side. Most importantly, the licenses will have new UV images, and will contain a white REAL ID star inside a golden bear logo signifying a federally compliant license.
The REAL ID is a federal-compliant identification document that will conform with the new federal requirements that will take effect October 1, 2020.
Currently, Californians can board domestic flights and enter secure federal facilities and military bases with their CA driver licenses and ID cards. After October 1, 2020, only federal approved identification documents such as the new REAL ID Driver License and ID Card, U.S. Passport, passport card, or military identification will be accepted for those purposes.
If you know you will not be boarding a domestic flight or visiting secure federal facilities or military bases, you do not need a REAL ID driver license or ID card.
The DMV will continue to issue the non-federal compliant driver license and ID Cards, and those will include a “Federal Limits Apply” designation.
Sample of a non-federal compliant Driver License
If you are interested in applying for a REAL ID, you will need to prove your identity by submitting additional documentation.
First, you will need to present one identity document, which shows your date of birth, correct true full name, and identity such as:
- Valid, unexpired U.S. Passport or Passport Card
- Certified copy of U.S. birth certificate (issued by a city, county, or state vital statistics office)
- U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad or Consular Report of Birth Abroad of U.S. Citizen
- Unexpired foreign passport with valid U.S. Visa and approved I-94 form.
- Certified copy of birth certificate from a U.S. Territory
- Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
- Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card
- Valid/unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card (I-766) or valid/expired EAD Card with Notice of Action (I-797C)
Then you will need ONE document that contains your full social security number (SSN). The applicant must present one of the following genuine documents bearing the name of the applicant and their full social security number:
- Social Security Card
- W-2 form
- Social Security Administration (SSA) 1099 form
- Non-SSA-1099 form
- Pay stub with full SSN
Next, you will need to present proof of California residency. You will need to present ONE document that contains your residential address, your first and last name and it must match the address on the REAL ID driver license or ID card application. If the residency document addressed to you is not readily available, there are work-arounds by using a residency document of another person you can prove a relationship to. Acceptable residency documents are:
- Rental or lease agreement with signatures of owner/landlord and tenant/resident
- Deed or title to residential real property
- Mortgage bill
- Home utility bills (including cell phone)
- School documents that include applicant’s date of birth, or if a foreign school document, is sealed by the school and includes a photograph of the applicant at the age the record was issued
- Medical documents
- Employment documents
- Insurance documents, including medical, dental, vision, life, home, rental and vehicle
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or California Franchise Board (FTB) tax return
- Change of Address Confirmation by the U.S. Postal Service
- Property tax bill or statement
- Faith-based documents, that include name and address of organization
- Records from a financial institution
- Voter registration confirmation letter or postcard
- Proof of payment of residential tuition
to list a few…
Once you have your documents in order you will go to the DMV (appointments are recommended) where the staff will verify all the documents presented. Your documents will be processed and returned to you.
To assist in the process of organizing the required documentation, the DMV has a pre-appointment checklist available online.
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On my current driver’s license I have my maiden name and married name with no hyphen. When I applied for the real ID the first time I was told I needed a copy of my marriage certificate, since I was using that last name. I had all my documents went to the DMV again and was told I cannot use two last names on a Real ID. Even though, my social security card has two last names and my previous driver’s license (that the DMV kept) had two last names. When I questioned why I could have two last names on my social security card, I was told it was not compliant with the State of California. What? I was told since I was married and wanted to use my married last name, I had to choose to use my maiden name or married name, but not both. Ladies be aware that even though it’s not clear on the paperwork you need for a real ID, if you want to use your married name you have to have at least a copy of your marriage certificate, regardless of what last name is on your current ID.
Thank you for this helpful tip.
Hi dear. I want to ask Driver License above the corner if there is no bear or word, it is fake or real.
A driver license issued before January 2018 will not have a bear or the words “Federal Limits Apply”. Those features began with the new IDs issued after January 2018. The issue date of the driver license can be verified in the lower right corner of the license. Not having a bear or the words does not mean the license is fake. It may have been issued before the Real IDs became available.