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wisconsindmv.gov
Acceptable Documents for a Wisconsin Driver License
or Identification Card Application
BDS316 /
When applying for an original
(first) Wisconsin instruction permit,
driver license or identification
card (ID), you must provide
acceptable documents showing:
y Proof of U.S. citizenship, legal
permanent resident status, legal
conditional resident status or
legal presence in the U.S.
y Proof of your name
and date of birth.
y Proof of identity.
y Proof of Wisconsin residency
if you are 18 years of age or
older (two proofs required for
REAL ID compliant card).
y Provide Social Security number.
» If you are not eligible for a
Social Security number, you
must sign form MV3741, Social
Security Number Non-Eligibility
Certification Statement.
Information for all documents
y Documents presented as proof
must be original. Photocopies
are not acceptable.
y Documents with a photograph
of a person will be accepted
only when the person
is readily recognizable
from the photograph.
y e Department will decline to
accept any document presented
if it has reason to suspect the
authenticity of the document.
y Questionable documents may
require additional review.
y A valid document is one
that is not expired.
Minimum stay requirements
for temporary visitors
(non-immigrants)
Legal presence documents must
show a minimum stay of:
y More than 12 months total
OR more than 6 months
remaining at the time of
application for a driver license.
y More than 6 months total
OR more than 3 months
remaining at the time of
application for a ID card.
If you legally change
your name, first update your
name with the Social Security
Administration and wait 48 hours
before going to the DMV.
When you visit the DMV to change
your name on your driver license
or ID card, you must present
proof of your name change.
Acceptable documents are:
y Certified marriage certificate
y Certified record of divorce
y Certified court order
y Valid unexpired U.S. passport
issued in your current name
REAL ID driver license and
ID card applicants
y If you present a valid, unexpired
U.S. passport in your current
name, you do not need
to present documents to
prove past name changes.
y If you do not present a valid,
unexpired U.S. passport in your
current name, you must present
documents to prove each name
change from birth to present.
Free ID and Identification
Card Petition Process (IDPP)
Getting a free ID for voting is
easy even if you do not have
the documentation to get a
regular Wisconsin ID!
y Go to the DMV to apply
y Bring the following, if available:
» Proof of Name and Date of Birth
(such as birth certificate)
» Proof of Identity
(Social Security card, Medicaid/
Medicare card, etc.)
» Wisconsin Residency
(Utility bill, government
mail, lease, etc.)
» Proof of U.S. Citizenship
(U.S. birth certificate or
citizenship paperwork)
» Social Security Number
y If you don’t have all or any of
these, you can still get an ID
for voting. Just bring what you
have to the DMV, fill out 2
forms and you will get a photo
ID document in the mail that
you can use in time for voting.
y Once enrolled in IDPP, DMV
will work with you to identify
any remaining documents
needed to continue with the
verification of your application.
y Once your application
materials are fully completed
and DMV has verified your
information, you will be issued
a Wisconsin Identification card.
Acceptable Documents for a Wisconsin Driver License or ID Card application
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Acceptable Documents for Proof of Legal Presence
FOR REAL ID COMPLIANT CARDS
1. Valid U.S. passport
or passport card
2. U.S. State or local government
issued certificate of birth
(certified copy only; birth
registration and hospital
certificates are not acceptable).
In accordance with Puerto
Rican law, as of October
30, 2010 Wisconsin will not
accept any Puerto Rican
birth certificate certified
before July 1, 2010. More
information at www.pr.gov.
3. If you obtained U.S. citizenship
through the adoption process
(Child Citizenship Act of
2000), and you do not possess
a valid U.S. passport, you
may provide evidence of U.S.
citizenship with the following
documents (please note that
a Certification of Birth Facts is
not an acceptable document):
» Proof of finalized
adoption and,
» Foreign passport from your
country of birth (valid or
expired), which may include
the temporary I-551 stamp or,
» I-551 Permanent Resident
card from the time that
you entered the U.S.
4. Consular Report of
Birth Abroad
5. Valid I-551, Permanent Resident
card issued by the Department
of Homeland Security
(DHS)/U.S. Citizenship and
immigration Services (USCIS).
Note: Non-expiring I-551
documents issued from 1977
to 1989 are acceptable.
6. U.S. Certificate of
Naturalization (federal
form N-550)
7. U.S. Certificate of Citizenship
(federal form N-560)
8. Unexpired foreign passport
with a valid unexpired U.S.
visa axed accompanied
by the approved I-94 form
documenting your most recent
admittance into the U.S.
9. Unexpired employment
authorization document
(federal form I-688B or I-766)
which is successfully verified
through the DHS/USCIS
Systematic Alien Verification for
Entitlements Program (SAVE)
FOR NON-COMPLIANT CARDS
Everything from the REAL ID
compliant list above, or:
10. Valid foreign passport with
appropriate immigration
documents, which shall
include or be accompanied
by federal form I-94, arrival
and departure record.
Note: e appropriate
immigration documents
determine legal presence,
not the passport itself.
11. Valid Temporary Resident I.D.
card (federal form I-688)
12. Valid refugee travel document
(federal form I-571)
13. Notice of Action
(federal form I-797)
Note: Document must
provide conclusive proof
of legal presence and be
accompanied by other
supporting documentation.
14. Transportation Worker
Identification Credential
(TWIC card) issued by
DHS/Transportation
Security Administration
15. U.S. Department of State
reception and placement
program assurance form
(refugee version) which shall
include or be accompanied
by federal form I-94, arrival
and departure record
16. Documentary proof
specified in s.343.14(2)(es),
Stats, that is approved by
the federal authority
a. Valid foreign passport
containing a valid non-
immigrant visa and I-94,
arrival and departure record
b. Valid foreign passport
containing an expired non-
immigrant visa and I-94,
arrival and departure record
c. Pending or approved
application for asylum
in the United States
d. Valid re-entry into the
United States in refugee
status I-327 or I-571
e. Pending or approved
application for temporary
protected status in
the United States
f. Approved deferred action
status (including the U.S.
Department of Homeland
Security’s Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals program)
or a pending application for
adjustment of status to legal
permanent resident status or
conditional resident status.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must present proof of legal presence every time you apply for a new card.
Acceptable Documents for a Wisconsin Driver License or ID Card application
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Acceptable Documents for Proof of Identity — FOR REAL ID COMPLIANT and NON-COMPLIANT CARDS
e following is a non-exhaustive list of documents acceptable as proof of identity. Per Trans 102.15 (4)(a),
any original and authentic document identifying the person by name and bearing the person’s signature,
a reproduction of the person’s signature, or a photograph of the person is acceptable.
1. A valid (or expired eight years or
less) photo driver license or photo
ID card issued by Wisconsin or
another jurisdiction, except a
province of the Dominion of
Canada
2. U.S. passport or passport card
valid or expired 5 years or less and
issued at age 16 or older
3. Military discharge papers
including certified copy of federal
form DD-214
4. U.S. government and military
dependent identification card
5. Marriage Certificate or certified
copy of Judgment of Divorce
6. Documents permitted under
proof of name and date of birth, if
it bears your photograph
7. W-2 form including your name,
address and Social Security
number
8. A parent or guardian having legal
custody identifies person under
the age of 18 and the parent or
guardian shows a valid Wisconsin
driver license or ID card
9. Transportation Worker
Identification Credential
(TWIC card), issued by DHS/
Transportation Security
Administration
10. A valid photo ID card from any
U.S. university, college, technical
college or high school. e card
must contain your name and
photograph.
11. Unexpired temporary driver
license or ID card receipt,
including receipts from other
jurisdictions
12. Social Security card issued by the
Social Security Administration
13. Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate
release ID card
13. Social Security Administration
SSA 1099 form
14. Non SSA 1099 form
15. Paystub with your name
and entire Social Security number
listed
16. Or provide BOTH of the following
documents:
a. An unexpired foreign passport
with a valid unexpired U.S.
visa axed, accompanied
by the approved I-94 form
documenting your most
recent admittance into
the United States
b. A document to demonstrate a
non-work authorized status
17. A government-issued product
from a federal, state, county or
city agency with the applicant’s
name and signature.
18. DOC Oender ID Card with
photograph and full name listed.
Acceptable Documents for Proof of Name and Date of Birth
FOR REAL ID COMPLIANT CARDS
1. Valid U.S. passport or
passport card
2. Certified birth certificate or
equivalent document from the
state, territory, or certificate of
birth abroad issued by U.S. Dept.
of State (federal forms
FS-545 or DS-1350). In
accordance with Puerto Rican
law, as of October 30, 2010
Wisconsin will not accept
any Puerto Rican birth
certificate certified before July
1, 2010. More information at
www.pr.gov Canadian birth
certificates are not acceptable.
3. Consular Report of Birth Abroad
4. Valid I-551, Permanent Resident
card issued by DHS/USCIS.
Note: Non-expiring I-551
documents issued from 1977
to 1989 are acceptable.
5. U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
(federal form N-550)
6. Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
(federal form N-560)
7. Unexpired Employment Authoriza-
tion document (I-688B or I-766)
8. Unexpired foreign passport
with a valid unexpired U.S.,
visa axed, accompanied
by the approved I-94 form
documenting your most recent
admittance into the U.S.
FOR NON-COMPLIANT CARDS
Everything from the REAL ID
Compliant list above, or:
9. A foreign passport with federal I-551
resident alien registration receipt
card or federal I-94 arrival and
departure record that identifies your
first and last names, and your day,
month and year of birth
10. USCIS Reception and Placement
Program Assurance Form
11. A Wisconsin driver license
bearing your photograph
12. A Wisconsin identification
card issued under §.343.50,
bearing your photograph
13. Federal I-94 Arrival/Departure
Record (Parole or Refugee
version) and MV3002
14. Federal I-94 Arrival/Departure
Record (Refugee version)
15. A federal temporary resident
card or employment
authorization card
(federal form I-688, I-688A)
16. Native American Identification
card issued in Wisconsin
17. Court order with your full
name, date of birth and court
seal. (is does not include
an abstract of criminal
or civil convictions).
18. Armed forces of the U.S.
ID card issued to military
personnel; Common Access
card or DD Form 2.
19. Dept. of State Transportation
Boarding Letter
Acceptable Documents for a Wisconsin Driver License or ID Card application
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Acceptable Documents for Proof of Wisconsin Residency
FOR REAL ID COMPLIANT and
NON-COMPLIANT CARDS
All documents for proof of Wisconsin
residency must contain your name
and current Wisconsin address.
REAL ID compliant cards require
two (2) proofs of residency.
Printed electronic copies
are acceptable for the
following documents.
1. Paycheck, stub or earning
statement with your employer’s
name and address
2. Utility bill for water, gas,
electricity or land-line
telephone service. Includes
cable and internet services
3. Mobile phone bill
4. Financial statements: bank
statement for a checking,
savings, money market or
brokerage account; credit card
statement or loan statement
for auto, home or personal
5. Valid Wisconsin hunting license
6. Medical billing statement
from doctor or hospital
7. Service welcome letters:
includes bank, credit
card, utility and others
8. Insurance documents for
auto, health, home, life and
rental: may include welcome
letters, billing statements
or explanation of benefits
e following documents must
be originals. Printed electronic
copies are not acceptable.
9. Deed/title, mortgage, rental/
lease agreement for Wisconsin
property (lease must include
your landlord’s name)
10. Government-issued
correspondence or product
issued from a federal, state,
county or city agency
(original or certified copy)
a. Benefit statements and
enrollment confirmation
letters regarding programs
such as Quest or Forward are
acceptable for beneficiaries
and their dependents,
but the cards are not.
b. Change of address confirmation
letters from USPS
c. Unexpired concealed
carry license
11. Department of Corrections
documentation: Letters
from probation/parole
agents on letterhead
12. Report card, school transcript
or certified school record
13. College enrollment
documentation or Form 2019,
Certificate of Eligibility for
Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status,
with a current Wisconsin
address. Includes college
acceptance letters, financial
aid documentation or
tuition statement
14. A photo identification
card issued by a Wisconsin
accredited university,
college or technical college
that contains the photo
and address of student
15. Employee photo ID card
issued by current employer
16. Tribal identification card
17. Homeless Shelter
Documentation.
Documentation from a
homeless shelter or social
service organization providing
services to homeless individuals.
e letter should identify the
individual, describe the location,
include the address for the
person to accept mail and be
on letterhead signed by a social
services representative.
18. Wisconsin driver license
or ID card (can be expired)
with your current Wisconsin
address on the card
19. Parent or guardian may present
their Wisconsin driver license
or ID card. Address on record
must match with the child’s
current address on record
for people under age 26.
20. Federal Bureau of Prisons
inmate release ID card
