Getting an Alaska state ID can be an ideal option if you do not drive but you need a state-issued photo ID. An ID card serves the same official purpose as driver’s license, but it does not allow you to operate a motor vehicle. This card can otherwise prove your identity, your age, your residence and more.

An identification card will include your full legal name and residential address, along with other identifying characteristics and details. Your DMV ID card can also indicate your organ donor status, your veteran status and your eligibility to vote in your local area. Before you apply for this credential, however, review the differences between the standard and REAL ID below so you know which one suits your specific needs best.

Alaska DMV ID Requirements

The Alaska DMV state ID requirements are strict to ensure that only those who are eligible can hold this type of card. There are no age ID card requirements in Alaska, which means that children can also apply for these documents to serve as proof of their identity as necessary. The DMV ID card requirements are more thorough for the new REAL ID cards that are federally compliant, so be sure you review those specific lists if you want to apply for the new card.

What do you need to get an ID in Alaska?

Many often wonder, “What do you need to a state ID in Alaska?” While the requirements can seem confusing, you essentially just need to gather proof of your identity, citizenship or immigration status, and residency. The documents needed for a state ID include the following:

  1. Proof of your legal name, date of birth and citizenship (called the “primary document”)
    1. An original U.S. birth certificate or a certified copy.
    2. A valid U.S. passport.
    3. A foreign passport with appropriate immigration status forms.
    4. A Certificate of Citizenship, Naturalization, or Birth Abroad.
  2. If your legal name is different than what is printed on your primary document, you must bring document(s) that provide proof of your name change.
  3. A second document to verify your primary document:
    1. A permit or license from another state
    2. An employee ID
    3. A health insurance card
    4. A U.S. military ID
  4. Proof of your residential residence:
    1. Utility bill
    2. Alaska voter registration card
    3. Paycheck stub
    4. Mortgage or rental documentation
  5. Proof of your Social Security Number (SSN):
    1. Social Security card
    2. W-2 Form

How to Get an ID in Alaska

Knowing where to get a state ID in Alaska can make the process easier for you and much more efficient. You can get an ID online if it is a replacement ID or if you are renewing your card because it has or is about to expire. Simply visit the Alaska DMV website to complete the online application for renewal or replacement of your ID.

However, if you are applying for your first ID card, then you will have to visit a local DMV office in person or mail in your application if there is not DMV office near you. You can print the non-driver ID application at home before you visit the office or fill it out at the DMV. Note that, if you live in a rural area and are therefore allowed to mail in your application, you will not have a digital photo taken at a DMV office, so the license photo will be replaced with the phrase “Valid Without Photo.”

REAL ID Cards in Alaska

A REAL ID card can be obtained at a DMV office near you, which you must visit in person with the required supporting documentation as proof of your qualifications. While anyone can apply for a REAL ID, no one is required to obtain this particular type of card. However, as of October 1, 2020, any domestic air travel will require this type of card or another federally issued form of photo identification.

The types of documents required for a REAL ID in Alaska include the following:

  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of your U.S. Citizenship or legal presence in the country
  • Proof of your Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Proof of any name change (if applicable)
  • Two documents verifying your residency in Alaska

How to Renew or Replace a State ID in Alaska

If you have a lost Alaska ID card and need to replace it, you can easily do so online through the Alaska DMV website. A replacement ID card should arrive within two to four  weeks after you complete the online request. In the meantime, you can print a temporary duplicate card at home or visit a DMV office to obtain one there.

A DMV identification card can also be renewed online through the same DMV website. Processing the renewal could take three to five business days, at which time you will receive an emailed receipt and confirmation of your renewal. You can print that as a temporary renewed license until your new license arrives by mail in two to four weeks.

Note that your state ID card will only be renewed or replaced as the same type of card you previously held. This means that if you want a REAL ID but your expired or lost identification card was a standard card, then you must visit an appropriate DMV office in person to apply for the REAL ID card instead.

DMV ID Costs in Alaska

Are you wondering, “How much does an ID cost in Alaska?” The following options for the DMV ID cost are available, depending on your age and needs:

  • Standard state ID Card: $15
  • REAL ID state ID Card: $35
  • Standard state ID Card for residents aged 60 and older: Free
  • REAL ID state ID Card for residents aged 60 and older: $20
Last updated on Wednesday, March 4 2020.