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How to Apply for a California Identification Card

Updated on Mon, 2/6/2012

The California Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues non-driver identification cards to State residents who don't have a valid ID card, driver license or instruction permits from the State or any other jurisdiction. The ID card can be used to prove your identity, age, and residence in a variety of situations. The identification card is valid for six years and if you are older than 62, it is valid for ten years. The ID card expires on your birthday six years after it was issued.

APPLYING FOR A CALIFORNIA ID CARD

  1. Locate the Office of Division of Motor Vehicles nearest you, as you will have to apply for the ID card in person. You cannot apply online. You can call to make an appointment.
  2. Complete the Driver License/Identification Card application (DL 44). No copies will be accepted.
  3. Give a thumb print, have your picture taken, and provide the exact address. Bring proper identification for date of birth and legal presence. You will be asked to present one piece of document with your acceptable date of birth/legal presence and one piece of acceptable true full name document.
  4. You must also provide proof of your social security number (SSN). This will be verified with the Social Security Administration in your presence.
  5. Pay the ID card application fee, currently $23. The California DMV also has a reduced ID fee for people who meet income requirements with a public assistance program. There is no fee for ID card for a senior citizen (age 62 or older). Confirm the exact fee with your local DMV Office.
  6. You must also surrender any valid driver license or instruction permit issued by the state of California or any other jurisdiction.
  7. Your new ID will be mailed to you in the next 60 days; if not received, call 1-800-777-0133 to check the status.

RENEWING A CALIFORNIA ID CARD

  1. Locate the Office of Division of Motor Vehicles nearest you, as you will have to apply for the ID card in person. You cannot apply online. You can call to make an appointment.
  2. Complete the Driver License/Identification Card application (DL 44). No copies will be accepted.
  3. Give a thumb print, have your picture taken, and provide the exact address. Bring proper identification for date of birth and legal presence. You will be asked to present one piece of document with your acceptable date of birth/legal presence and one piece of acceptable true full name document.
  4. You must also provide proof of your social security number (SSN). This will be verified with the Social Security Administration in your presence.
  5. Pay the ID card application fee, currently $23. The California DMV also has a reduced ID fee for people who meet income requirements with a public assistance program. There is no fee for ID card for a senior citizen (age 62 or older). Confirm the exact fee with your local DMV Office.
  6. Your new ID will be mailed to you in the next 60 days; if not received, call 1-800-777-0133 to check the status.

REPLACING A LOST, STOLEN, OR DESTROYED ID CARD

You may be issued a replacement identification card if your original ID card has been lost, stolen or destroyed, or if you have had a name or address change.

  1. Locate the Office of Division of Motor Vehicles nearest you, as you will have to apply for the ID card in person. You cannot apply online. You can call to make an appointment.
  2. Complete the Driver License/Identification Card application (DL 44). No copies will be accepted.
  3. Give a thumb print, have your picture taken, and provide the exact address. Bring proper identification for date of birth and legal presence. You will be asked to present one piece of document with your acceptable date of birth/legal presence and one piece of acceptable true full name document.
  4. You must also provide proof of name change, if applicable.
  5. You must also provide proof of your social security number (SSN). This will be verified with the Social Security Administration in your presence.
  6. Pay the ID card application fee, currently $23. The California DMV also has a reduced ID fee for people who meet income requirements with a public assistance program. There is no fee for ID card for a senior citizen (age 62 or older). Confirm the exact fee with your local DMV Office.
  7. Your new ID will be mailed to you in the next 60 days; if not received, call 1-800-777-0133 to check the status.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • Former State residents moving back to California may be eligible to apply for a renewal or replacement ID card, depending on the validity of their original identification card. Those whose California ID cards expired more than one year ago must apply for an original ID card.
  • See also Applying for a New License.
  • See also Change of Address.

Reviews of How to Apply for a California Identification Card

Submitted by cynthia805 on Wed, 01/11/2012 - 23:16.

My friend is Saipan USA she only has her passport can she apply for a california ID

Submitted by kitsyamila on Fri, 01/06/2012 - 00:42.

how could i get id card if iam in a proses of greencard appl and i need my id to get my figer prints and dmv would not give me id cause i dont have an id iam stuck in a circle please help i need to get my id than license

Submitted by hanglang on Wed, 11/09/2011 - 21:58.

I need to renew my Drivers License but I have an outstanding ticket for not wearing a seat belt. I lost my job and was unable to pay ticket. Now the ticket has mushroomed to over $700.00. I have a company that wants to hire me but I need a Drivers License, but I am unable to pay the fine until I get a paycheck. What options do I have???

Submitted by Chan Young Kim on Tue, 11/01/2011 - 15:59.

I moved from california to New York ,and I lost california driver lisense and it also expired. So I need get ny driver lisense but they said I need to prove that you had lisense or not . how can i do ?

Submitted by sceden on Wed, 08/31/2011 - 23:37.

How do you acquire a duplicate ID card if the applicant is unable to go to the local DMV office?

Submitted by feliciano sy on Tue, 10/04/2011 - 01:48.

i have no time to go to dmv officebecause my day off from mywork is one day only and itsunday no office lastsept. 2009 the dmv office send me renewal by mail my senior citizen identification card no. isd4541199.

Submitted by calma4031 on Wed, 08/31/2011 - 21:03.

I am visiting California and was given 6 months to see the country. I would like to drive here in California. Is it possible to apply for a California Driver's License?

Submitted by waleyhahaha on Sat, 07/23/2011 - 17:32.

how many year would the ID card valid for if i use my h1 visa to apply for? my h1 visa only valid till 2013.

Submitted by waleyhahaha on Sat, 07/23/2011 - 17:29.

I need to renew my drivers license but i do not have the approval for my H1b visa yet but i do have a receipt from uscis ...will DMV honor that . I need help and information please.

Submitted by marylouelias on Thu, 06/30/2011 - 23:34.

how can i get my identification number. i lost my i.d and i need my I.D. number to get in my jobs system and i cannot wait two weeks fro a new one.

Submitted by alejas on Wed, 11/30/2011 - 04:49.

How do u get your I'd number?

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 05/06/2011 - 18:23.

My Uncle has miss placed his CID and we need to apply for a duplicate. He has alhasmer (not spell correctly) my question to you is. How to get a duplicate without bring him in the DMV.?

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 05/05/2011 - 02:40.

Ok if only had my birth cirtifitit and my passport can I still apply for Cali ID

Can someone help me

Submitted by marivic1 on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 07:25.

Ok if only had my birth cirtifitit and my passport can I still apply for Cali ID

Can someone help me

.

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 03/31/2011 - 23:14.

i just want yo say the is goiun to be a year annd i haven recevede m daughers id.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 03/18/2011 - 19:56.

There is a problem with this, you currently cannot get a SSN without a California picture ID card or passport, so how can you possibly get an ID card? No ID card, no SSN card; No SSN card, No ID card... how does this work if you cannot get one without the other? Something needs to be done regarding this ridiculous system.

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 05:24.

i lost my id and need a replacement so i can get my social security so wht do i do sincve i dont hav ssn but i do have birth certificate

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 00:26.

Its been 3 months and i still havent gotten my id what do i do

Submitted by jennlaw1960@yah... on Tue, 11/29/2011 - 22:24.

deleted

Submitted by radlparvar on Wed, 08/17/2011 - 07:55.

I don't received yet my ID card it is 5 months what can I do?

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 23:51.

My wife lost her california ID. Since then, we have been waiting 14 months right now. We really need help here because we dont know what to do right now.

Every time we are in the office, we have the typical answer.......... please, can you come back in two months ??

please, help.

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 21:20.

I called the DMV, left a call back number and they did call me back within an hour.

My ID is expired and I do not have my social security card or birth certificate and once they heard that - all I heard was that's a boomer and they hung up. Gave me dial tone.

I have my most recent W2 which has my social security number on it and I wanted to verify if that I would be ok. Anyway, I hope he has a nice day. Hopefullly, he won';t ever be on the other end requesting information and get that kind of assistance.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 01/25/2011 - 20:49.

i've been waiting for my id for more than three months. What do i do to get it!

Submitted by marj24 on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 02:19.

I need to renew my drivers license but i do not have the approval for my H1b visa yet but i do have a receipt from uscis ...will DMV honor that . I need help and information please.

Submitted by lopez9 on Tue, 12/29/2009 - 20:03.

I'm A kid who wants to apply for A California ID Card But what do I need to Apply.

What are the things I need to Apply for this please help me.

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:47.

Yeah can't someone help us cuz I'm also a kid

Submitted by pallavijadon on Thu, 12/24/2009 - 21:32.

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Submitted by Filla on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 02:13.

I need to make appointment for hubby to turn in CDL and get CA Id..(Parkinsons)

Submitted by ximrita on Tue, 05/05/2009 - 02:46.

i'm from cali & i came to visit ny, my ID got cut up & i tried to go to the NY DMV but they said i need my social security card, so i tried to get my social security card, but they said i need my ID.. so i tried a different DMV & they said they don't do california ID replacements.. what do i do?

Submitted by LANICANIGGA on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 08:09.

YEAH HOW DO I MAKE AN APOIMENT ON LINE?

Submitted by sky on Fri, 02/20/2009 - 02:55.

I am in the air force and I am originally from california. I have a current cdl on file but I lost it. I can not file a change of address without knowing my cdl given date. I also need a new cdl but you do not do that over the internet. Please email me with a little help

Submitted by noel m echalas on Sun, 02/01/2009 - 03:02.

I went to DMV a couple of months just to renew my new California ID, i brought my old and new passport together with my reciept from USCIS with my new greencard, but the DMV is looking for a stamp visa for my new passport which i don't have it. Please help me how to go to any office just to make a stamp of visa for my new passport which DMV asking me to do.

Thank you.

Submitted by mint on Wed, 10/19/2011 - 09:38.

you are just renewing your id? it means they already checked your background information 6 years ago when they issued your original identification card. i dont see any reason why they would require a stamped visa when you are already a LEGAL IMMIGRANT in america.