Customers may obtain Minnesota state ID credentials as proof of age, identity and address, if they do not hold a driver’s license, or they are too young to legally drive motor vehicles in the state. To obtain an ID card for these purposes, applicants do not need to meet any age requirements, unless they wish to upgrade their standard credentials to enhanced cards. To obtain the enhanced card, applicants must be at least 16 years of age.

While an identification card serves as valid proof of photo ID, Minnesota residents may wish to purchase a REAL ID-compliant credential prior to October 1, 2020. While REAL IDs are optional, purchasing this type of credential is a convenient alternative to boarding domestic flights or entering federal facilities with a passport as proof of identification. To learn more about the process of applying for identification credentials such as these, review the sections below.

Minnesota DMV ID Requirements

Most Minnesota ID card requirements vary slightly by credential type. While there are no minimum age requirements to obtain a standard identification credential in the state, all customers must be U.S. citizens and residents of Minnesota. In addition to these standard identification requirements, Minnesota residents may purchase a REAL ID credential at any age, but those who wish to obtain an enhanced card must be at least 16 years of age.

Note: Like DMV state ID requirements in many other jurisdictions, Minnesota residents may not obtain identification credentials if they already hold a valid driver’s license. If customers hold a limited license, however, this rule does not apply to them.

What do you need to get an ID in Minnesota?

“What do you need to get a state ID in Minnesota?” customers may wonder. To purchase a standard identification credential through the Department of Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) under the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), customers must present their Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and one proof of photo identification. Alternately, they may submit one primary and secondary identification document. For instance, these documents include:

• Proof of a Social Security Number. If an applicant does not have an issued SSN, he or she must certify this on the application for an ID.
• Proof of photo identification. Acceptable proof may include a current or expired Minnesota driver’s license or instruction permit. While identification documents required for state ID applications may be expired during the time of purchase, the applicant’s driver’s license, instruction permit or ID credential must have expired within the previous five years.
• Alternate proof of photo identification. If non-driver ID customers cannot present one valid form of photo identification during the time of application, they may present one primary and one secondary identification credential. As an example, customers may meet this requirement by submitting a certified birth record and a Social Security card. If submitting one primary and one secondary document, the primary document must include the applicant’s full name and birthdate.
• Payment for the DMV ID card fee. Since accepted payment methods vary by DVS office, customers may wish to contact their local branch before planning a visit. However, most offices accept cash and personal checks.

There are additional documents needed for state ID applications, under certain circumstances. These include:

• Legal proof of a name change. For instance, a customer must submit proof of a name change if his or her name differs from the information on his or her identification document. As proof of a name change, customers may submit a marriage license, a divorce decree or a certified court order.
• A Petition for a Variance of Minnesota Rules (PS30371-02). If a DMV identification card applicant’s religious beliefs prevent him or her from providing a full-face image, a customer may submit this form, along with the application for an ID.
• A Certificate of Translation and Translator Qualifications (PS33210-01). If a customer’s identification documents are not written in English, he or she must submit this form, along with his or her translated application materials.
• A Petition for a Variance of Minnesota Rules (PS33160-03). If identity card applicants cannot present one proof of identification or two alternate documents, they may submit this form.

How to Get an ID in Minnesota

Knowing how and where to get state ID credentials helps customers to save time during the application process. To begin the process to apply for ID, Minnesota residents must complete the following steps:

1. Visit a driver’s license office or a Driver and Vehicle Services Exam Station
2. Provide proof of photo identification and an SSN
3. Submit for a photograph, unless customers wish to petition for a variance
4. Pay the applicable fee

Whenever a Minnesota resident purchases an identification credential or driver’s license, he or she must sign a donor document. If the applicant is younger than 18 years of age, however, his or her parent or legal guardian must also sign the document. As such, minor or child identification card applicants must visit a DVS office with a parent or guardian.

After customers visit the Minnesota DMV to get ID credentials, their identification materials will remain valid for four years from the date of issuance. However, several exceptions apply to customers who are younger than 21 or older than 65 years of age during the time of application. For instance, a child ID card remains valid until Minnesota residents turn 21 years of age, while identification credentials for senior applicants do not expire. To qualify as a senior, customers must be at least 65 years of age during the time of application.

Minnesota Enhanced ID Cards

Residents may obtain the enhanced ID card in Minnesota (also known as an EID) if they wish to use their non-driver identification credentials as proof of their eligibility to re-enter the U.S. from Bermuda, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. To obtain an EID, however, applicants must be at least 16 years of age, reside in Minnesota and be U.S. citizens.

Additionally, all enhanced state ID applicants must complete an Interview Questionnaire, submit two proofs of state residency, and provide proof of their identification. Acceptable identification includes one of each of the following:

• Proof of date of birth
• Proof of full legal name
• Proof of SSN
• Proof of photo ID
• Proof of U.S. citizenship

REAL ID Cards in Minnesota

Customers may obtain the Minnesota REAL ID card, in place of a standard or enhanced credential, if they wish to use their identification documents as proof of eligibility to enter federal facilities, military bases and nuclear power plants. As part of the REAL ID Act, residents can also use these federally compliant credentials as proof of identity during domestic air travel.

To apply for REAL ID credentials, customers of any age must visit a DVS exam station or driver’s licensing office to complete the process, in person. During this time, applicants must submit proof of identity, SSN and state residency. For instance, several documents required for REAL ID credentials include:

• One proof of identity, date of birth and lawful U.S. presence. Examples include a valid U.S. passport, a certified copy of a birth certificate or a Certificate of Naturalization. If an applicant’s legal name differs from the name on his or her identification documents, proof of the change must also be submitted.
• One proof of SSN. Acceptable examples include a Social Security card, a computer-printed paystub or a W2 or 1099 form. If an applicant’s name has changed, however, he or she must report the name change to the SSA before applying for this type of credential.
• Two separate proofs of current state residency. To apply for a REAL ID card, acceptable documents include a bank account statement, a utility bill, a recent employment paystub, a mortgage document or a vehicle’s title However, these documents must include the applicant’s name and current Minnesota address.

Moreover, REAL ID cards are optional, and Minnesota residents do not need to purchase this type of credential unless they wish to do so. If travelers hold another form of identification that meets federal security standards (such as passport book or card), they may use either of these documents as proof of their identity. For general identification purposes, Minnesota residents may continue to present their standard IDs or driver’s licenses.

How to Renew or Replace a State ID in Minnesota

To replace a stolen or lost ID card in Minnesota, or to obtain a duplicate credential after changing a legal name, residents must visit a local driver’s license office or a Driver and Vehicle Services Exam Station to complete the process in person. To find a local branch, customers may use the office locator tool under the website of the DVS, or they may call 651-297-2005.

In addition to purchasing a replacement ID card after an original credential sustains damage or goes missing, Minnesota residents must renew their identification credentials in person, at a local Driver and Vehicle Services Exam Station or driver’s license office. At the time of renewal, customers may choose to upgrade their standard identification credentials to the enhanced or REAL ID documents.

DMV ID Costs in Minnesota

Before purchasing an ID, it is important to note that fees vary by credential type and the age of the applicant. For instance:

• The standard or REAL DMV ID cost is $19.25, if applicants are younger than 65 years of age.
• The cost of purchasing a standard or REAL ID is $16.50, if applicants are older than 65 years of age.
• The cost of purchasing a standard or REAL ID credential is $0.50, if applicants hold a qualifying mental illness or a physical or developmental disability (customers must complete an Eligibility Verification for Reduced Fee ID Card).

Note: To upgrade a standard identification credential to an enhanced document, customers must pay an additional $15.

At an increased DMV ID price, customers may pay an additional $20 if they wish to expedite their orders. However, Minnesota residents cannot expedite orders for enhanced credentials or any first-time applications. After expediting their orders, applicants will receive their new credentials via the United Parcel Service (UPS) within 10 business days.

While residents may wait until their government issued ID cards expire to upgrade to a REAL ID credential, they may apply for early renewal, if they prefer. To upgrade a standard identification card to a REAL ID credential before the original card is set to expire, customers must pay an early renewal fee of between $2 and $6, depending on when their standard credentials are set to expire. For instance:

• The cost of renewing an ID up to 17 months before it expires is $2.
• The cost of renewing an ID 18 to 29 months early is $4.
• The cost of renewing an ID more that 29 months early is $6.

After the early renewal of an identification credential, four additional years will be added to the card’s original date of expiration.

How much is it to get a new ID after the original credential is lost, stolen or damaged? For all identification and driver’s license credentials in Minnesota, the cost of purchasing a duplicate card is $14.75.

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