A state ID in Vermont is the perfect identification document for any state resident who needs an ID without driving privileges. An ID card can easily be obtained at a VT Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office, once you provide the proper supporting documentation. Each type of Vermont non-driver ID provides all of the same identification benefits of a driver’s license. However, these documents are safe for senior citizens who have stopped driving and younger residents who choose not to operate motor vehicles of any sort.

There are two identification card types available in Vermont. You may choose from a REAL ID or an Enhanced ID card. All applicants must meet the requirements outlined below, which includes providing proof of state residency. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of ID credentials in VT, and learn how to apply for your credential – as well as how to renew and replace your ID – today.

Vermont DMV ID Requirements

Basic VT DMV state ID requirements apply to both types of photo ID offered by the DMV. All original or first-time applicants for these ID cards must apply in person at a DMV office. The two forms of ID credentials currently available in the state of Vermont include the:

• REAL ID: Described in detail below, this card meets federal standards for ID documents.
• Enhanced ID (EID): An Enhanced ID card is REAL ID-compliant, and has the added benefit of being accepted as a border crossing document for U.S. citizens returning home from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

Although there are no age limits associated with the ID card requirements in VT, applicants younger than the age of 18 must have the written consent of a parent, legal guardian or person standing “in loco parentis.” Additionally, minor applicants and those older than 18 years of age, who live with others, must complete a Vermont Residency Certification to provide proof of a VT address.

Applicants of both the REAL ID and Enhanced ID must be able to prove legal presence in the United States, as well. Additionally, all recipients of VT state ID cards must prove that they live in Vermont.

Note that you may apply for a non-driver ID if you have a Vermont driver license, but you may only have one REAL ID-compliant document at a time. Therefore, if you want to have a Vermont driver license and a VT ID card, one of them must be a non-REAL ID-compliant document.

What do you need to get an ID in Vermont?

What do you need to get a state ID in Vermont? The documents needed for state ID are necessary to prove your identity, age, Social Security Number (SSN), lawful status in the U.S. and Vermont residency. For a REAL ID, you are required to have a certain number of documents from each category, as explained below:

• Proof of identity and age (one document):
  • A valid, unexpired U.S. passport
  • A certified copy of birth certificate
  • A driver license or ID card issued by another state
• Proof of lawful status in the United States (one document):
  • A U.S. passport or birth certificate, as used above
  • A Certificate of Citizenship
  • A Certificate of Naturalization
  • Other documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• Proof of SSN (one document):
  • A Social Security card
  • W-2 or 1099 tax forms
  • A paystub printed with your name and full SSN
• Proof of VT state residency and current address (two documents):
  • Two pieces of mail printed with your current name and street address
  • Utility bills
  • A lease, mortgage statement or any property tax bills

The VT DMV can provide you with a more detailed list of documents that meet ID card requirements, if you do not see your documents listed above. It is especially important for immigrants to submit the correct type of paperwork to the DMV. The VT DMV uses the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) to electronically verify immigration documents.

All DMV ID card documents must show your full name and be verifiable by the agency that issued the document. Your documents must be originals, or certified copies bearing a raised seal or stamp. Faxed or photocopied documents will be rejected.

When learning about the documents required for state ID, you must also provide evidence of legal name change, if applicable, with a marriage license, divorce decree or court-ordered name change document. If you cannot provide proof of SSN, contact the Social Security Administration to apply for one, or obtain a letter stating that you cannot be issued a number.

You must pay the DMV ID card fee when you submit your application. The DMV accepts all major credit cards, checks and money orders made payable to: “Vermont DMV.”

How to Get an ID in Vermont

VT residents wondering where to get state ID must visit a local VT DMV office, as you cannot get ID online in Vermont. To apply in person, follow these steps at the VT DMV:

1. Complete and sign Form VL-17, Non-Driver ID Application
2. Submit the application, and the other required documents listed above
3. Pay the ID fee
4. Have your photo taken

You will receive a temporary license to use until your permanent identification card arrives by mail, usually within seven to 10 days.

Vermont Enhanced ID Cards

A VT Enhanced ID card (EIC) provides border-crossing access, in addition to REAL ID identification benefits. Enhanced state ID applicants must be U.S. citizens. Minors may also obtain an EIC in Vermont. Keep in mind that the VT DMV charges an additional fee for EIC privileges.

REAL ID Cards in Vermont

A REAL ID card is one that fulfills the federal government’s standards for identification documents, as outlined in the REAL ID Act of 2005. Both REAL ID cards and Enhanced ID cards in Vermont are REAL ID-compliant. These documents can be used to gain access to federal facilities, including nuclear power plants and military bases.

If you provide all the documents required for REAL ID in VT, you will automatically be issued a compliant document. If you already have a VT license or ID, a gold star in the upper, right-hand corner designates it as a REAL ID document. Beginning October 1, 2020, every traveler must have a REAL ID state identification card or driver license to fly within the United States.

How to Renew or Replace a State ID in Vermont

You can replace a lost ID card or renew an expired ID in Vermont by applying for a replacement at a DMV office. You may qualify to get a DMV replacement ID or renewal ID by mail, if you receive a letter from the DMV stating your eligibility. You will not be required to submit documents, again, however, at the time of renewal or replacement.

DMV ID Costs in Vermont

How much does an ID cost in Vermont? The total DMV ID cost depends on a few factors. The standard fee for a VT ID is $24. An Enhanced ID card costs an additional $30, making the total for an EIC $54.

Note: Vermont residents who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability (SSD) are eligible for a reduced-fee non-driver ID card. However, you must provide a benefit verification letter to the DMV when you apply.

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