Arizona ID Requirements: Documents, Fees, and How to Apply

To get an Arizona state ID, you need one primary document proving your identity and authorized presence in the U.S., your Social Security number, and two documents proving you live in Arizona. Arizona ID requirements are set by the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), and you apply in person at an MVD field office or an authorized third-party provider. The standard ID card costs $12; the REAL ID-compliant Travel ID costs $25.

Standard ID or Travel ID

Arizona issues two ID cards, and the paperwork you bring is the same for both. The difference is what the card lets you do and how strictly the documents are checked.

A standard ID works as official photo identification for everyday purposes like cashing a check, verifying your age, or accessing state government services. It does not work for boarding domestic flights or entering federal facilities that require REAL ID compliance. Since May 7, 2025, TSA airport checkpoints and restricted federal buildings accept only a REAL ID-compliant card, U.S. passport, or other federally approved identification.

The Arizona Travel ID meets federal REAL ID requirements and carries a circle-and-star symbol on the card face. If you fly domestically without a passport, this is the one you want. Both cards are valid for up to eight years in most cases.¹ For a Travel ID, every document you present must be an original or certified copy. Photocopies are rejected.

Primary Identity Document

Bring one document from this list that proves who you are and that you are authorized to be in the United States:²

Original or certified U.S. birth certificate (hospital records and California abstracts of birth do not count)
U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240, 545, or DS-1350)
Unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
Unexpired USCIS Employment Authorization Document
I-94 form with an unexpired foreign passport and unexpired U.S. visa (Visa Waiver participants excluded)
U.S. Certificate of Naturalization
U.S. Certificate of Citizenship

Arizona law bars the MVD from issuing a credential to anyone who cannot prove authorized presence under federal law.³ If you were born in the U.S. but do not have your birth certificate, order a certified copy from the vital records office in your state of birth. Fees for certified copies typically run $10 to $31. A hospital-issued birth record is not the same as a certified copy and will not be accepted.

Social Security Number

You must provide your Social Security number on the application. Arizona requires it under A.R.S. §§ 28-3158 and 28-3165 for identity verification and federal child-support enforcement compliance.⁴ MVD verifies the number against federal databases, so it has to match your Social Security Administration records exactly. If you have recently changed your name, update it with the SSA at least 24 hours before your MVD visit.²

Two Proofs of Arizona Residency

You need two documents that show your name and physical Arizona address. Each must have been mailed to you from a business, organization, or government agency.² A P.O. box does not satisfy this requirement.

Utility bills, rental agreements, and previously mailed MVD documents all qualify. Any document the MVD has mailed to you counts.² Check that the address on each document matches what you enter on your application. Address formatting mismatches are one of the most common reasons applications get held up.

Proof of a Name Change

If your legal name is different from what appears on your primary identity document, bring an original or certified copy of one of these:²

Marriage license or certificate
Divorce decree
Court-ordered name change for an adult or minor
Adoption decree

Update your name with the Social Security Administration first. If SSA still shows your old name when MVD runs its verification, the system will not match, and your application stalls.⁵ Allow at least 24 hours after the SSA change before going to MVD.

Non-Citizen Applicants

Non-U.S. citizens can get an Arizona ID if they can prove authorized presence. The primary identity list already includes the qualifying immigration documents: a Permanent Resident Card, an unexpired Employment Authorization Document, or an I-94 paired with an unexpired foreign passport and U.S. visa.² Certificates of Naturalization and Citizenship also qualify.

MVD cannot accept a driver license from another state as a primary identity document if that state does not require lawful presence for its own licenses.³ All immigration documents go through federal verification, which can add processing time.

Fees

Standard ID card, ages 0 to 64: $12
Standard ID card, age 65 and older: no fee
Standard ID card for SSI recipients: no fee
Travel ID, original or renewal: $25
Duplicate of any card: $12

⁶

Authorized third-party providers charge a convenience fee on top of the state fee.⁷ MVD offices take credit card, check, or cash.

How to Apply

Apply in person at any MVD field office or authorized third-party location. Appointments are not required. MVD offices accept walk-ins with average wait times around 10 minutes, though scheduling through AZMVDNow.gov can save time during peak hours.⁸

Before you go, download Form 40-5122, the Travel License/Identification Application, from the AZDOT website to review the fields.⁹ Bring your originals: primary identity document, Social Security verification, two residency proofs, and any name-change paperwork. The examiner checks everything at the window before accepting your application and fee.

Third-party providers are private businesses under contract with MVD. Many offer extended hours and weekend availability, which helps if you cannot visit a state office during business hours.¹⁰ Factor in their convenience fee.

What Happens After You Apply

Once the examiner approves your application, you leave with a temporary credential that works as valid identification while your permanent card is manufactured. The Travel ID takes up to two weeks to arrive by mail.¹ If you need a duplicate temporary credential in the meantime, you can print one at home through your AZ MVD Now account.¹¹

If your permanent card is later lost, stolen, or damaged, a duplicate is $12 for either a standard ID or Travel ID.⁶

Getting an ID for a Child

Arizona issues ID cards to children of any age. The fee is $12, the same as the adult standard card. Bring the child’s Social Security number and the same identity documents required of adults, typically an original or certified birth certificate.¹² You can start the application online through an AZ MVD Now account, then bring the child in person with the paperwork.

1
Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona Travel ID
2
Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona DL/ID Requirements
3
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-3153 – Driver License Issuance Prohibitions
4
Arizona Department of Transportation. Proof of Identification, Age and Authorized Presence
5
Arizona Department of Transportation. Change Your Name with MVD
6
Arizona Department of Transportation. Fees (Driver License)
7
Arizona Department of Transportation. Authorized Third Party Providers
8
Arizona Department of Transportation. Easiest Way to Visit an MVD Office? Schedule an Appointment
9
Arizona Department of Transportation. License/Identification Application (40-5122)
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Arizona Department of Transportation. Authorized Third Party Driver License Locations
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Arizona Department of Transportation. You Can Now Print Duplicate Temporary Driver Licenses or IDs at Home
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Arizona Department of Transportation. Protect Your Child with an Arizona ID Card