Arkansas ID Card Requirements: Proofs of Identity, SSN, and Residency

To get an Arkansas ID card, you apply in person at any Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) Revenue Office, bring original or certified documents proving your lawful presence, Social Security number, and identity, and pay $5.00.¹ The Arkansas ID card requirements shift in one important way depending on which version you want: a REAL ID-compliant card also requires two documents proving your current Arkansas address, while a standard card does not.² The card is available to any Arkansas resident age five or older who does not already hold a valid Arkansas driver’s license or instruction permit.

Decide First: REAL ID or Standard

Your document list depends on this choice, so make it before you head to the office. Since May 7, 2025, federal rules require a REAL ID-compliant card (or a passport or other federally accepted document) to board domestic flights, enter military bases, or access secure federal buildings.³ A REAL ID-compliant Arkansas card carries a gold star in the upper corner. A standard card is printed with “NOT FOR FEDERAL ID” and still works for banking, voting, age verification, and everyday state purposes.

Both cost $5.00.¹ The only real difference in what you’ll carry to the counter is the two residency documents required for REAL ID. The DFA also offers a REAL ID quiz on its website that walks through your documents before you make the trip.⁴

Proof of Lawful Presence

Bring one original or certified document showing citizenship or lawful immigration status. Photocopies are not accepted.²

For U.S. citizens, acceptable documents include:

A certified U.S. birth certificate
A U.S. passport or passport card
A Certificate of Birth Abroad
A Certificate of Naturalization

Non-citizens can present a foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and I-94, a Permanent Resident Card (I-551), an Employment Authorization Card (I-766), or another DHS immigration document.²

If you cannot find your birth certificate, order a replacement through Arkansas Vital Records before your DFA appointment.

Proof of Social Security Number

You need one document showing your Social Security number. The DFA’s checklist accepts a Social Security card or a DD-214 (military discharge papers).² The Social Security Administration issues replacement cards at no cost if yours is lost.

Proof of Identity

Separate from lawful presence, the DFA also requires one document proving you are who you say you are. The list is broad and includes a current driver’s license or ID from any state, a school ID card, a military ID, a tax return dated within one year, a marriage certificate, a court order, and a concealed handgun license, among others.²

For a minor who has no ID of their own, a parent or guardian can appear in person and sign an affidavit vouching for the child’s identity.

Two Proofs of Arkansas Residency (REAL ID Only)

If you want the REAL ID version, bring two separate documents showing your name and current physical address. P.O. boxes do not count. Both documents must be dated within six months unless the DFA notes otherwise. Acceptable options include:²

A utility bill for gas, water, or electric service
A current lease, rental agreement, or mortgage statement
A bank statement
A phone, cable, or internet bill
A current health, auto, or homeowners insurance policy
A state or federal tax return less than one year old
A voter registration card less than four years old
A personal property tax receipt
A pay stub showing your employer’s name
A medical or dental bill

Some documents can pull double duty. A tax return you’re already using as proof of identity, for instance, can also count as one of your two residency proofs if it shows your physical address. You still need a second, separate document for the other residency proof.

A standard (non-REAL ID) card does not require these residency documents at all. That makes it the simpler option if your paperwork is limited, as long as you can live with its federal-use limitations.

Documents for a Name Change

If your current legal name doesn’t match the name on your birth certificate or other identity documents, bring certified paperwork connecting the two. Marriage certificates, divorce decrees, court orders, and adoption documents all work.² If you’ve been through multiple name changes, you need the full chain of documents linking each one.

When those linking documents are unavailable, the DFA offers an Affidavit of Legal Name Change as an alternative, processed in person by a DFA representative.⁵

Applying for a Child Ages 5 to 13

Children between five and thirteen cannot apply on their own. A parent, legal guardian, grandparent, or sibling who is at least eighteen must accompany the child to the Revenue Office and sign the electronic application.⁶ The accompanying adult needs to bring valid identification of their own so the DFA can verify them as well.² Applicants fourteen and older can apply without an adult present.

New to Arkansas

If you already hold a driver’s license or ID card from another state, bring it. It can serve as your proof of identity, but you still need the separate documents for lawful presence, Social Security number, and (for REAL ID) two proofs of your Arkansas address. Once the Arkansas card is issued, your out-of-state credential is automatically cancelled.² Arkansas expects new residents to obtain state identification within 30 days of establishing residency.

At the Revenue Office

You must apply in person. Arkansas has 134 Revenue Office locations, and you can schedule an appointment through the DFA’s MyDMV portal to cut down wait time.⁴⁷ At the counter, staff will review your documents, take your photo, and capture a digital signature. The $5.00 fee is the same whether you choose REAL ID or standard, and you can pay by cash, credit card, or a check made payable to the Department of Finance and Administration.¹

You’ll leave with a temporary paper ID; the permanent card arrives by mail within a few weeks. One caution: TSA does not accept temporary paper IDs at airport checkpoints, so avoid scheduling flights between your application date and the day your permanent card arrives.⁸

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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Identification Only
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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Proof of Legal Presence for Arkansas Driver License or Identification Card
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Arkansas Real ID
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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Affidavit of Legal Name Change
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Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-16-805 – Identification Purposes Only
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Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. MyDMV
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Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint