A California ID card for a minor is issued by the DMV to a resident of any age, costs $40, and stays valid for six years. You apply in person at a DMV office with proof of the child’s identity, their Social Security number, and a parent or guardian’s signature on the application.
Does Your Child Actually Need One
There is no minimum age. The DMV will issue an identification card to a seventeen-year-old or a seven-month-old, as long as the child is a California resident.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. Identification (ID) Cards Residency is established through the parent’s or guardian’s documentation, not the child’s.
Before you apply, decide whether you need a standard ID or a REAL ID. Both are state-issued photo cards and look similar. The REAL ID carries a gold bear and star in the upper-right corner and meets federal requirements for boarding domestic flights and entering certain federal facilities as of May 2025.2Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
One thing worth knowing before you commit to the REAL ID paperwork: TSA does not require passengers under 18 to show identification at domestic checkpoints. Only adults 18 and older must present ID.3Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint Individual airlines may have their own rules for unaccompanied minors, but the federal requirement doesn’t apply. If your child won’t need federal-level ID, the standard version is simpler because it takes fewer documents.
Documents to Bring
Both versions require proof of identity and a Social Security number. The REAL ID adds residency documents on top.
Standard ID
Bring an identity document for the child, such as an original or certified birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport, and provide the child’s Social Security number on the application.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. Identification (ID) Cards You need the number, not necessarily the physical card.
REAL ID
A REAL ID application asks for documents in three categories:4California Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID Document Checklist
- Proof of identity: an original or certified birth certificate from a U.S. state or territory, an unexpired U.S. passport, or a consular report of birth abroad. Abbreviated or abstract birth certificates are not accepted.
- Proof of Social Security number: a Social Security card, W-2, SSA-1099, or pay stub showing the full number.
- Two proofs of California residency: since children rarely have utility bills in their name, you can use a parent’s residency documents if you live at the same address and bring a document showing the family relationship, such as the child’s birth certificate.
Accepted residency documents include utility bills (cell phone counts), bank statements, school records, insurance documents, rental or lease agreements, and government-issued mail. You need two different documents.4California Department of Motor Vehicles. REAL ID Document Checklist
When the Child’s Name Has Changed
If the child’s current legal name differs from what appears on the birth certificate due to adoption or a court-ordered change, bring documentation linking the two names, such as a certified court order or an amended birth certificate. The DMV needs to trace the name from the identity document to the name on the application without any unexplained gap.
Filing the Application
You can start the application online through the eDL 44 system, entering the child’s information and uploading documents ahead of the visit to save time at the counter.5California Department of Motor Vehicles. Apply Online for a Driver License or ID Card A parent can use their own email address if the child doesn’t have one. The paper version is Form DL 44, available at any DMV office.
The application asks for the child’s full legal name, date of birth, height, weight, and hair and eye color. A parent or legal guardian must sign to authorize issuance. Schedule an appointment through the DMV website or by phone; walk-ins are accepted but slower.
At the office, the technician reviews your documents, scans the child’s thumbprint, and takes the photo. After you pay, you’ll leave with a temporary paper receipt that confirms the application is processing but does not function as photo ID. The plastic card is printed centrally and mailed to your home, usually within three to four weeks.1California Department of Motor Vehicles. Identification (ID) Cards
What It Costs
The fee is $40, whether the card is an original, a renewal, or a replacement for a lost or stolen card.6California Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees There is no separate minor rate, but two programs cut the cost for families who qualify.
Reduced-Fee ID
Families whose income qualifies them for public assistance such as CalWORKs, CalFresh, or county general assistance can get an ID for $6 instead of $40.7California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 14902 – Fees for Identification Cards A government agency or qualifying nonprofit verifies eligibility and provides the form.8California Department of Motor Vehicles. Reduced/No Fee ID Card Program Information for Organizations
No-Fee ID for Homeless Youth
A homeless child or youth pays nothing for an original or replacement ID. California uses the federal McKinney-Vento definition, covering young people who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.7California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 14902 – Fees for Identification Cards A homeless services provider or qualifying nonprofit verifies status using Form DL 933, and the verification itself is free.8California Department of Motor Vehicles. Reduced/No Fee ID Card Program Information for Organizations
How Long the Card Lasts
A California ID issued to a minor is valid for six years and expires on the cardholder’s birthday in the sixth year after issuance.9Justia Law. California Code VEH 13000-13008 – Identification Cards A card issued to a ten-year-old today expires on their sixteenth birthday. Renewal follows essentially the same process and costs the same $40.
If the child’s identity documents have their own expiration date, as with certain immigration-related documents, the DMV may set the card’s expiration to match even if that comes sooner than six years.9Justia Law. California Code VEH 13000-13008 – Identification Cards
A replacement for a lost or stolen card also costs $40 and carries the original expiration date, so you don’t get a fresh six years. Wait more than 90 days past the expiration date to renew and the DMV treats it as a new application rather than a renewal.