Yes. Undocumented immigrants can get an ID in California, though what’s available depends on when you apply. Since January 2015, the AB 60 program has issued driver’s licenses to any California resident regardless of immigration status, with an application fee of $46. A separate law, AB 1766, extends eligibility for non-driving state identification cards to undocumented residents, but the DMV is not required to begin issuing those cards until July 1, 2027.1LegiScan. California AB1766 2021-2022 Regular Session Chaptered
Driver’s License Now, ID Card Later
Assembly Bill 60, signed in October 2013 and effective January 1, 2015, allows any California resident to apply for a driver’s license regardless of immigration status.2CA-ILG.org. Assembly Bill 60 The Safe and Responsible Drivers Act Resources for Local Officials You don’t need a Social Security number, and there is no requirement to show proof of legal presence or citizenship. The application asks you to prove two things: who you are and that you live in California.
Governor Newsom signed AB 1766 in September 2022, extending California identification card eligibility to all residents regardless of immigration status.3Governor of California. California IDs For All Before that law, only people who could prove lawful presence in the United States could obtain a non-driving state ID card. But the final version of AB 1766 gives the DMV until July 1, 2027 to begin issuing these cards.1LegiScan. California AB1766 2021-2022 Regular Session Chaptered The agency could launch the program sooner, but the statutory deadline has not yet arrived. If you need a state-issued ID today and cannot prove lawful presence, the AB 60 driver’s license is your route.
Documents the DMV Will Accept
You do not need U.S.-issued paperwork. The DMV accepts a range of foreign-issued documents, split between proof of identity and proof of California residency.
Proving Your Identity
Primary identity documents include a valid foreign passport from a DMV-approved country, a Mexican Consular Card (2014 or 2022 versions), or certain other consular identification cards. If you don’t have a single primary document, you can combine two documents from a secondary list that includes items like a foreign national ID card, a foreign driver’s license, or a consular card from another country.4California State Department of Motor Vehicles. AB 60 Wizard
If your documents are in a language other than English, bring a certified translation or an affidavit of translation with the original. That applies to foreign driver’s licenses, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees.
Proving California Residency
To show you live in California, bring documents that display your name alongside a California address. A utility bill, rental lease, medical record, or bank statement typically works. The documents should be recent enough to show you currently live in the state.
Applying at the DMV
Start the process online through the eDL 44 application on the DMV website. The digital form collects your personal information and generates a confirmation code to bring to your appointment.5State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License / ID Card Application The form is available in 10 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, and Tagalog. A paper version is still available at field offices.
Check that the spelling of your name and your date of birth on the application match your supporting documents exactly. Mismatches are one of the most common reasons for processing delays.
Schedule an in-person visit through the DMV’s website. Bring your confirmation code and all original physical documents. Photocopies won’t be accepted. At the office you’ll pay the fee, provide a thumbprint, and have your photo taken. Current fees are $46 for a Class C driver’s license and $40 for a standard identification card. Seniors 62 or older pay nothing for an ID card, and reduced-fee cards are available for $11.6California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Licensing Fees
For a driver’s license, you’ll also pass a vision screening and a written knowledge test on California road rules.7California Department of Motor Vehicles. Section 3 The Testing Process – California Driver’s Handbook The test is offered in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Punjabi, Russian, Armenian, and Vietnamese.8California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s Handbooks – Driving Test Resources You get three attempts before you must reapply.
You’ll leave with a temporary paper document. The permanent card typically arrives by mail within two weeks for in-person or kiosk applications and up to four weeks for mail-based processing.9State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. Processing Times The temporary document lets you drive legally while you wait.
If Your Documents Need Extra Review
If the DMV needs to verify your identity or residency documents further, you’ll receive a Secondary Review Referral Notice (form DL 209A) instead of getting your application processed on the spot. This isn’t a denial. It means an additional interview is required.10California State Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver’s License Secondary Review Referral Process
After receiving the notice, wait five business days, then schedule the review at dmv.ca.gov/SRA or by calling (855) 421-1001. Within 30 days you’ll receive a letter with the date, time, and location of the interview, which can last up to an hour.
Bring as many supporting documents as you can. The DMV accepts a wide range of records during secondary review:
- School transcripts or records from public or private schools, colleges, or universities that include your date of birth (foreign school documents must be sealed and include a photo)
- U.S. tax returns, court documents where you’re a named party, or asylum application forms
- Marriage licenses, domestic partnership registration certificates, or divorce decrees, with certified English translations if needed
- Foreign passports, national ID cards, consular cards, or foreign driver’s licenses
- Birth certificates or adoption records
If the interview confirms your identity, you’ll get a follow-up letter explaining how to continue the application.
What Your Card Can and Can’t Do
An AB 60 license carries a “Federal Limits Apply” notation on the front and “not acceptable for official federal purposes” on the back. AB 60 applicants are not eligible for a REAL ID.11California State Department of Motor Vehicles. What Is REAL ID
Since REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025, a “Federal Limits Apply” card cannot be used to board domestic flights or pass TSA screening.12TSA. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025 It also cannot be used to enter restricted areas of federal buildings, military bases, or federal courthouses. A passport or other federally accepted ID is needed for those purposes. Within California, it functions as a fully valid state document for driving and everyday identification.
An AB 60 license does not authorize you to work. Federal I-9 guidance states that employers must accept state-issued driver’s licenses with restrictive notations as List B identity documents, meaning the license can prove who you are but not that you’re authorized to work in the United States.13USCIS. 13.2 List B Documents That Establish Identity An employer who refuses to accept an AB 60 license as identity verification when a valid List C work authorization document is also presented could face discrimination complaints.
Insurance You’ll Need Once Licensed
Every driver on California roads must carry liability insurance, and AB 60 license holders are no exception. The current minimums are $30,000 for injury or death to one person, $60,000 for injury or death to more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage.14California Department of Motor Vehicles. Insurance Requirements
If standard premiums are out of reach, the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program offers liability coverage at reduced rates to income-eligible residents regardless of immigration status. You need a valid California driver’s license, a vehicle worth $25,000 or less, a clean driving record, and household income below program thresholds.15CA.gov. California Low Cost Auto Annual premiums range from roughly $244 to $966 depending on your county.
Privacy Protections at the DMV
Two California laws work together to shield applicants’ personal information from federal immigration enforcement.
California Vehicle Code Section 12800.7 makes every document you submit to the DMV a non-public record. The DMV cannot disclose your identity papers, address, or residency information except in response to a subpoena in a criminal case or a court order. The statute specifically states that immigration enforcement does not qualify as an “urgent health or safety need,” the narrow exception that would otherwise let law enforcement bypass the court order requirement.16California Legislative Information. California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH 12800.7
Government Code Section 7284.6, part of the California Values Act, prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources or personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain, or arrest people for immigration enforcement purposes. Officers cannot inquire about your immigration status or hold you based on an immigration detainer request.17California Legislative Information. California Government Code 7284.6 Together, these rules mean the DMV maintains applicant records separately from any federal database, and California officers cannot share that data with immigration authorities outside of a court order.
Renewing Your License
AB 60 driver’s licenses must be renewed every five years.18State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. AB 60 Driver’s Licenses The DMV will send a renewal notice before your license expires. You’ll provide current identity and residency documents again and pay the renewal fee, which matches the original application fee. Keep your address updated with the DMV so you don’t miss the notice. Driving on an expired license puts you at risk for citations and insurance complications.