Florida ID Cards: Requirements, Costs, and How to Apply

A Florida ID card is a state-issued photo identification for residents who don’t hold a driver license, and you get one by applying in person at a local tax collector’s office or FLHSMV service center with documents proving your identity, Social Security number, and Florida address. The standard state fee is $25, and cards for anyone 15 or older are valid for eight years.¹² Since May 7, 2025, the type of card you carry also matters for air travel: only a REAL ID-compliant card gets you through a TSA checkpoint.³

What to Bring

You’ll need documents from three categories, plus two proofs of your Florida residential address.⁴ Bring originals or certified copies. Photocopies won’t be accepted.

Proof of Identity and Date of Birth

One document has to establish both who you are and when you were born. For U.S. citizens, the usual choices are a certified birth certificate from a state vital statistics office or a valid, unexpired U.S. passport.² A naturalization certificate or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad also works.

Lawful permanent residents present an unexpired green card (Form I-551). Non-immigrants generally bring a valid foreign passport with an unexpired U.S. visa and the I-94 admission record, or an unexpired DHS employment authorization card.⁴ Florida also accepts DHS paperwork showing lawful presence for applicants in certain immigration proceedings, including notices of pending asylum petitions and immigration court hearing notices.²

Proof of Social Security Number

Your Social Security card is the easiest option. If you don’t have it, a W-2, an SSA-1099, or a pay stub that shows your name and full SSN will do.⁴ Non-citizens without work authorization who were never issued an SSN should be ready to demonstrate that.

Two Proofs of Florida Address

Two separate documents must show your name and a Florida street address.⁵ A utility bill, lease, bank statement, or piece of government mail all qualify. A P.O. box on its own doesn’t count.

Living with family or a roommate? Use Form HSMV 71120, the Certification of Address affidavit. The person whose name is on the address documents fills it out to confirm you live there, and their documents stand in for yours.⁶

If Your Name Has Changed

Every document has to show the same name. If your legal name differs from what’s on your birth certificate because of marriage, divorce, or a court order, bring the paperwork that bridges the gap: marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.⁷ Non-citizens have to update the name on their USCIS documents before applying; the service center can’t accept a marriage certificate as a shortcut the way it can for citizens.⁵

Applying for the First Time

A first Florida ID always requires a visit in person, at a tax collector’s office or an FLHSMV service center. Book an appointment on the FLHSMV website if you can. Walk-ins are usually accepted, but appointments cut the wait.

The clerk reviews your documents, runs your information against federal and state databases, takes your photo, and captures your signature. You leave with a paper receipt. The permanent card arrives by mail within a few weeks in a plain envelope, so watch for it.

Renewing or Replacing a Card

You can renew online through the MyDMV Portal, but only every other cycle. If you renewed online last time, you have to go in person this time. You also must visit an office if you’re not yet REAL ID-compliant, if you’re changing your name, or if you want an updated photo.⁸

Online renewals rely on an electronic SSN verification. If the system can’t match your number, sort it out with the Social Security Administration before trying again. Renewal can begin up to 12 months before your card expires.

What It Costs

The state fee is $25 whether it’s a first card, a renewal, or a replacement.¹ Many county tax collectors tack on a local service fee, which can push the total to around $31 or more. Bring extra.

Veterans can add a “Veteran” designation at no additional replacement cost by presenting a DD-214 showing an honorable discharge. The designation carries forward automatically on future renewals.⁹ Florida also waives ID fees for unaccompanied homeless youth age 16 and older who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

How Long the Card Lasts

U.S. citizens and permanent residents age 15 or older: the card expires on your eighth birthday after issuance.²
Ages 5 through 14: the card expires on your fourth birthday after issuance.²
Non-immigrants: the card expires one year after issuance or when the underlying DHS document expires, whichever is sooner. These cards are marked “TEMPORARY” and cannot be renewed online.²

REAL ID or Standard

FLHSMV issues two versions of the card. A REAL ID-compliant card carries a gold star marking on the upper portion; a standard card does not.¹⁰ Since May 7, 2025, federal agencies enforce REAL ID requirements at TSA checkpoints and restricted federal buildings. Without a star, you won’t board a domestic flight or enter federal facilities that check ID, unless you have an alternative like a valid U.S. passport, passport card, military ID, or federal employee credential.¹¹

New and renewed Florida IDs are issued as REAL ID-compliant by default. Upgrading from a non-compliant card, though, still requires the in-person visit with the full document set. Choosing REAL ID at your next renewal costs nothing extra.

Cards for Children

Florida issues ID cards to anyone age five or older, and to children of any age with a disability who need a disabled parking permit.² The child has to appear in person for the photograph. A parent, step-parent, or legal guardian living at the same address either comes along to verbally confirm the child’s address or completes Form HSMV 71120 in advance.⁶ The document categories are the same as for adults, with the parent’s address documents plus the certification form standing in on residency.

If You Move

You have 30 days to update your address after a move within Florida.¹² You can do it online through the MyDMV Portal or in person. An address change triggers a replacement card and the standard replacement fee. An out-of-date address can create problems with voter registration, jury notices, and any legal mail tied to your record.

Non-Citizen Applicants

Non-citizens who can show lawful presence in the United States can get a Florida ID. Lawful permanent residents follow the standard eight-year schedule with an unexpired I-551. Non-immigrants get the shorter “TEMPORARY” card that lasts a year or until the underlying immigration document expires, and every renewal has to happen in person with current documentation.⁸ Proof of an SSN (or ineligibility) and two Florida address documents are still required.⁵

1
Florida Statutes. Florida Code 322.21 – License Fees
2
Florida Senate. Florida Code 322.051 – Identification Cards
3
Federal Register. Minimum Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards Acceptable by Federal Agencies for Official Purposes
4
eCFR. 6 CFR 37.11 – Application and Documents the Applicant Must Provide
5
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. REAL ID
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Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles – Certification of Address
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Florida Statutes. Florida Code 322.08 – Application for License; Requirements for License and Identification Card Forms
8
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Renew or Replace Your Florida Driver License or ID Card
9
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Military and Veterans Information
10
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
11
U.S. Department of Commerce. REAL ID
12
Florida Statutes. Florida Code 322.19 – Renewal; Replacement of Licenses or Identification Cards