Real ID/Drivers License/Identification Cards

General Requirements

General Requirements for All Driver License and Identification Card Applicants

Ineligible Immigration Status

Those applicants who are legally in the United States under the following immigration status or holding invalid or expired documents are not eligible for a Delaware-issued driver license or identification card, even if they have established residency in this State:

Those under the following immigration statuses are not eligible to apply for a Delaware driver license or identification document:

Those with invalid or expired immigration or passport documents
Those I-94 holders without a valid INS or USCIS stamp
Immigration status A-1. Ambassador, public minister, career diplomatic or consular officer and dependents are ineligible, because an "A" status may only be issued a driver's license from the United States State Department
Immigration status A-2 for other foreign government officials or employees and dependents unless they are foreign military official and/or their dependents. Foreign military members and their dependents must provide a valid passport, I-94, visa, or assignment orders to be eligible
Immigration status B-1. Visitor for business
Immigration status B-2. Visitor for pleasure (tourist)
Immigration status C-1. Alien in transit through the United States
Immigration status C-2. Alien in transit to United Nations Headquarters district. Travel limited to 25 miles radius of Columbus Circle in New York
Immigration status C-3. Foreign government official coming to the United Nations, dependents, attendants, servants, or other personal employees of an official in transit through United States
Immigration status D-1. Alien crew members
Immigration status G-1. Resident representative of a foreign government to an international organization, plus staff and dependents
Immigration status WB. Visitor for business (visa waiver program.)
Immigration status WT. Visitor for pleasure (tourist in visa waiver (program.)
Attached unexpired temporary I-551 visa

The Division must verify all non-citizen applicants legal status and authorized length of stay in the United States upon the initial issuance of a driver's license (including out-of-state license transfers) and upon license renewal therefore, non-citizens must present their immigration documents. United States citizens should provide a U.S. certified birth certificate, valid, unexpired U.S. passport, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship.

The expiration date on driver licenses and identification cards must not exceed the period of time non-citizens are authorized in the United States. This ensures that State-issued identification documents are not valid should non-citizens overstay their authorized visit to this country. The Division will verify the source document to ensure it is genuine and unaltered and confirm by electronic means that the immigration document is valid.

Non-citizens must provide USCIS or INS immigration documents containing either an Alien Registration Number or I-94 Number which can be verified electronically through the Department of Homeland Security's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements System (SAVE). The applicant's legal status and authorized length of stay will be primarily determined through SAVE. The following documents can be used to determine legal status and authorized length of stay:

Determine Legal Status/Authorized Length of Stay

U.S. Citizenship - Expiration date - 8 year Drivers License or 4 year ID card

Valid, unexpired U.S. passport
Certified copy of a birth certificate filed with a State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency in the individual's state of birth
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued by the U.S. Department of State, Form FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545
Certificate of Naturalization issued by DHS, Form N-550 or Form N-570
Certificate of Citizenship, Form N-560 or Form N-561, issued by DHS

Permanent Resident Immigrant - Expiration date - 8 year license or 4 year ID card. Alien Registration Number mandatory. Do not issue document without SAVE verification: refer applicant to the USCIS to resolve mismatch conditions.

Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by DHS or INS
Valid, unexpired foreign passport with visa stamped "processed for I-551"

Non-immigrant/Temporary - Expiration date limited by authorized stay in U.S. Verify through SAVE. We can not issue document without SAVE verification: refer applicant to the USCIS to resolve mismatch conditions. We will use a one year expiration date when immigration records show "indefinite" or "duration of status" for period of authorized stay. Form I-94 Number mandatory except when Alien Registration Number available (refugee, asylee, parolee).

Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) with conditions (2 year limit) contains Alien Registration Number (mandatory for SAVE verification)
Non-immigrant visa, Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94 with valid unexpired passport and visa or I-94W for the Visa Waiver Program
Students. Foreign students having non-immigrant F-1/F-2 or M-1 visa classification should have an I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status form along with their unexpired foreign passport and I-94 card. J-1/J-2 visa holders must present a valid DS-2019 or IAP-66.
Refugee, asylee and parolee classifications must be accompanied by additional documentation and I-94 displaying immigration status and Alien Registration Number.
Exception: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) office verify legal status and authorized length of stay.

Acceptable Identification Document List

Any person applying for a driver’s license (DL) or identification (ID) card is required to submit one primary document and one secondary document from the following list. A primary document must contain the full name and date of birth and must be verifiable, i.e., we must be able to contact the issuing agency to determine the authenticity of the document. Each applicant must provide their social security number, if eligible, two separate proofs of Delaware residence (i.e. rent receipt or lease and electric, telephone or other utility receipts etc.) and non-US citizens must provide proof of legal presence in the United States.

NOTE: False statements, attempted fraud by displaying invalid licenses, ID Cards, or documents, or misrepresentation is perjury and may result in fines and denial of licenses and services. A driver license may be suspended any time false information is found on the signed application form.

Examples of acceptable source documentation: Please provide ONE of the following proof of identity/legal presence documents: (This document must contain proof of full legal name, date of birth, and citizenship/legal presence in the United States to be eligible to obtain a federally compliant identification document.)
Certificate of birth (U.S. issued). Must be original or certified copy, have a raised seal and be issued by the Office of Vital Statistics or State Board of Health. Please note that wallet cards, birth registration or hospital announcements/records are not accepted. (If under 18, birth certificate must include birth parent(s) names) *** Consular report of birth abroad Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N570m or N-578) Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561, or N-645) Northern Marina Card (I-551) American Indian Card (I-551) U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-179 or I-197) Valid passport, U.S. If foreign, appropriate INS document also is required Resident Alien Card (I-515, I-551, AR-3, or AR-103) Temporary Resident Identification Card (K-688) Non-Resident Alien Canadian Border Crossing Card (I-185 or I-586) Record of Arrival and Departure (in a valid Foreign Passport)(I-94 or I-94W visa waiver program) Record of Arrival and Departure w/attached photo stamped "Temporary Proof of Lawful Permanent Resident"(I-94) Processed for I-551 stamp (in a valid Foreign Passport) Permanent Resident Re-Entry Permit (I-327) Refugee Travel Document (I-571) Employment Authorization Card (I-688A, I-688B, I-766) Canadian Immigration Record and Visa or Record of Landing (IMM 1000) Federally Compliant State issued photo driver license * Federally Compliant State/Province/Territory issued photo ID card * Court order. Must contain full name, date of birth and court seal. Examples include: adoption document, name change document, gender document, etc. Does not include abstract of criminal or civil conviction * ** State issued photo driver license * ** State/Province/Territory issued photo ID card * ** Certified microfilm/copy of driver license or ID card * ** Official letter issued by vital statistics verifying full name and date of birth * ** Certified school records or transcripts verifying full name and date of birth * Note: If applicant is under 18, a document containing parent(s) or legal guardian(s) name(s) must be presented (such as a birth certificate or court document).**
*	Must be accompanied by a U.S. citizenship document or valid proof of legal presence in the United States.
**	Not acceptable documentation to be eligible for a federally compliant identification document; however, applicants may be eligible for a non-compliant identification document.
***	Foreign Born adoptees must have accompanying citizenship documents issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Please visit US Citizenship for an Adopted Child for more information .

Find out how to contact Vital Statistics for all U.S. States and Territories

Please provide ONE of the following for proof of a Social Security Number:
Social Security Card W-2 tax form SSA 1099 form SSA Non-1099 form Pay stub containing full SSN Any valid document from Social Security Administration (SSA) containing full SSN (Medicare/Medicaid cards not acceptable) Ineligibility letter from SSA (only issued if not eligible based on legal presence status)
**	Not acceptable documentation to be eligible for a federally compliant identification document; however, applicants may be eligible for a non-compliant identification document.

Please provide TWO of the following for proof of Delaware residency:

Utility Bills
Credit Card Statement
Auto or Life Insurance policies
Voter Registration Cards
Bank Account Records
Employment Records
Rental Agreements
U.S. Postal Service change of address confirmation form/postmarked mail with forwarding address label
Other non-personal mail postmarked within the last 60 days

Note: Mail must have been delivered by the USPS and be postmarked or received within the last 60 days; photocopies or printouts of bills will not be accepted. Non-business letters/cards will not be accepted. Each of the two proofs of residency must be from separate sources and must display the person's physical address, not a P.O. box

Please provide ALL of the following for proof of legal name change:
If you have had several name changes, in the case of multiple marriages and divorces, you will need to provide all name change documents.
Valid marriage license / civil union certificate - Must be issued by a government entity with a raised seal. Marriage certificates signed by clergy are not accepted. Court ordered name change document Finalized divorce decree stating your legal name. (A divorce decree may be used as authority to resume using a previous name only if it contains the new name and the previous name and permits a return to the previous name.) - Obtaining a Delaware divorce decree
Note: You must change your name with the Social Security Administration first and wait 48 hours before appearing at the DMV.
Find out how to contact Vital Statistics for all U.S. States and Territories.

All drivers must sign a driver license application and answer the appropriate questions on that form. Those applicants who are licensed in another state must surrender their license from the other state. If eligible for a Social Security Number it must be provided.

The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in cooperation with the Social Security Administration (SSA), will use Social Security Number On-Line Verification (SSOLV) to verify Social Security numbers by matching Delaware driver license records with the records of the SSA.

Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE)

The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can only issue a driver license or identification card to persons who are in the United States legally. Non-citizens must provide United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) immigration documents containing either an Alien Registration Number or I-94 Number which can be verified electronically through the Department of Homeland Security's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements System (SAVE).
For a listing of acceptable documents, click here for a list of acceptable documents. The applicant's legal status and authorized length of stay will be determined through citizenship and federal databases and through SAVE.

DMV will not issue a new driver license or identification card if the applicant's legal status and authorized length of stay cannot be verified. Non-citizens wishing to renew their Delaware driver license or identification card will provide USCIS or INS immigration documents at each renewal and request for a duplicate document.

DMV will verify with the SSA that the social security number presented to DMV is, in fact, the number issued to the person with that name and date of birth. This is being done in an effort to prevent fraud and protect your identity, and to help ensure that driver’s licenses and identification cards are properly issued.

Social Security On-Line Verification (SSOLV)

What is SSOLV?

Social Security On-line Verification allows jurisdictions to compare a person’s name, date of birth and social security number against the SSA master file and informs the inquirer if the information matches.

What is the purpose of matching this information?

Matching this information helps with fraud prevention and identification security efforts aimed at preventing identity theft by preventing the issuance of a driver’s license or identification card to a person who may be using stolen or otherwise false identity documents.

How will this change my DMV experience?

Most customers will not experience any changes. The electronic verification takes seconds to complete. If there is no discrepancy found, you will be issued the driver license or identification card. However, if a discrepancy is found DMV may not issue or renew a driver license or identification card. A discrepancy could require a visit to your local SSA office and a return trip to DMV.

What can I do prior of visiting DMV?

Prior to visiting DMV compare the information printed on your driver license or identification card to that printed on your Social Security Card. If the information on your DMV issued credential is incorrect, bring your social security card along with your identity documents to verify your name and date of birth (e.g., original or certified birth certificate, US passport, or immigration documentation) to allow the DMV to correct your record. If your name has changed as a result of marriage, divorce, or court order, you will need your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. If the information on your DMV issued credential is correct, you will need to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to correct the information in its files. After you change your information with SSA, please allow 48 hours before returning to the DMV in order for SSA to update its database.

What happens if a discrepancy is discovered?

If, during this verification process, the SSA reports to us that your name, date of birth, and/or social security number does not match with the information in our files, DMV may not issue or renew a driver license or identification card nor will DMV issue a any duplicate document. DMV will attempt to send letters to current Delaware license holders notifying them of mismatched information prior to the expiration of their license. This letter will provide information on the steps you will need to take to resolve the discrepancy prior to renewing the license.

Important Message from Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles

Division of Motor Vehicles

Real ID/Drivers License/Identification Cards

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