Visit a driver licensing office and bring the following:
Everything needed to meet regular licensing requirements (documents that verify identity, Social Security Number, U.S. citizenship or lawful presence status, and Texas residency)
A parent or legal guardian
A completed Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) or a high school diploma or GED
Signed, original form to verify the required classroom hours of driver education has been satisfied (forms are available from the driving instructor or in the PTDE packet)
Submit a completed application along with all the required documents.
Three ways an applicant can verify his/her identity:
Present one item listed in the Primary Identity Documents category or
Present two items listed in the Secondary Identity Documents category or
Present one item listed in the Secondary Identity Documents category and two documents listed in the Supporting Identity Documents category
Information on the documents, such as name and date of birth, must all match. If the name is different on each document, then the applicant must provide documents that verify a legal name change. If other information on the document is different, speak with a Customer Service Representative for assistance.
If you are using a name other than what is on your birth certificate, (example: married name), you will be required to show legal documentation of name change. Documents must be original or certified copy. Certified documents should not be laminated. No photocopies can be accepted.
Acceptable documents:
Marriage license
Divorce decree
Court ordered name change
Because the state of Texas does not recognize same-sex marriage, DPS cannot accept same-sex marriage licenses.
Documents listed in any of the following categories may be expired unless otherwise noted.
Note: You may download a brochure listing all of the following documents LINK
Primary Identity Documents
An applicant can present one primary document. No other documents are required to verify identity if ONE primary document is provided.
Texas driver license or Texas identification card not expired more than 2 years
Proof of citizenship will be required if not previously established
Unexpired U.S. passport book or card
U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization (N-560, N-561, N-645, N-550, N-55G, N-570 or N-578)
Unexpired Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services document with verifiable data and identifiable photo, such as one of the following:
U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-179 or I-197)
Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
Foreign passport with attached temporary I-551 (immigrant visa endorsed with ADIT stamp)
Temporary Resident Identification Card (I-688)
Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Travel Document (I-327 or I-571)
Advance Parole Document (I-512 or I-512L)
I-94 stamped Sec. 208 Asylee with photo
I-94 stamped Sec. 207 Refugee with photo
Refugee Travel Letter with photo, stamped by Customs and Border Protection
American Indian Card (I-872)
Northern Mariana card (I-873)
Foreign passport with attached visa and Form I-94
Unexpired U.S. military ID card for active duty, reserve or retired personnel with identifiable photo
Secondary Identity Documents
Applicants who do not have a primary document can present two secondary documents. No other documents are required to verify identity if TWO secondary documents are provided.
Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a State Bureau of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia or a Canadian province
Note: Because Puerto Rican statute provides that Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 are no longer valid, the Department cannot recognize these birth certificates as proof of identification or lawful presence. To know more LINK.
For U.S. citizens born abroadCertificate of Report of Birth (DS-1350 or FS-545) or Consular Report of Birth (FS-240) issued by the U.S. Department of State
Original or certified copy of a court order with name and date of birth indicating a name and/or gender change from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia or a Canadian province
Supporting Identity Documents
Applicants who do not have a primary document or two secondary documents can provide ONE secondary document (from the list above) and TWO supporting documents.
Social security card
Form W-2 or 1099
Driver license or ID card issued by another U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia or Canadian province (unexpired or expired less than two years)*
Texas driver license or ID card that has been expired more than two years
Temporary receipt for a Texas driver license or ID card
School records* (e.g., report cards, photo ID cards)
Unexpired U.S. military dependent identification card
Original or certified copy of marriage license or divorce decree (if the document is not in English, a certified translation must accompany it)
Voter registration card*
Pilot license*
Concealed handgun license or License to Carry*
Professional license issued by a Texas state agency
ID card issued by a government agency*
Consular document issued by a state or national government
Texas Inmate ID card or similar form of ID issued by Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice parole or mandatory release certificate
Federal inmate identification card
Federal parole or release certificate
Medicare or Medicaid card
Selective Service card
Immunization records*
Tribal membership card from federally-recognized tribe
Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood
Unexpired foreign passport
Unexpired insurance policy valid for the past two years (e.g., auto, home or life insurance)
Current Texas vehicle registration or title
Current Texas boat registration or title
Veteran's ID card issued by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Abstract (shortened) birth certificate
Hospital-issued birth record*
Military records (e.g., Form DD-214, DD-215, NGB-22)
Note: *The document must be issued by an institution, entity or government from a U.S. state, a U.S. territory, the District of Columbia or a Canadian province.
The Department requires one of the following primary documents for evidence of social security number for Texas driver license and identification card issuance. The document presented can be expired or unexpired but must have the individual's full SSN printed on it. Documentation must be unaltered originals, not copies.
Social Security Card
W-2
SSA-1099 Form
A non-SSA-1099 form, or
Paystub with the applicant's name and SSN on it.
Should an individual be unable to provide one of the documents listed above, the Department will accept any of the following documents as evidence of social security number.
Military identification (active, reserve, and dependent status)
Must contain applicant’s social security number
Certificate of release or Discharge of Active Duty (DD-214)
Certified college/university transcript designating number as SSN
Documents such as health insurance cards, Veteran's Administration cards, and pilot's licenses with identifiable SSN may be accepted.
Individuals may apply who are at least 15 years of age, meet the regular licensing requirements and have completed the required classroom hours of driver education.
Note: A $1 administrative fee is included in the following fee amounts. The $1 administrative fee is not charged for transactions conducted through the mail.
A learner license expires on the applicant's 18th birthday and requires a licensed adult 21 years of age or older to occupy the front seat when driving.
Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.
Visit a driver licensing office and bring the following:
Everything needed to meet regular licensing requirements (documents that verify identity, Social Security Number, U.S. citizenship or lawful presence status, and Texas residency)
A parent or legal guardian
A completed Verification of Enrollment and Attendance (VOE) or a high school diploma or GED
Signed, original form to verify the required classroom hours of driver education has been satisfied (forms are available from the driving instructor or in the PTDE packet)
Submit a completed application along with all the required documents.
Three ways an applicant can verify his/her identity:
Present one item listed in the Primary Identity Documents category or
Present two items listed in the Secondary Identity Documents category or
Present one item listed in the Secondary Identity Documents category and two documents listed in the Supporting Identity Documents category
Information on the documents, such as name and date of birth, must all match. If the name is different on each document, then the applicant must provide documents that verify a legal name change. If other information on the document is different, speak with a Customer Service Representative for assistance.
If you are using a name other than what is on your birth certificate, (example: married name), you will be required to show legal documentation of name change. Documents must be original or certified copy. Certified documents should not be laminated. No photocopies can be accepted.
Acceptable documents:
Marriage license
Divorce decree
Court ordered name change
Because the state of Texas does not recognize same-sex marriage, DPS cannot accept same-sex marriage licenses.
Documents listed in any of the following categories may be expired unless otherwise noted.
Note: You may download a brochure listing all of the following documents LINK
Primary Identity Documents
An applicant can present one primary document. No other documents are required to verify identity if ONE primary document is provided.
Texas driver license or Texas identification card not expired more than 2 years
Proof of citizenship will be required if not previously established
Unexpired U.S. passport book or card
U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization (N-560, N-561, N-645, N-550, N-55G, N-570 or N-578)
Unexpired Department of Homeland Security or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services document with verifiable data and identifiable photo, such as one of the following:
U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-179 or I-197)
Permanent Resident Card (I-551)
Foreign passport with attached temporary I-551 (immigrant visa endorsed with ADIT stamp)
Temporary Resident Identification Card (I-688)
Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Travel Document (I-327 or I-571)
Advance Parole Document (I-512 or I-512L)
I-94 stamped Sec. 208 Asylee with photo
I-94 stamped Sec. 207 Refugee with photo
Refugee Travel Letter with photo, stamped by Customs and Border Protection
American Indian Card (I-872)
Northern Mariana card (I-873)
Foreign passport with attached visa and Form I-94
Unexpired U.S. military ID card for active duty, reserve or retired personnel with identifiable photo
Secondary Identity Documents
Applicants who do not have a primary document can present two secondary documents. No other documents are required to verify identity if TWO secondary documents are provided.
Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a State Bureau of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia or a Canadian province
Note: Because Puerto Rican statute provides that Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 are no longer valid, the Department cannot recognize these birth certificates as proof of identification or lawful presence. To know more LINK.
For U.S. citizens born abroadCertificate of Report of Birth (DS-1350 or FS-545) or Consular Report of Birth (FS-240) issued by the U.S. Department of State
Original or certified copy of a court order with name and date of birth indicating a name and/or gender change from a U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia or a Canadian province
Supporting Identity Documents
Applicants who do not have a primary document or two secondary documents can provide ONE secondary document (from the list above) and TWO supporting documents.
Social security card
Form W-2 or 1099
Driver license or ID card issued by another U.S. state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia or Canadian province (unexpired or expired less than two years)*
Texas driver license or ID card that has been expired more than two years
Temporary receipt for a Texas driver license or ID card
School records* (e.g., report cards, photo ID cards)
Unexpired U.S. military dependent identification card
Original or certified copy of marriage license or divorce decree (if the document is not in English, a certified translation must accompany it)
Voter registration card*
Pilot license*
Concealed handgun license or License to Carry*
Professional license issued by a Texas state agency
ID card issued by a government agency*
Consular document issued by a state or national government
Texas Inmate ID card or similar form of ID issued by Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Texas Department of Criminal Justice parole or mandatory release certificate
Federal inmate identification card
Federal parole or release certificate
Medicare or Medicaid card
Selective Service card
Immunization records*
Tribal membership card from federally-recognized tribe
Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood
Unexpired foreign passport
Unexpired insurance policy valid for the past two years (e.g., auto, home or life insurance)
Current Texas vehicle registration or title
Current Texas boat registration or title
Veteran's ID card issued by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Abstract (shortened) birth certificate
Hospital-issued birth record*
Military records (e.g., Form DD-214, DD-215, NGB-22)
Note: *The document must be issued by an institution, entity or government from a U.S. state, a U.S. territory, the District of Columbia or a Canadian province.
The Department requires one of the following primary documents for evidence of social security number for Texas driver license and identification card issuance. The document presented can be expired or unexpired but must have the individual's full SSN printed on it. Documentation must be unaltered originals, not copies.
Social Security Card
W-2
SSA-1099 Form
A non-SSA-1099 form, or
Paystub with the applicant's name and SSN on it.
Should an individual be unable to provide one of the documents listed above, the Department will accept any of the following documents as evidence of social security number.
Military identification (active, reserve, and dependent status)
Must contain applicant’s social security number
Certificate of release or Discharge of Active Duty (DD-214)
Certified college/university transcript designating number as SSN
Documents such as health insurance cards, Veteran's Administration cards, and pilot's licenses with identifiable SSN may be accepted.
Individuals may apply who are at least 15 years of age, meet the regular licensing requirements and have completed the required classroom hours of driver education.
Note: A $1 administrative fee is included in the following fee amounts. The $1 administrative fee is not charged for transactions conducted through the mail.
A learner license expires on the applicant's 18th birthday and requires a licensed adult 21 years of age or older to occupy the front seat when driving.
Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.