Table of Contents

2. The Florida Driver License

• 2.1. Definitions
• 2.2. Who Needs a Florida License?
• 2.3. Who Does Not Need a Florida License?
• 2.4. Florida Classified Driver Licenses
• 2.5. Identification Requirements
• 2.6. Parent's Consent for Minors
• 2.7. Traffic Law Substance Abuse Education
• 2.8. Testing
• 2.9. Physical and Mental Requirements
• 2.10. Restriction and Endorsement Codes on Florida Licenses
• 2.11. Selective Service
• 2.12. Sexual Offenders and Sexual Predators
• 2.13. Career Offender
• 2.14. Voluntary Contributions

All applicants for a Florida driver license or identification card must present:

• Primary identification (Step 1);
• Proof of social security number or if you have not been issued a social security number, you must bring a letter from the Social Security Administration indicating that you were never issued one. In addition you will need to provide a secondary form of identification (Step 2);
• Two documents showing your residential address (Step 3).

If your name has changed since the issuances of the primary identification, you will need to present a name change document. See section 3.3.1 for a list of acceptable name change documents.

Please visit https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/what-to-bring/ to obtain a personalized list of requirements.

Step 1: Primary Identification

U.S. Citizens must provide one of the following original or certified documents:

1. Certified United States birth certificate, including territories and District of Columbia. The birth certificate must be Issued by a government agency. Hospital birth certificates cannot be accepted.
2. Valid unexpired United States passport or Passport Card
3. Consular Report of Birth Abroad
4. Certificate of Naturalization
5. Certificate of Citizenship

Immigrants must provide one of the following original or certified documents to establish continuous lawful presence:

1. Valid Alien Registration receipt card, (Green card, Form I-151 or I-551, or Permanent Resident Card)
2. I-551 stamp in a valid passport with a valid U.S. Visa affixed or on an approved I-94
3. Immigration Judges Order, with the customer's A-number, granting asylum
4. I-797, with the customer's A-number, stating the customer has been granted asylum
5. I-797 or another form from the Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the customer's A-number, stating the customer's application for Refugee status is approved.

Canadian Citizens must provide one of the following original or certified documents to establish continuous lawful presence:

1. Valid Canadian passport
2. Original or certified Canadian birth certificate
3. Canadian Naturalization Certificate
4. Canadian Certificate of Citizenship

Non-Immigrants must provide one of the following original documents to establish continuous lawful presence. The document must be valid for more than 30 days:

1. Valid Employment Authorization Card issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (Form I-688B or I-766)
2. Proof of non-immigrant classification provided by United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (Form I-94, not expired, with required supporting attachment(s). If in doubt regarding required documents, please bring all of your Citizenship and Immigration Services documentation with you). I-94s must be accompanied by a valid Passport with a valid U.S. Visa affixed. Certain classifications require additional documentation. Some examples are:
   • F-1 and M-1 classification must also be accompanied by an I-20.
   • J-1 or J-2 designation must be accompanied by a DS-2019.
   • Refugee, asylee and parolee classifications must be accompanied by additional documentation.

The following documents will only be accepted with a supporting document, including but not limited to a Passport, Florida Driver License or Identification Card, Driver License from any other state, Employment Authorization Card, Employer Identification, Identification from home country, Identification from school or college, Social Security Card or other Citizenship and Immigration Services document.

• I-571 Travel Document/Refugee Travel Permit
• I-512 Parole Letter Accepted
• IJO- Asylum or Cancellation of Removal - Immigration Judges Order granting Asylum or Cancellation of Removal.

Immigrants, Canadian citizens, and other non-immigrants applying for a Florida driver license will be issued a 30-day paper temporary driving permit without a photo. Non-U.S. citizens applying for an original identification card will be issued a receipt.

DHSMV will review the identification documents provided and electronically verify their validity with the Department of Homeland Security, FDLE and the FBI. If your identity and legal presence is verified, you will be issued a driver license or identification card at the issuance office.

If proof of identity / legal presence does not verify, the transaction will require secondary verification. If the proof of identity / legal presence verifies in the secondary verification process, the driver license or identification card will be sent to you in the mail. If the secondary verification does not verify, the driver license or identification card issuance will be denied.

Go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website located at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis for information about obtaining identification/legal presence documents for immigrants and non-immigrants.

Step 2: Social Security Number or Secondary Identification

Florida law requires the collection of the complete social security number as proof of your identity. We will electronically verify the information you provide with the Social Security Administration. All applicants for a driver license or identification card must present one of the following original or certified documents as proof of their social security numbers:

• Social Security card
• W-2 form
• Pay check containing your social security number
• Any 1099 form

The name on your social security document must match the name that you wish to have on your driver license or identification card. If you recently changed your name, please update your records with the Social Security Administration first.

If you have never been issued a social security number and you are a U.S. citizen or immigrant, you must provide a letter from the Social Security Administration indicating that a number has never been issued. You must also provide one of the secondary documents listed below. All non-immigrants, including Canadians, must provide one of the following secondary documents:

1. A driver license from the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, or one of our 50 states
2. School record stating date of birth, which must contain the registrar's signature
3. Transcript of the birth record filed with a public officer charged with the duty of recording certificates
4. Baptism certificate, which shows date of birth and the place of baptism
5. Family Bible record or birth announcement in a baby book
6. An insurance policy on the customer's life, which has been in force for at least two years and which has the month, day and year of birth
7. A military or military dependent identification card (United States Military ID cards with an Officer Rank will be accepted as proof of citizenship only, not as a primary identification)
8. An identification card from the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories or one of our 50 states
9. Florida license record or identification card record
10. Selective Service Registration (Draft Card)
11. Florida or out of state vehicle registration
12. Florida driver license or identification cards
13. Receipt copy of your last Florida driver license issuance
14. Immigration Form I-571 11.
15. Federal Form DD-214 (military record)
16. Marriage certificate
17. Court order, which includes legal name
18. A Florida voter registration card,
19. Personal identification by an examiner agent or by a person well known to the examiner agent
20. Social Security Card
21. Parent consent form of minor, signed by the parent or legal guardian
22. Government issued out of country passport, driver license, or identification card
23. Concealed weapons permit

Go to the Social Security Administration website located at http://www.ssa.gov/ for information about obtaining an original or replacement social security card.

Step 3: Proof of Residential Address

All applicants for a driver license or identification card must present two documents with their residential addresses:

1. Deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet or residential rental/lease agreement
2. Florida Voter Registration Card
3. Florida Vehicle Registration or Title
4. Florida Boat Registration or Title (if living on a boat/ houseboat)
5. Statements (Contact your local driver license or tax collector office for information about using statements)
6. A utility hook up
7. Automobile Payment Booklet
8. Selective Service Card
9. Medical or health card with address listed
10. Current homeowner's insurance policy or bill
11. Current automobile insurance policy or bill
12. Educational institution transcript forms for the current school year
13. Unexpired professional license issued by a government agency in the U.S.
14. W-2 form or 1099 form
15. Form DS2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) status
16. A letter from a homeless shelter, transitional service provider, or half-way house verifying that the customer resides at the shelter address
17. Utility bills, mail from financial institutions; including checking, savings, or investment account statements
18. Mail from Federal, State, County or City government agencies (including city and county agencies) Transients - Sexual Offender/Predator/Career Offender: FDLE Registration Form completed by local sheriff's department

  << previous chapter    << previous section    next section >>    next chapter >>