(en español)
Wisconsin DMV issues REAL ID compliant products (marked with a µ) in accordance with the federal
Real ID Act of 2005. If you plan to fly within the U.S., visit a military base or other federal buildings, the Department of Homeland Security will require identification that is REAL ID compliant (or show another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport) beginning May 7, 2025, the
new deadline for this federal requirement. Don’t get left behind without a REAL ID.
The following documents are acceptable proof of name and date of birth. Documents presented as proof must be original. Photocopies are not acceptable.
For REAL ID compliant cards
- Valid U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. state or local government issued certificate of birth. (In accordance with Puerto Rican law, as of October 30, 2010, Wisconsin will not accept any Puerto Rican birth certificate certified before July 1, 2010.)
- Valid Permanent Resident card (form I-551) issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
- Valid Employment Authorization document (form I-766) issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- A valid foreign passport with a valid, unexpired U.S. visa affixed accompanied by the approved I-94 form
- Certificate of Naturalization (form N-550 or N-570) issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Certificate of Citizenship (form N-560 or N-561) issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- A REAL ID driver license or ID
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad (form FS-240, DS-1350 or FS-545) issued by the U.S. Department of State
Additional acceptable documents for non-compliant cards
Everything from the above list OR:
- U.S. passport that is expired for no more than 5 years
- A Wisconsin non-compliant ID or driver license
- A federal I-94 “parole edition" or “refugees version" arrival-departure record, together with a certification, on the department's form, of the person's name and date of birth, a copy of a U.S. Department of State Refugee Data Center Reception and Placement Program Assurance form, and a letter from the person's sponsoring agency on the agency's letterhead, supporting the person's application for a Wisconsin identification card or driver license and confirming the person's identification
- An American Indian identification card
- An adoption, divorce, or name or sex change court order under seal that includes the person's current full legal name, date of birth, and in the case of a name change or divorce order, the person's prior name
- An armed forces of the United States common access card or DD form 2 identification card issued to military personnel
- A Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security Administration Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- A driver license or ID issued by another jurisdiction except the Dominion of Canada, or a Province thereof, that bears a photo of the applicant or the applicant's full name and date of birth
- Military discharge papers, including a certified copy of federal form DD-214
- A U.S. government and military-dependent identification card
- USCIS Reception and Placement Assurance form
- Department of State Transportation Boarding Letter
The department will decline to accept any document presented if it has reason to suspect the authenticity of the document. Questionable documents may require additional review.