You must be a resident of the District of Columbia, and at least 15 years of age; you may not hold a valid driver license or identification card in the District, or another state or jurisdiction; and you must have lived in the District for at least 6 months in order to get a Limited Purpose non-driver ID card. The Limited Purpose ID card is available only to anyone who does not have, has never had, or is not eligible for a Social Security number. Minors under the age of 18 will be required to submit the Parental Consent Form. More information on the step-by-step process for obtaining a Limited Purpose credential is available at the link below:
The Limited Purpose ID card cannot be used for official federal purposes and is valid for 8 years.
In general, the steps to getting a DC DMV Limited Purpose non-driver identification card are:
Use DC DMV's online Document Verification Guide to determine what documents you need to provide to DC DMV to obtain a Limited Purpose non-driver identification card by clicking the link below:
Application
The first step in obtaining a Limited Purpose non-driver identification card is to print and fill out the driver license/identification card application form. Effective June 26, 2018, if eligible, when you complete the application, you will automatically be opted in to register to vote unless you select to decline. You can find the application form at the link below:
Effective August 2, 2016, you will no longer be required to make an appointment to obtain a Limited Purpose non-driver identification card. DC DMV will accept walk-ins Wednesday through Saturday at any DC DMV service center. Tuesdays will remain by appointment only for those seeking to obtain a Limited Purpose credential. If you choose to schedule an appointment, you can schedule your appointment online at the link below:
Appointments are available at any DC DMV service center. A list of DC DMV service centers is available at the link below:
Bring your completed application form and the rest of the required documentation to your appointment.
Documentation
You must also bring the documents that prove you are eligible for a non-driver identification card. The documents required are listed below, and DC DMV will not accept any documents that are not listed.
You will need:
- The completed DC Driver License or Identification Card application. The application is available at the link below:
- Driver License or Identification Card Application
- Proof of identity and age. You must be at least 15 years old. The list of documents that DC DMV accepts as proof of identify is available at the link below:
- Limited Purpose Proof of Identity—Name and Date of Birth
- Two documents that prove you reside in the District. The list of documents that prove DC residency is available at the link below:
- Proof of Current District of Columbia Residency
- Two documents that prove you have resided in the District for six months. The list of documents that prove you have residency that meets the Limited Purpose criteria is available at the link below:
- Limited Purpose Credential Proof of 6-Month DC Residency
- Proof of your Social Security ineligibility. The Social Security declaration form is available at the link below:
- Social Security Declaration for Limited Purpose Credential
- Proof of parental approval, if you are under age 18. The parental consent form is available at the link below:
- Parental Consent Form to Obtain a Learner Permit or Identification Card
You will have a photograph taken at the service center when your documents are approved. District law and policy requires a full frontal digital photo that will show either the ears, or up to the hairline without showing the hair.
Once your photo has been taken, you will pay the appropriate fee for your license. Information on DC DMV driver license and identification card fees is available at the link below:
DC DMV will issue you a temporary, paper DC DMV Limited Purpose identification card after you’ve completed the process and paid the fees. This temporary ID will be valid for 45 days; your actual card will be mailed to you within 10 business days. DC DMV does not mail ID cards to PO boxes.