DRIVERS LICENSE OR DMV IDENTIFICATION CARDS: ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION TO OBTAIN A NEW OR REPLACEMENT DMV LICENSE OR ID CARD - CONNECTICUT

The following information is excerpted from the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles web page at: http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=805&q=244772

TO OBTAIN A NEW (FIRST TIME) LEARNER PERMIT, DRIVERS LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD, YOU MUST PRESENT:

• a certified birth certificate or
• valid passport or
• certificate of citizenship (or naturalization) or
• permanent resident card, plus
• one form of identification from the lists below.
  At least one of the documents must include a photograph of the applicant.

TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT CT DRIVERS LICENSE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD, YOU MUST PRESENT:

• Two forms of identification; one of these forms of identification must be from the Primary Documents list.

PRIMARY DOCUMENTS: (Photocopies will not be accepted)

• U. S. birth certificate or registration of birth (must be original or certified copy, have a seal, and be issued by an authorized United States government agency such as the Bureau of Vital Statistics or State Board of Health (hospital issued certificates are not acceptable).
• Valid Passport (if foreign passport, must include appropriate U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documents, as specified below).

SECONDARY DOCUMENTS: (Photocopies will not be accepted)

• Valid U.S./U.S. Territory or Canadian photo drivers license (non U.S. citizens must also prove legal status)
• Valid out of state or Canadian issued photo learners permit (non U.S. citizens must also prove legal status)
• CT non-driver identification card if original issue date is Oct. 1, 2001, or later (must be surrendered when drivers license is issued)
• CT learners permit if original issue date is Aug. 1, 2008, or later (must be surrendered when drivers license is issued)
• Military ID or dependent card
• Connecticut pistol or firearm permit
• Military discharge/separation papers (DD-214)
• Court Order (must be original or certified and contain full name and date of birth. Examples include adoption, name change, marriage or civil union certificate, marriage or civil union dissolution, or gender change. Does not include abstract of criminal or civil conviction.)
• Marriage license (certified copy only)
• Pilot's license (issued by the U.S. DOT Federal Aviation Administration)
• School record/transcript (must be certified)
• Social Security card (laminated or metal cards are not acceptable).
• CT State Dept. of Social Services (DSS) issued photo public assistance card
• CT Dept. of Corrections original certificate of identification
• Baptismal certificate or similar document
• Employee identification from state or federal government with signature and photograph and/or physical description with or without date of birth

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documents (must be a valid unexpired document) as follows:

• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship
• Permanent Resident Card
• I-551 Stamp contained in valid foreign passport
• I-94 card contained in valid foreign passport
• Alien Registration Receipt card (Resident Alien card)
• Temporary Resident card
• Employment Authorization card
• Refugee Travel document

Note: If you are not a citizen of the United States, you will be required to show proof of your legal status in this country.

• Holders of a B1 or B2 Visitor's Visa are not eligible for a drivers license or identification card unless a valid USCIS Employment Authorization card and verification of an application pending for Lawful Permanent Residence is provided
• Foreign students with an F1 Visa status must show USCIS document I-20 and verification of current enrollment in a Connecticut school
• J1 Visa holders are required to show USCIS document DS2019
• H1B Visa holders are required to have a verification letter from the employer. H1B Visa holders are not required to show a valid USCIS Employment Authorization Card, however a valid USCIS Employment Authorization Card can be used as a secondary identity document

All non-US citizens will be verified through USCIS for legal status before a drivers license or identification card will be issued. In some cases responses from USCIS may take an extended period of time and applicants will be asked to return the next business day to complete the licensing process. Responses are usually not received on Thursday evenings or Saturdays.

----------------------------------------

SOURCE: Connecticut State Dept. of Motor Vehicles: “Acceptable Forms of Identification.”
PREPARED BY:  211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: July2010