How to Get a Temporary Photo ID

Some states allow a person to get a temporary identification card or a driver license, but other states do not. States that do not allow a person to get a temporary card allow the individual to use their out-of-state identification card or driver license for a limited period. By the close of that period, the person should have received their new, permanent ID card or driver license in the mail. They should visit the website of their state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) to learn whether they have the option of getting a temporary identification card.

A temporary identification card allows a person to provide photographic, state-issued proof of identity, age and address. A temporary ID card does not allow the person to drive in the state. The cost of a temporary identification card varies by state. A person can usually get a temporary ID card at a branch of their state department of motor vehicles.

New York allows a person to renew or replace a non-driver ID card by completing online transactions on the website for the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. The state lets a resident download and print their temporary document in PDF format. They can use the paper card until they receive the new document in the mail.

The fee for a standard non-driver ID card or REAL ID non-driver ID card for a person who is under age 62 and has a birthday within the next six months is $9.50 for a permanent card that will last for four years. The fee for such a card for a person who is under age 62 and has a birthday that is more than six months away is $14.00 for a card that will last for eight years.

An individual can renew a non-driver ID card one year before and up to two years after it expires. If a non-driver ID card has been expired for two years or more, it cannot be renewed. A person who is 62 or older or who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or public assistance is eligible for a reduced fee or “No Fee” ID. A temporary renewed non-driver ID card is valid for 60 days.

California is an example of a state that does not offer a temporary identification card. An individual who orders a new ID card will receive it in the mail within three to four weeks. The fee for a state ID card is $33. If the person has not received their new card after 60 days, they should call the California Department of Motor Vehicles at 800-777-0133 to check the status.

In Florida, non-U.S. citizens who apply for an ID card will be issued a receipt and a temporary paper permit without a photo. If the individual provides verification of their identity and legal status, the state will issue their actual ID card within 60 days. The state mails the ID card to the individual on the driver or identity record. The permanent ID card will be issued for the period of time specified on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) document, up to a maximum of four years. The fee for an identification card is $25.

In Illinois, an individual seeking a state ID card leaves a facility of the Illinois Secretary of State (ILSOS) with a temporary secure paper document called a temporary state identification card. The document is valid for 90 days. It serves as proof of identification for a temporary state ID. It contains a photo and the basic information that appears on the permanent state ID.

After ILSOS has completed the necessary identification checks to ensure the individual’s identity, the agency will print a secure hard card state ID card. It sends this card via U.S. mail within 15 business days to the individual’s address on file. A person who loses a temporary state ID can obtain a duplicate temporary credential for the same item for the appropriate fee. A person who does not receive their new state ID card in 15 business days can check the state ID card status or call 217-782-7044. The fee for an original or duplicate five-year identification card for an adult 18 or over is $20.

Nevada is a state that does not have temporary identification cards. Instead it has seasonal resident ID cards. A seasonal resident is a person who temporarily resides in Nevada at least 31 days in each calendar year, maintains a temporary residence in the state and returns to the state or jurisdiction of their residence at least once during each calendar year. The person must also be registered to vote or pay income tax in another state or jurisdiction and not engage in a trade, profession, occupation or gainful employment in Nevada.

Nevada seasonal resident cards are not issued to tourists from foreign countries. The fee for an original identification card, or an eight-year renewal or duplicate identification card for a person between the ages of 18 and 64 is $21.25. The fee for a four-year renewal or duplicate identification card for a person of this age is $12.25.

An individual needs to provide specific documents to verify their identity and get a temporary paper permit, temporary state identification card or similar document. The documents that are acceptable vary by state. A state typically requires a person to provide proof of identity, proof of Social Security and proof of residency.

For example, Florida requires that a person provide one form of primary identification, such as a valid employment authorization card issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security form I-688B or I-766; one document that is proof of Social Security, such as the person’s Social Security card showing their Social Security number and current name; and one document that shows proof of residential address, such as a utility bill.

Nevada requires that a person provide one document as proof of identity, such as a valid, unexpired U.S. passport or U.S. passport card; one document that is proof of Social Security, such as a W-2 form; and one document that is proof of a Nevada address, such as the receipt for rent of a residence. Nevada does not accept a birth certificate as proof of identity if the document is a hospital-issued or foreign birth certificate.