Federal Credentialing Services
Bring required documents
Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 201-3, or FIPS 201-3, provides the regulations for personal identity verification requirements. You must have two physical and current forms of identification: at least one must be a primary form of ID.
If the names on your forms of ID do not match, you may need to bring the appropriate linking documentation, such as a marriage license or court order, that shows the change in names. If your name will soon change, contact your sponsor to learn what to do.
You cannot complete your appointment if you do not have the appropriate documents with you. An expired form of ID (including your PIV card) is not acceptable for either enrollment or activation appointments.
Primary form
You can bring two of these, but you must have at least one:
- U.S. passport or passport card
- Permanent resident card or alien registration receipt card (Form I-551)
- Foreign passport
- Employment authorization document with a photo (Form I-776)
- State driver’s license or ID card that is compliant with REAL ID
- U.S. military ID card
- U.S. military dependent’s ID card
- PIV card
Secondary form
Bring one of these, unless you have two primary forms.
- U.S. Social Security card (not laminated)
- Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or outlying possession of the United States with an official seal
- Voter registration card
- U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner card
- Certificate of U.S. citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)
- Certificate of naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
- U.S. citizen ID card (Form I-197)
- ID card for use by a resident citizen in the United States (Form I-179)
- Certification of birth abroad or certification of report of birth issued by the Department of State (Form F-545 or Form DS-1350)
- Employment authorization document issued by Department of Homeland Security (Form I-766)
- Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government entity
- Native American tribal document
- Veteran Health Identification Card
- Agency ID badge issued by federal, state, or local government agency or entity with a photo — not a facility access badge
- Another piece of evidence that meets the requirements of SP 800-63A [PDF]
Unacceptable forms
Identity documents that will not be accepted include:
- Student ID card (from any university)
- Company ID card
- Gun or firearms permit
- License to carry
- Medical marijuana card
- Hunting or fishing permit
- Facility badge
- Temporary driver’s licenses
- Selective service card
- Foreign driver’s license (other than Canada)
- Library card
- Temporary PIV card
- Marriage license (but this can be shown when there are different names on a birth certificate and a current driver’s license, for example)
Examples
| Primary | Secondary | Result |
|---|---|---|
| State driver’s license or ID card that is compliant with REAL ID | U.S. Social Security card | Acceptable |
| U.S. passport | State driver’s license or ID card that is compliant with REAL ID | Acceptable |
| U.S. military ID card | Department of State ID card | Acceptable |
| U.S. Social Security card | Voter registration card | Unacceptable (no primary form) |
| State driver’s license or ID card that is compliant with REAL ID | State-issued REAL ID card | Unacceptable (driver’s license or ID card is one primary form) |
| Expired PIV card | State driver’s license or ID card that is compliant with REAL ID | Unacceptable (none can be expired) |
Linking documents
Linking documents, such as a marriage license or divorce decree, must contain both the previous and current names.
| Primary | Secondary | Linking document | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| State driver’s license or ID card that is compliant with REAL ID with maiden name | U.S. military dependent ID card with married name | Marriage certificate with both names on it | Acceptable |
| U.S. passport with married name | State driver’s license or ID card that is compliant with REAL ID with maiden name | Court record linking the two names | Acceptable |