Birth Date and Legal Presence and True Full Name Requirements

Why Is DMV So Careful About Identification?

The issue of identification—its reliability, integrity, confidentiality, etc. —is of prime concern to all citizens. The eligibility for government services, the issuance of various licenses, the assessment of taxes, the right to vote, etc., are all determined through evaluations based on identification documents.

It is critical that identification documents and systems be authentic and accurate in order to positively and uniquely identify each individual. The California legislature has declared the California driver license (DL) and identification (ID) card as the primary identification documents in this state. California state law requires that all applicants for an original California DL/ID card submit proof of legal presence in the United States (U.S.) as authorized under federal law. Your true full name, as shown on your legal presence document and/or your name change document, will appear on your DL/ID card. These requirements help safeguard the accuracy and integrity of the documents issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Do You Need to Replace Documents?

If you need to replace or obtain your birth date/legal presence document, refer to the Vital Statistics information on the outside panels or www.vitalrec.com. Immigration-related service and benefit functions of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) transitioned into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The customer service phone number and website for USCIS is listed on the back panel.

Identity Requirements For an Original DL/ID Card

When you apply for an original California DL/ID card, you must present:

• An acceptable birth date/legal presence (BD/LP) document(s).
• An acceptable true full name document if the name of your BD/LP document is different from the name on your DL/ID card application.
• Your Social Security number (SSN). It will be verified with the Social Security Administration (SSA) while you are in the DMV office. You must also provide verification of your SSN to change an existing SSN on DMV’s date base.

NOTE: If you are legally present in the U.S., but ineligible for an SSN, you are exempt from SSN requirements. However, you must still provide an acceptable BD/LP document for any future DL/ID card application or provide a valid SSN.

For additional application requirements, refer to the California Driver Handbook or dmv.ca.gov.

What is an Acceptable Document?

An acceptable birth date/legal presence or name change document is one produced by an issuing authority such as a county, state, or federal agency. Documents issued by Vital Statistics offices will be a certified copy of the original (the original is always retained by the issuing authority) and will contain an impressed seal or an original stamped impression. Other issuing agencies may issue you original documents. After being presented at a DMV office, your document will be returned to you. Do not make a copy of your BD/LP document, DMV does not accept photocopies of documents for birth date/legal presence or true full name verification.

List of Acceptable Birth Date/Legal Presence Documents

Present one of the following for a DL/ID card.

• US Birth Certificate or U. S. Passport
• US Certificate or Report of Birth Abroad
• Federal Proof of Indian Blood Degree
• American Indian Card (I-551).
• Birth Certificate or passport issued from a US territory
• U.S. Citizen Identification Card.
• U.S. Military Identification Cards.
• Common Access Card (only if designated as Active Military or Active Reserve or Active Selected Reserve).
• Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship.
• Northern Mariana Card.
• Permanent Resident Card.
• Temporary Resident Identification Card.
• Canadian passport, birth certificate, or border crossing card.
• Valid foreign passport with a valid Record of Arrival/Departure (form I-94).
• Certification from California Department of Corrections or California Youth Authority.
• Employment Authorization Card.
• “Processed for I-551” stamped in a valid foreign passport.
• Permanent Resident Re-entry Permit.
• Refugee Travel Document.
• Valid I-94 stamped “Refugee,” “Parole or Parolee,” “Asylee,” or Section 207, Section 208, Section 209, Section 212d(2), HP or PIP.
• Valid I-94 with attached photo stamped “Temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence”.
• Notice of Action (I-797 Approved Petition).
• Immigration judge’s order granting asylum.
• Mexican border crossing card with valid I-94.
• Dertified court order of judgement.

What is a True Full Name?

Your true full name appears on your BD/LP document. If you change your name, then you must provide one of the following Name Change documents to verify your name change:

• Adoption documents that contain the legal name as a result of the adoption.
• A name change document that contains the legal name both before and after the name change.
• Marriage certificate.
• Dissolution of marriage/domestic partnership document that contains the legal name as a result of the court action.
• A certificate, declaration, or registration document verifying the formation of a domestic partnership.

NOTE: Birth, marriage, divorce and adoption certificates may be obtained from the Vital Statistics office in the state where the event took place.

What are the Requirements for a Name Change Document?

The name change documents listed above must be:

• Provided by an authorized US governmental agency or foreign jurisdiction.
• A legible and unaltered original or certified copy.
• Used only for a change of name on an existing California DL/ID card or when the name on your BD/LP document is different from the name on your DL/ID card application form.

Changing Your Name

To change your name, bring in your old DL/ID card and an acceptable name change document. There is a fee to change your name on your DL/ID card (there is no fee for a senior citizen ID card). Another picture and thumb print will be taken.

Vital Statistics Offices - States

Call to request a “Full Record” certified copy of your birth certificate or visit www.vitalrec.com. Order an authorized copy of your vital record. “Informational copies” of documents and/or documents with the statement “Informational, not a valid document to establish identity” or any similar statement, will not be accepted for DL/ID or name change applications.

NOTE: These phone numbers are subject to change without notice.

Alabama............................................ (334) 206-5418
Alaska............................................... (907) 465-3391
Arizona.............................................. (602) 364-1300
Arkansas........................................... (501) 661-2174
California........................................... (916) 445-2684
Colorado............................................ (303) 692-2200
Connecticut....................................... (860) 509-7897
Delaware........................................... (302) 744-4549
District of Columbia............................ (202) 671-5000
Florida............................................... (904) 359-6900 ext. 1029
Georgia............................................. (404) 679-4702
Hawaii............................................... (808) 586-4533
Idaho................................................. (208) 334-5988
Illinois................................................ (217) 782-6553
Indiana ............................................. (317) 233-2700
Iowa ................................................. (515) 281-4944
Kansas ............................................. (785) 296-1400
Kentucky .......................................... (502) 564-4212
Louisiana........................................... (504) 219-4500
Maine................................................ (207) 287-3181
Maryland........................................... (800) 832-3277
Massachusetts.................................. (617) 740-2600
Michigan........................................... (517) 335-8666
Minnesota......................................... (651) 201-5970
Mississippi........................................ (601) 576-7450
Missouri............................................ (573) 751-6387
Montana ........................................... (888) 877-1946
Nebraska........................................... (402) 471-2871
Nevada.............................................. (775) 684-4242
New Hampshire.................................. (603) 271-4654
New Jersey........................................ (866) 649-8726
New Mexico....................................... (866) 534-0051
New York........................................... (518) 474-3070
New York City.................................... (212) 788-4520
North Carolina.................................... (919) 733-3526
North Dakota...................................... (701) 328-2360
Ohio.................................................. (614) 466-2531
Oklahoma.......................................... (405) 271-4040
Oregon.............................................. (971) 673-1190
Pennsylvania...................................... (724) 656-3100
Rhode Island...................................... (401) 222-2811
South Carolina................................... (803) 898-3630
South Dakota..................................... (605) 773-4961
Tennessee......................................... (615) 741-1763
Texas................................................ (512) 458-7111
Utah.................................................. (801) 538-6105
Vermont............................................ (802) 863-7275
Virginia.............................................. (804) 662-6200
Washington....................................... (360) 236-4300
West Virginia..................................... (304) 558-2931
Wisconsin......................................... (608) 266-1371
Wyoming........................................... (307) 777-7591

Vital Statistics Offices - Territories and US Possessions

Call to request a “Full Record” certified copy of your birth certificate or visit www.vitalrec.com.

American Samoa............................... (684) 633-1406
Canal Zone........................................ (202) 955-0307
Guam............................................... (671) 735-7292
Puerto Rico....................................... (787) 767-9120

Virgin Islands:
St. Croix .......................................... (340) 773-4050
St. John............................................ (340) 774-9000 ext. 4685

Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands.................... (670) 236-8717

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), A Bureau of Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

National Customer Service Center..... 1-800-375-5283

For a list of local USCIS offices visit uscis.gov.

Department of State

Consular Report of Birth Abroad............(202) 955-0307

NOTE: All phone numbers are subject to change without notice.

FFDL 05 (REV. 4/2009) WWW