Florida State identification
Executive summary
Florida issues state identification cards and driver licenses under REAL ID rules that require applicants to prove identity, date of birth, residential address and Social Security number (if issued), and REAL ID compliance in Florida began in 2010 with credentials marked by a star [1] [2]. County tax collector and DMV sites repeat that first-time applicants or those replacing credentials after January 1, 2010 must present original or certified documents that validate identity, SSN and address to receive a Florida ID or REAL ID-compliant card [3] [4].
1. What Florida identification is and why REAL ID matters
Florida state ID cards and driver licenses are the state’s official photo credentials and, since implementation of the federal REAL ID Act standards, nearly all Florida credentials issued after 2010 carry a star indicating REAL ID compliance—important because REAL ID-compliant cards are accepted for domestic air travel and access to most federal facilities in lieu of a passport [1] [4].
2. Core document requirements for applicants
To obtain an original Florida driver license or identification card, applicants must provide documentation that proves identity, date of birth, residential address, and Social Security number when an SSN has been issued; many county offices and the state DMV insist on original or certified copies (not photocopies) and may require two proofs of Florida residence in some renewal scenarios [2] [5] [6].
3. Special rules and practical hurdles
Local tax collector offices and DMV pages highlight practical nuances: if the previous renewal was completed online, the next renewal may require an in-office visit and two proofs of address even for REAL ID holders [6]; first-time applicants must meet full Real ID documentation even if transferring an out-of-state Real ID [3]. County pages also document child-specific rules — Florida allows ID cards for children five and older and requires parent/guardian statements and proofs for minors [7] [8].
4. Name changes, noncitizens and exceptions
Name changes must be supported by certified marriage documents or court orders and, in some cross-border cases, applicants are instructed to update foreign passports before changing names on a Florida credential [6] [3]. Several local guides note that proof of Social Security is not required if no SSN has ever been issued, but those eligible for an SSN or authorized to work must provide it before a license or ID will be issued [6] [5].
5. Costs, poverty waivers and credential design
Florida counties display variations in customer service and cost: some counties issue ID cards at no cost for persons at or below the federal poverty level when documentation requirements are met, while the state also rolled out a redesigned, more secure credential beginning in 2017 that is being phased in alongside older cards [9] [10].
6. Transparency, limits in reporting and consumer takeaways
State and county resources make the statutory and procedural requirements clear, but public pages do not provide exhaustive guidance for every edge case—such as the exact acceptable combination of secondary documents for every applicant type or processing times—which means applicants should consult the Florida DHSMV or local tax collector for case-specific questions; reporting here is limited to the cited state and county guidance and does not attempt to substitute for an official intake assessment [1] [3].