Can i get a us passport for identification purposes even if i am not planning a trip abrad

1. What the documents actually say about passports as ID

Federal guidance and passport-office materials make a simple point: the passport book and passport card are accepted forms of federal identification and can be used in place of a state REAL ID at TSA checkpoints and for entry to many federal facilities ^{[1] [2] [5]}. The passport card is marketed as a wallet-sized, lower-cost alternative that is explicitly valid for domestic air travel and federal purposes, though it cannot replace a passport book for international air travel ^{[6] [7]}.

2. Practical reasons people choose a passport for ID (and how REAL ID changed the calculus)

After the rollout of REAL ID enforcement and subsequent deadlines, many people who lack REAL ID-compliant state credentials have turned to passports as a straightforward federally accepted credential for boarding flights and entering federal sites; the Department of Homeland Security and TSA list the passport as an alternative to a REAL ID-compliant state license ^{[8] [1]}. This policy shift made the passport card or book attractive for purely domestic identification needs—especially for those who do not want or cannot obtain a REAL ID through their state DMV ^{[5] [9]}.

3. How to get one when the stated purpose is “ID only”: eligibility and documentary hurdles

A passport cannot be issued without meeting the standard eligibility and documentary rules: applicants must prove U.S. citizenship and identity, submit required forms and fees, and present acceptable photo identification or use a qualified identifying witness in limited circumstances (for example, form DS-71 when applying in person) ^{[3] [4]}. The State Department will not accept digital-only IDs when you apply—physical, photo ID (and a photocopy of it) is required—so someone without any primary photo ID will need to supply alternate evidence or follow the acceptance-facility procedures described by the State Department ^[4].

4. Limits, trade-offs and common misconceptions

A passport is not functionally identical to a state driver’s license in all contexts: it is not a substitute for a driver’s license when driving or for establishing state residency, and courts or private institutions can have different ID requirements for non-federal purposes ^[10]. Additionally, while passports are broadly accepted federally, they are not necessary where a REAL ID-compliant state ID already suffices; the passport card cannot replace the passport book for international air travel even though it is valid for domestic federal purposes ^{[7] [6]}.

5. Costs, timing and alternatives to weigh before applying

Applying for a passport involves application and execution fees and a processing time that varies (the State Department provides expedited options and fee schedules), so using a passport solely as an ID requires weighing cost and time against getting a REAL ID through a state DMV or renewing/obtaining a state photo ID if that route is available and quicker ^{[2] [3]}. For specific requirements, fee amounts, or timeframes, the State Department’s passport pages and USA.gov provide the official application instructions and fee/expedited-service options ^{[3] [2]}.

6. Bottom line, with sources and alternative viewpoints

Federal guidance is clear: a U.S. passport book or passport card is an accepted federal form of photo identification for boarding domestic flights and accessing many federal facilities and therefore can legitimately be obtained for identification purposes even without plans to travel abroad ^{[1] [2] [6]}. That said, applicants must still satisfy normal passport documentation rules (including presenting acceptable physical ID or using limited alternative procedures), should account for cost and processing time, and should understand that a passport does not replace a driver’s license for driving or state-residency proof ^{[4] [10] [3]}.