Drivers License & ID Cards

THE NEW DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS

For office visits, you must bring specific forms of proof for identification, Social Security number, and residential address. The checklists here list some valid documents. For more document options, visit What to Bring

1. Proof of Legal Presence \ Citizenship

An original or certified copy of one of the following documents:

• Certified US birth certificate (Not Hospital Birth Certificate)
• Valid US passport in current name
• Certificate of naturalization
• Consular proof of birth abroad

Name Change: (if applicable) (Marriage constitutes name change)

• Original or certified copy of all marriage certificates or court orders that show your name change(s) (Uncertified photocopies are not valid.)

2. Social Security Number

Bring one:

• Social Security card or W-2 form (Showing full Social Security Number)
• Paycheck showing number (Showing full Social Security Number)
• Any 1099 form (Cannot be handwritten)

*Please make sure the name on your social security document matches the name you have or wish to have on your Driver's License*

3. Residential Address (must be a Florida residential address, not post office box)

Bring two:

• Deed, mortgage, payment booklet, or rental agreement
• Florida vehicle registration or title
• Utility bill or hookup/work order
• If you don't receive mail due to living with someone, bring two address documents in that person’s name along with a notarized Certification of Address Form. You can find the form here.

Immigrants renewing, replacing, or applying for a new driver's license or ID card in person must submit the following documents before a REAL ID-compliant driver license or ID card can be issued. Please note that the name assigned to the Social Security Number (SSN) must match the name that will appear on the Florida driver's license or ID card. Customers who have recently changed their name should update their records with the Social Security Administration before applying for a driver's license or ID card.

1. Primary Identification

An original of one of the following documents with complete name:

• Valid alien registration receipt card (green card, form I-551);
• I-551 stamp in passport or on I-94;
• Immigration judge’s order, containing the customer’s A-number (admissions number),
  granting asylum;
• I-797, containing the customer’s A-number, stating the customer has been granted asylum; or
• I-797, or another form from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), with the customer’s A-number, stating the customer’s application for refugee status is approved.

2. Proof of Social Security

An original of one of the following documents with complete name and complete SSN:

• Social Security card (with the customer’s current name);
• W-2 form (not handwritten);
• Pay check/stub;
• SSA-1099; or
• Any 1099 (not handwritten).

For customers without an SSN, please click here.

3. Proofs of Residential Address (must be a Florida residential address, not post office box)

Customers may not use their current driver license or ID card as proof of residential address. Customers must submit TWO different documents with their residential address (printouts or faxes of these documents are acceptable). Residential address documents include, but are not limited to:

• Deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet or residential rental/lease agreement;
• Florida voter registration card;
• Florida vehicle registration or title
• Utility bill;
• A utility hook up or work order dated within 60 days of the application;
• Automobile payment booklet;
• Selective service card;
• Medical or health card with address listed;
• Current homeowner insurance policy or bill;
• Current automobile insurance policy or bill;
• Educational institution transcript forms for the current school year;
• Unexpired professional license issued by a government agency in the U.S.;
• W-2 form or 1099 form;
• Form DS2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) status;
• A letter from a homeless shelter, transitional service provider or a half-way house verifying they receive mail for the customer. The letter must be accompanied by a Certification of Address form;
• Mail from financial institutions including checking, savings or investment account statements;
• Mail from federal, state, county or city government agencies; or
• FDLE registration form completed by local sheriff department.

Customers who do not have the above documents in their name may provide two proofs of residential address from a parent, step-parent, legal guardian or other person with whom they reside and a Certification of Address form.

In accordance with the REAL ID Act, customers are not required to present these documents for subsequent renewals unless their information changes (e.g., name, address).

Customers who have legally changed their name by marriage, divorce or court order must have their name changed on their USCIS documents.

Non-immigrants renewing, replacing or applying for a new driver license or ID card in person must submit the following documents before a REAL-ID compliant driver license or ID card can be issued. Please note that the name assigned to the Social Security Number (SSN) must match the name that will appear on the Florida driver license or ID card. Customers who have recently changed their name should update their records with the Social Security Administration before applying for a driver license or ID card.

1. Primary Identification

An original of one of the following documents with complete name:

• Valid employment authorization card issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) form I-688B or I-766;
• Non-expired proof of non-immigrant classification provided by DHS form I-94 with required supporting attachment(s). If a customer is unsure of the required documentation, they should bring all United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documentation with them.
  I-94s must be accompanied by a valid passport with a date of entry stamp. Certain classifications require additional documentation. Some examples are:
  • F-1 and M-1 classification must be accompanied by an I-20;
  • J-1 or J-2 designation must be accompanied by a DS2019;
  • Refugee, asylee and parolee classifications must be accompanied by additional documentation;
• I-571 travel document/refugee travel permit;
• I-512 parole letter accepted; or
• Immigration judge’s order granting asylum or cancellation of removal.

NOTES

• Documents must be valid for more than 30 days from the date of issuance.
• Non-U.S. citizens applying for an original driver license will be issued a 60-day temporary paper permit without a photo and a receipt. Non-U.S. citizens applying for an ID card will be issued a receipt. Upon identity and legal status verification, a driver license or ID card will be issued within 60 days and mailed to the address on the driver record. The driver license or ID card will be issued for the period of time specified on the USCIS document, up to a maximum of four years.
• If lawful status or identification is not verified, a denial of issuance letter will be mailed to the customer.

2. Proof of Social Security

An original of one of the following documents with complete name and complete SSN:

• Social Security card (with customer’s current name);
• W-2 form (not handwritten);
• Pay check/stub;
• SSA-1099; or
• Any 1099 (not handwritten).

For customers without an SSN, please click here.

3. Proofs of Residential Address (must be a Florida residential address, not post office box) 

Customers may not use their current driver license or ID card as proof of residential address. Customers must submit TWO different documents with their residential address (printouts or faxes of these documents are acceptable). Residential address documents include, but are not limited to:

• Deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet or residential rental/lease agreement;
• Florida voter registration card;
• Florida vehicle registration or title (print a duplicate registration at www.GoRenew.com)
• Utility bill;
• A utility hook up or work order dated within 60 days of the application;
• Automobile payment booklet;
• Selective service card;
• Medical or health card with address listed;
• Current homeowner insurance policy or bill;
• Current automobile insurance policy or bill;
• Educational institution transcript forms for the current school year;
• Unexpired professional license issued by a government agency in the U.S.;
• W-2 form or 1099 form;
• Form DS2019, certificate of eligibility for exchange visitor (J-1) status;
• A letter from a homeless shelter, transitional service provider or a half-way house verifying they receive mail for the customer. The letter must be accompanied by a Certification of Address form;
• Mail from financial institutions including checking, savings or investment account statements;
• Mail from federal, state, county or city government agencies; or
• FDLE registration form completed by local sheriff department.

Customers who do not have the above documents in their name may provide two proofs of residential address from a parent, step-parent, legal guardian or other person with whom they reside and a Certification of Address form.

Customers who have legally changed their name by marriage, divorce or court order must have their name changed on their USCIS documents.

Non-immigrants in the country without a work visa are not required to obtain a letter from the Social Security Administration stating that they were never issued an SSN (also known as an SSA refusal letter).

Learner's Permits

To obtain a Learners permit you must:

1. Take a TLSAE course (Traffic Law Substance Abuse Education) This course is required unless you have taken Driver's Education in school or have had a permit from another state or a license from another country. This course is taken online only. You can click here to go to the state-approved course providers list.
2. Take permit exams in our office ( You can only take this exam online if you are under 18 years old. If under 18, click here to visit the state-approved provider list) Permit exams are provided in our office Monday-Friday 8:30-3:30 pm. The exam is an hour-long, therefore, you may want to consider coming before 2:30 pm.
3. Once all exams are taken and passed then you may get your permit by bringing in all the documents required and paying your permit fee of $54.25

Studying for the Permit Test

You can find the handbooks below:

Drivers Handbooks

• Florida Driver’s Handbook | Español | Creole
• Florida CDL Handbook | Español
• Florida Motorcycle Handbook | Español
• Practice Knowledge Exams | Español | Creole

If you are under 18 you will need to hold your permit for a period of one year with no traffic citations before you can take your Driving Test. Driving tests are performed centrally at our Niceville location, they are administered by appointment only.  To schedule an appointment click here or you can call our Customer Service Center at (850) 651-7300

Payment

The Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office offers several methods to make paying drivers license transactions easier and more convenient.  Customers can pay in person using a debit/credit card issued by Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. A bank card fee is applicable for debit/credit card payments per FL Statute 215.322.  Payment by check or cash is also accepted.

• Credit card payments may be treated as a “cash advance” by the credit card company and may incur interest charges from the date of the transaction.

• If writing a check, make it payable in U.S. funds to the Okaloosa County Tax Collector.

When you provide a check as payment, you authorize us to either 1. use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or 2. process the payment as a check transaction.

Are you Military Stationed out of state?

Military!  Click the above icon to get specific information pertaining to members of the Armed Forces.

April is "Donate Life Month"  Below are several ways you can become an organ donor.

How to register as an organ donor.

Florida offers four simple ways to register as an organ, tissue or eye donor.

1. On Donate Life Florida’s website at www.DonateLifeFlorida.org.
2. When renewing your driver license online at www.GoRenew.com.
3. When obtaining a new or renewed driver license in an office.
4. By calling Donate Life Florida at 1-877-35-SHARE (1-877-357-4273)