California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 1 - Department of Motor Vehicles
Chapter 1 - Department of Motor Vehicles
Article 2.0 - Driver Licenses and Identification Cards
Section 17.02 - Proof of Legal Presence in the United States and Identity Required to Obtain a REAL ID-Compliant Driver's License or Identification Card

Universal Citation: 13 CA Code of Regs 17.02

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) An applicant for a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or identification card shall present to the department genuine document(s) bearing the applicant's true full name to establish legal presence in the United States and identity.

(b) Only the following categories of documents establish legal presence in the United States and identity:

(1) A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card.

(2) A certified copy of a United States birth certificate issued in or by a city, county, or state vital statistics department or equivalent agency.

(3) A Certification of Birth Abroad (FS-545), a Certification of Report of Birth (DS-1350), or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (FS-240), issued by the U.S. Department of State.

(4) A certified birth certificate issued from:
(A) Puerto Rico, on or after July 1, 2010.

(B) Guam, on or after April 10, 1899.

(C) U.S. Virgin Islands, on or after January 17, 1917.

(D) Northern Mariana Islands, after November 4, 1986.

(E) American Samoa.

(F) Swain's Island.

(G) District of Columbia.

(H) Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau.

(5) A valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (I-551), issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

(6) An unexpired employment authorization document issued by Department of Homeland Security, Form I-766 or Form I-688B.

(7) An unexpired foreign passport with a valid, unexpired U.S. visa affixed accompanied by the approved I-94 form documenting the applicant's most recent admittance into the U.S.

(8) A Certificate of Naturalization (N-550, N-570, or N-578) issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

(9) A Certificate of Citizenship (N-560, N-561, or N-645) issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

1. New section filed 12-22-2017; operative 12-22-2017 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2017, No. 51).
2. Change without regulatory effect adding new subsection (b)(4)(H) filed 2-21-2019 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2019, No. 8).

Note: Authority cited: Section 1651, Vehicle Code. Reference: Section 681, Vehicle Code; and 6 C.F.R. Part 37.11.

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