Why you may need a state ID as an expat in the US and how to get it?
A state ID can be your lifeline as a US expat—I recommend getting one if your driver's license is more than 3-4 months away, and here's my step-by-step guide.
When Sophie and I first landed in the Bay Area from Singapore, I quickly realized that not having a US-issued ID made even simple things surprisingly difficult. Want to open a bank account? They want ID. Picking up a package? ID. Buying a bottle of wine at Safeway? You guessed it — ID. My Singapore passport worked in theory, but I got enough confused looks from cashiers that I decided I needed something more... local :P
In Singapore, your NRIC is basically your identity for everything. Here in the US, it's either your driver's license or a state ID. Since getting a driver's license took me a while (more on that saga another time), the state ID became my lifeline.
Why bother with a state ID?
The short answer: it makes your life significantly easier. A state ID works for:
- Everyday identification — bank accounts, apartment rentals, age verification, you name it
- Domestic travel — if your state ID has the Real ID mark, you can use it to board domestic flights. (Update: As of May 7, 2025, Real ID is now mandatory for domestic air travel in the United States. Standard state IDs without the Real ID mark are no longer accepted at airport security checkpoints.)
- Emergencies — if something happens and first responders need to identify you, having a state ID with your info on it is genuinely important
- Proof of residence — handy for all sorts of situations
My recommendation: if you think it'll take more than 3-4 months before you can get a driver's license, just go ahead and apply for a state ID. You'll thank yourself later.
How to actually get one (step by step)
Here's what worked for me in California, though the process is similar in most states:
- Figure out if you need one. If your driver's license is coming soon, you might not need a separate state ID. But for most new expats, there's a gap between arriving and getting your license. That gap is annoying without ID.
- Gather your documents. You'll need proof of identity (passport), proof of legal presence (visa documents, social security card), and proof of address (utility bill or bank statement). I'd recommend having extra copies of everything because you never know.
- Find your nearest DMV. In most states, it's the Department of Motor Vehicles. A quick Google search will find the closest one.
- Do as much as possible online first. In California, you can complete most of the application and even upload documents online. This saves you a lot of time at the office. Trust me, DMV wait times are legendary for a reason.
- Make an appointment. Seriously, do not just walk in. The wait times without an appointment can be... painful T.T
- Visit the DMV to complete the process, provide your documents, and get your photo and thumb print taken.
- Pay the fee. It varies by state but it's not a huge amount.
- Wait for it in the mail. They'll give you a temporary paper ID at the office, and the real card shows up a few weeks later.
The whole process was honestly not that bad once I had all my documents sorted. The hardest part was just figuring out which documents I needed — something I think every expat can relate to :)
Have you gone through the state ID process? Anything you'd add to this list?
Cheers,
Chandler
P.S. I created a group on Facebook called Asian Expats in the US where we share tips like this. Feel free to join.
