To order a certified copy of your Texas birth certificate, or if you were born in Texas and never issued a birth certificate, you may contact the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for assistance.
Applying for a Commercial Driver License (PDF).Upgrading a Teen Driver Learner License to a Provisional Driver License (PDF).Applying as a Teen Driver for a Learner License (PDF).Renewing a Texas Driver License or Identification Card (PDF).Applying for a Texas Driver License or Identification Card (PDF).It will not be accepted as identification for federal purposes. If your card does not have the star, you can continue to use the card after May 3, 2023, but it will only be accepted for state-related purposes such as driving (driver license only), banking, and voting. You may continue to use your compliant card for federal identification purposes until it expires. If you replaced or renewed your card after October 10, 2016, and have a gold star in the right-hand corner, your card is REAL ID compliant and no further action is required on your part. Texas began issuing REAL ID compliant cards on October 10, 2016, and these cards are marked with a gold circle with an inset star located in the upper right-hand corner, as seen in the examples below.Īll Texas driver licenses and identification cards, both compliant (star) and non-compliant (no star) are valid until the expiration date shown on the card. This Act strengthens the integrity and security of state-issued cards in an effort to reduce identity fraud and terrorism.īeginning May 3, 2023, only state-issued driver licenses and identification cards that are fully compliant with the REAL ID Act will be accepted for official federal government purposes, such as entering secure federal buildings or boarding domestic flights. The REAL ID Act requires states to adopt and implement uniform standards for the issuance and production of state-issued driver licenses and identification cards if they are to be accepted as identity documents by the federal government.
The United States Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 in response to the terrorist attacks on 9/11. The Texas Department of Public Safety is committed to protecting the citizens of Texas by only licensing individuals who are properly identified and can demonstrate their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle on public roadways.