Getting a California ID card without a Social Security number or papers

This page is for California residents who need a state photo ID but cannot prove legal status or do not have a Social Security number. It is general information, not legal advice. Driving rules live on our AB 60 driver's license page.

Can I get a California ID card now?

Not yet. Today, a regular California ID card still asks for a Social Security number and proof of legal presence. That is about to change.

In 2022, California passed AB 1766. It says the DMV must give a California ID card to people who cannot prove legal status, as long as they prove who they are and that they live in California. The DMV must start no later than July 1, 2027.

You may have heard January 1, 2027. That date was in early news about the bill. Lawmakers moved it to July 1, 2027 before the bill passed, and that is the date in the law today. The DMV can start sooner. When we checked on October 21, 2026, its ID card page still asked for a Social Security number and did not mention the new card or a start date. A 2025 bill to move the date up did not pass.

What will I need to bring?

Proof of who you are and proof that you live in California. That is what the law asks for. As of October 21, 2026, the DMV had not posted the document list for this new card. Check the DMV's ID card page before you go.

For AB 60 driver's licenses, the DMV already accepts papers like a foreign passport, a Mexican consular ID, a Mexican voter card, or national IDs from many countries, plus a lease or bill with your address. Many people expect the ID card list to be similar, but the DMV has not said so. Check the DMV's list when the card opens. See the full AB 60 list on our driver's license page.

How much will it cost?

The DMV has not said yet. Here is what California ID cards cost today:

• Reduced fee: for people whose income qualifies them for certain public or nonprofit assistance programs. The program gives you a form called DL 937 to bring to the DMV.
• No fee: for people experiencing homelessness, and for people fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or other danger, with the right paperwork.

The law does not say whether these same fees and waivers will apply to the new card, and the DMV has not said. Ask the DMV when the program opens.

What can I use until then?

You have real choices right now.

1. An AB 60 driver's license. If you drive, or can pass the tests, you can get this license today without proof of legal status. It works as a state photo ID in California. Read how to get one.

2. A consular ID from your country. Many consulates give ID cards to their citizens living abroad. For Mexican citizens, it is called a matrícula consular. The Mexican Consulate in San José serves our area. For a first card, the consulate asks for:

• Proof of Mexican nationality, such as a certified birth certificate or a Mexican passport
• A photo ID with your full name
• Proof of your address in your name, such as a utility bill or pay stub

Book through MiConsulado, online or by WhatsApp. The consulate's sheet says its free phone line takes appointment calls on Tuesdays, starting in the morning. The San José sheet does not list the fee. A 2026 fee table posted by the Mexican Consulate in Miami lists the matrícula at $41. Confirm the fee when you book. Banks and some local offices may accept a consular ID, but no law makes every business take it. See Open a bank account with an ITIN or consular ID.

3. Your passport. A valid passport from your country is a photo ID. It is also one of the papers the DMV accepts for AB 60.

4. A city or county ID card. Some California cities have their own resident ID cards. We searched and did not find a current city or county ID program in San Mateo County or Santa Clara County as of October 18, 2026. Santa Clara County studied the idea in 2012, but we found no record that a card was ever issued. If you hear of a new local program, check it on the city's or county's own website.

What will the ID work for?

You will be able to use it to:

• Show who you are as a California photo ID
• Do things that need a state ID, like opening a bank account or renting a home, if the business accepts state ID

It will not:

• Let you drive. For that, you need a driver's license.
• Let you board a plane for a flight inside the U.S. Since May 7, 2025, airports need a REAL ID or another federally accepted ID, such as a valid passport. This card will not be a REAL ID.
• Get you into secure federal places, like military bases or federal courthouses.
• Prove you can work, vote or get public benefits.
• Prove your citizenship or immigration status.

By law, the card must say it is not acceptable for official federal purposes and does not show eligibility for work, voting or public benefits.

Is my information protected?

Yes. The same state law that protects AB 60 license holders will cover these ID cards:

• The papers you show to prove who you are and where you live are not public records.
• The DMV may share them only for a criminal subpoena, a court order, or an urgent safety need that police explain in writing. Immigration enforcement does not count.

In July 2026, California passed SB 169, which lets the DMV join a national system other states use to check license and ID records. Unless federal law requires it, the DMV may not share through that system whether you hold an AB 60 license or this kind of ID card, or your address or photo. Read the details on our AB 60 page.

Rules can change. If you have ever had a deportation order, a criminal case, or an ID under another name, talk with a trusted immigration legal service before you apply.

Who can help?

These are public offices and nonprofit legal services. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• California DMV: ID cards, AB 60 licenses, and help in your language. Call 1-800-777-0133. ID cards (dmv.ca.gov)
• Consulate General of Mexico in San José: consular IDs and passports for Mexican citizens. 302 Enzo Drive, Suite 200, San José. Office phone (408) 856 2840. Appointments through MiConsulado, 1 (424) 309 0009. Consular ID requirements (sre.gob.mx)
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto: immigration legal help for low income people in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Call 650-326-6440, or walk in at 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 1 pm. Immigration (clsepa.org)

What can I get ready now?

Start now. When the DMV opens, you will be ready on day one.