New to Alaska from another country?
In accordance with Alaska Statute 28.15.101(d), the Alaska DMV may issue a driver’s license and/or identification card with a duration of less than 8 years to match the expiration date of your authorized stay in the United States. All documents provided must be original, valid, and unexpired.
DMV uses the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program to verify your immigration information. Upon application for an original or renewal of your Alaska Driver’s license or ID card, please be prepared to present your immigration documents issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USCIS/DHS). This may include any I-797 forms that extend your stay to specific dates or periods of time. The SAVE system may instantly verify your information. Please NOTE: Sometimes it may need to go to secondary verification by USCIS personnel and may take approximately 2 months to complete. Please refer to the SAVE tab below.
If you have become a U.S. Citizen since your last Alaska driver’s license or identification card was issued, please bring your unexpired U.S. Passport, Passport Card, or Certificate of Naturalization. If you have had a change in status, please bring updated original immigration documents to the DMV. If you have had a name change provide name change documents like marriage license, divorce decree, or court judgments. See below for more options.
For detailed information on how to update or obtain duplicate immigration status or citizenship documents please visit, https://www.uscis.gov/
For information on updating or applying for a U.S. Passport or Passport card please visit, https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html
For classes requiring an I-94, you must visit cbp.gov/i-94 to print a copy to include with your application.
NOTE: All documents used must be valid and unexpired. Please check your documents carefully before applying. Proof of SSN may be required depending on status. Additional documentation may be required, please visit your local DMV office if you have questions.
Am I eligible for an Alaska License, Permit, or ID card?
If your admittance class is in the ELIGIBLE tab below, then you can get a driver's license or identification card as outlined in that section. To be sure of your eligibility or for additional information please contact us.
Renewing your ID card?
You can renew your ID card up to one year before its expiration date.
For online renewals (if you renewed in-office last time per AS 28.15.101):
- From 1 year before to 1 year past expiration, click here to renew.
- If your ID card has been expired for more than 1 year, please submit a D1 application online through my.alaska.gov here.
If you renewed online last time, please visit a local Alaska DMV.
Did you lose your ID card - how to get a replacement
To get a replacement ID card, apply online here.
Designators to display on an ID card
Please visit each of these webpages to learn more about designators that can be displayed on your ID card. To apply for them, please mark your selection on the D1 application.
- Veteran –
- Provide proof of at least general discharge from service
- Organ donor –
- Invisible disability -
- Have a doctor complete this form 486 to submit with your D1 application.
Alcohol Restricted ID card
Due to circumstances, you may have been directed to get an alcohol restricted ID card which is an ID card with a “J” restriction. This assists in limiting the purchase or access to alcohol for some duration of time. This can be implemented by state government or self-imposed. Surrender any non-restricted license and ID cards and apply for the “J” restricted ID card by submitting a completed D1 application. The fee is an additional $50.
Examples of Required Documents to get an ID card
Listed below are the types of documents and examples of each. If you are unable to obtain any of these documents, please contact us for other possible options. When applying, please bring one of each type to the DMV.
Proof of your Legal name, Date of Birth, and lawful presence (called the "primary document")
These documents are acceptable for proving your legal name and date of birth. Please bring one:
- An original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate from Vital Statistics.
- Passport or passport card issued by the United States or US Territory.
- A foreign passport with appropriate immigration status forms issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.
- A resident alien, temporary resident alien, or employment work authorization document issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.
- An Alaska instruction permit or Alaska State Identification card.
- Certificate of Citizenship, Naturalization, or Birth Abroad.
Please Note: If your legal name is different than what is printed on your primary document, you must bring document(s) that provide proof of your name change. You must update your name with Social Security before changing your name with DMV.
Proof of your principal residence
The following items are acceptable for proving your principal residence. The document must show your residence address, not a post office box or other mail cache facility. Please bring one:
- Utility bill
- Alaska voter registration card
- Alaska title and/or registration (Issued at least 30 days prior to application)
- Paycheck Stub
- 1st class mail
- Change of address confirmation from USPS
- Tribal ID card for remote address within tribal area
- School Records
- Insurance documents
- Canceled check or bank statement
- Legitimate lease or mortgage documents
- Letter from employer, bank, utility, charitable organization, etc. on letterhead verifying applicant’s residence address
Social Security Number, in accordance with AS 28.15.061(b)(4)
If you have a Social Security Number, you must put it on your application. The information on your application must verify with Social Security’s records.
If you do not have a Social Security Number, you must provide documentation from the Social Security Administration verifying that you have not been issued a number
Proof of Name Change (if you have changed your legal name)
If you have had a name change, the DMV must be able to establish a connection between your old name, new name, and any names in between through the documents below. The documents must be an original or certified copy of the original issued by a government agency.
- U.S. Passport (Must be current)
- Amended birth certificate
- Certified adoption papers, marriage certificate, court order or divorce decree
- Certificate of Dissolution, Divorce or Annulment (referencing previous and adjudicated name)
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Name Change (referencing previous and adjudicated name)
NOTE: A name may not be added that is not otherwise found in linked documents. This can be done through an amended certificate or through a court-issued Certificate of Name Change.
| CLASS | DOCUMENTS REQUIRED |
|---|---|
| Permanent Resident | One of the following: valid I-551 Resident Alien Card, valid Passport stamped "Approved/processed I-551", valid Passport with Re-entry permit I-327, valid Passport with I-94 stamped "processed for I-551" |
| CLASS | DOCUMENTS REQUIRED |
|---|---|
| Refugee or Asylee | One of the following: valid Employment Authorization Document I-688B or I-766, valid Refugee Travel Document I-571, valid Passport with I-94 stamped as Refugee/Asylee |
| Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau | No visa required, must have Social Security card, valid Passport and valid I-94 |
| Parolee, conditional entrant, lawful temporary resident, temporary protected status, adjustment of status, etc. | Immigration status document indicating status, and one of the following: valid Employment Authorization Document I-688B or I-766, valid passport |
| CLASS | DOCUMENTS REQUIRED |
|---|---|
| F-1 / F-2 / F-3 | Valid Passport, US Visa, most current I-94, and SEVIS or DS-2019 Form. (F-3: Students from Canada or Bermuda, no US VISA required) |
| J-1 / J-2 | |
| M-1 / M-2 / M-3 |
| CLASS | DOCUMENTS REQUIRED |
|---|---|
| A-1 / A-2 / A-3 | Unexpired Foreign Passport, U.S. Visa, I-94, AND Non-Eligibility Letter from US Department of State |
| G-1 / G-2 / G-3 / G-4 / G-5 |
| CLASS | DOCUMENTS REQUIRED |
|---|---|
| B-1 / B-2 | Valid Passport, US Visa, most current I-94 (NATO and I VISA: Spouse and dependents with must provide tie in document such as marriage license, birth certificates, etc. to show relationship to principal military member) (B-1 / B-2: Also acceptable: Border Crossing Card, Unexpired Foreign Passport, I-94 as B1) (L-1A / L-1B: Spouse and dependents with must provide tie in document such as marriage license, birth certificates, etc. to show relationship to principal. Also, Canadian and Mexico Passport holders: U.S. Visa in not required) |
| E-1 / E-2 / E-3 | |
| G-2 / G-3 / G-4 / G-5 | |
| H1B / H1C / H2A / H2B | |
| H-3 / H-4 | |
| I | |
| K-1 / K-2 / K-3 / K-4 | |
| L-1A / L-1B / Spouse or Child of | |
| NATO 1-7 | |
| N-8 / N-9 | |
| O-1 / O-2 / O-3 | |
| P-1 / P-2 / P-3 / P-4 | |
| Q-1 / Q-2 / Q-3 | |
| R-1 / R-2 | |
| S-7 | |
| T-1 / T-2 / T-3 / T-4 | |
| TN1 / TN2 / TD | |
| U-1 / U-2 / U-3 / U-4 | |
| V-1 / V-2 / V-3 |
If you hold one of the following classes, unfortunately, you are Not eligible for a license, permit, or state ID card. You may apply upon being issued/granted an eligible admittance class.
| C-1 | Alien in transit through the U.S. |
| C-2 | Alien in transit to UN HQ district. Travel limited to 25 mile radius of Columbus Circle in New York City |
| C-3 | Foreign government official coming to UN, immediate family, attendants, servants, or other personal employees of official transit through the U.S. |
| C-4 | Transit without visa (TWOV) |
| D-1 | Alien crewmen |
| D-2 | Crew-member departing by means other than arriving vessel |
| WT/WB | Temporary Visa Waiver |
If SAVE cannot immediately verify your status through the computer and you are eligible for a license, ID, or permit, you will experience 2nd Step Verification. This means that a USCIS staff must review your documents manually. This can take approximately 8 weeks. You will be given a SAVE “Fact Sheet for Benefit Applicants” and a SAVE Case number.
The SAVE case # will be recorded the on the “Fact Sheet for Benefit Applicants”. You can use the public SAVE Case Check site to check the status of the case to see if you are eligible before returning to DMV:
https://www.uscis.gov/save/casecheck
Before returning to the DMV, you may check the status of your SAVE case by calling the DMV Call Center at 907-269-5551.
Upon receiving a positive return from your SAVE case, you may return to the DMV to complete the application for your credential. Be sure to bring your original immigration documents for the return visit.