✓Non-citizens with legal presence can get a California REAL ID - permanent residents, naturalized citizens, and many visa holders.
✓You prove legal presence with one of the DMV’s accepted identity documents, such as a Permanent Resident Card, a foreign passport with valid U.S. visa and approved I-94, an EAD card, or a Certificate of Naturalization.
✓A REAL ID for a temporary status is valid only as long as your status - it can be issued for a shorter term.
✓AB 60 license holders cannot get a REAL ID - AB 60 is issued without legal-presence proof, which REAL ID requires.
EligibleLegal-presence non-citizens
Not eligibleAB 60 holders (no legal presence)
Key documentGreen card · visa+I-94 · EAD
ValidityTied to status expiration
A California REAL ID is available to non-citizens with legal presence in the United States - permanent residents, naturalized citizens, and many visa and work-authorized holders. The difference from an AB 60 license is the legal-presence requirement.
This guide covers who qualifies, which legal-presence document to bring by status, and why AB 60 holders specifically can’t get a REAL ID. For everything else, see the full REAL ID guide and the document checklist.
Who qualifies
You can get a REAL ID as a non-citizen if you can prove lawful status in the US, including:
Lawful permanent residents (green-card holders)
Naturalized US citizens
Nonimmigrant visa holders (student, work, and others) with a valid I-94
Employment-authorized individuals - the DMV list includes “Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card (I-766)”
DACA recipients, who apply “upon presentation of documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)”
TPS beneficiaries with current documentation
Your REAL ID’s validity is tied to your authorized stay - for temporary statuses, it may be issued for a shorter period and renewed when your status renews.
Why AB 60 isn’t eligible
The AB 60 license exists precisely so residents without legal-presence documentation can drive legally. Because REAL ID requires proof of legal presence, an AB 60 license can’t be a REAL ID - it carries the “FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY” mark. If an AB 60 holder later obtains legal presence (a green card, work visa, or naturalization), they can apply for a REAL ID at that point.
Heads up.The document above is your one identity document; you also need your SSN and two California residency proofs - see the full document checklist.
Special cases
Naturalized citizens
Use your US passport or Certificate of Naturalization - either fully satisfies identity and legal presence.
Conditional permanent residents
The DMV list includes “Valid Permanent Resident Card or Expired Permanent Resident Card with Notice of Action (I-797 C) or Approval Notice (I-797)”.
Recently changed name
Bring one of the DMV’s linking documents - a “Marriage certificate” or “A name change document that contains the legal name both before and after the name change”.
Frequently asked questions
Can a green-card holder get a REAL ID?
Yes. Your Permanent Resident Card is your one identity document (it also shows legal presence); bring it with your SSN and two residency proofs. See the document checklist.
Can DACA or TPS recipients get a REAL ID?
Yes - the DMV lists both. DACA recipients apply “upon presentation of documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)”; the DMV identity list includes “Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card (I-766)” and “Documents reflecting TPS benefit eligibility”. The DMV says the card “will expire on the same date as their U.S. legal presence document”.
I have a student or work visa - am I eligible?
Yes, with a valid foreign passport, US visa, and I-94. The card is valid up to the end of your authorized stay.
Why can't AB 60 holders get a REAL ID?
AB 60 licenses are for people unable to provide proof of legal presence, and the DMV says AB 60 applicants “are not eligible to receive a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card.” An AB 60 holder who later gains legal presence can then apply.
What happens to my REAL ID when my status renews?
You renew the REAL ID with updated legal-presence documents. If your status lapses, you may be limited to a non-REAL-ID license until it's restored.
Do I need a Social Security number?
If you've been issued one, provide the number on the application - the card isn’t required. The DMV adds that “exceptions may apply”.