✓Non-citizens with legal presence can get a California REAL ID — permanent residents, naturalized citizens, and many visa holders.
✓You must show a legal-presence document: green card, valid visa with I-94, employment authorization (EAD), or naturalization certificate.
✓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 a standard or AB 60 license is the legal-presence requirement, which is the heart of the federal REAL ID standard.
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, including DACA recipients, with a valid EAD
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 under federal law, 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.You'll also need the standard identity, 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
A 2-year green card works; if it's expired with a pending I-751, bring the extension notice.
Recently changed name
Bring the document bridging the change (marriage certificate, court order). See name change.
Frequently asked questions
Can a green-card holder get a REAL ID?
Yes. Bring your Permanent Resident Card as the legal-presence document plus the standard identity, SSN, and two residency proofs. See the document checklist.
Can DACA or TPS recipients get a REAL ID?
Yes, with a valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The REAL ID's validity is tied to your authorization period and may be issued for a shorter term.
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 issued without legal-presence documentation, and REAL ID requires legal presence by federal law. 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 — you don't need to bring the card; the DMV verifies it electronically. If you've never been eligible for an SSN, the DMV has an alternative process; ask at the office.