Driving Tests

What to Bring to the Alaska DMV: Standard vs REAL ID

informational·how to guide·Published June 8, 2026

What documents do you need to get an Alaska driver license?

Apply in person at an Alaska DMV office with Form D1. Bring one document from each group: a primary document that proves your name, date of birth and lawful presence; proof of your physical address (not a P.O. box); and your Social Security number. If your name changed, add name change proof. A REAL ID license costs $40 (U.S. dollars) instead of $20 and needs two proofs of Alaska residency.

Where the Alaska document rules come from

The Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) lists the documents on its first license page and its REAL ID page with the REAL-ID Checklist. The Social Security rule comes from Alaska Statute 28.15.061. The fees, the under-18 papers and the name change rules come from the DMV license fees, instruction permit and changing identification details pages. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (dmv.alaska.gov) before you drive.

Standard license vs REAL ID: what you bring

Standard license vs REAL ID: what you bring
What the DMV checks	Standard license	REAL ID
How you apply	In person at a DMV office, with Form D1 (fill it out and print it in advance)	In person. A REAL ID is optional. The DMV online REAL-ID Checklist lists the documents it accepts.
Name, date of birth and lawful presence	One primary document	Proof of U.S. citizenship, permanent residency or other lawful status. A birth certificate must come from a vital statistics office, not a hospital.
Address	One proof of your principal residence	Two documents that verify Alaska residency, not two from the same source in the same month or billing cycle
Social Security number	Write it on the application. It must match Social Security records. No number: bring Social Security Administration documentation.	Your number on the application, or a Social Security Administration ineligibility letter issued within the last 90 days
Name change	Proof, if your legal name differs from your primary document	Proof, if it applies
Fee for a non-commercial driver license (2026)	$20	$40 ($20 license fee plus $20 REAL ID fee)
How the card looks	No star. It says "Federal limits apply."	A star in the top right corner

Primary documents: proof of name, date of birth and lawful presence

An original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate from Vital Statistics.
A passport or passport card issued by the United States or a U.S. territory.
A foreign passport with the right immigration status forms from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
A resident alien, temporary resident alien or employment work authorization document from DHS and USCIS.
An Alaska instruction permit or an Alaska State Identification card.
A Certificate of Citizenship, Naturalization or Birth Abroad.

Proof of address for an Alaska license

Bring one document that shows your legal first and last name and your residence address with city, state and zip code.
A post office box or a mail cache facility does not count. The DMV needs a physical address.
Accepted examples include a utility bill, an Alaska voter registration card, a paycheck stub, a canceled check or bank statement, insurance documents, school records, and lease or mortgage documents.
A letter on letterhead from an employer, bank, utility or charitable organization that verifies your address also works.

If your situation is different

You live in an off-highway exempt community without street addresses

A physical description can stand in for the street address on your documents, for example "Shore line road House 2, Ekuk, AK 99569". Other proofs there include a lease signed by tenant and landlord, a heating oil, drinking water or septic bill with the service address, a W-2 or hiring agreement, and a Tribal ID card that lists you as a member of that village or community.

You have no Social Security number

Bring documentation from the Social Security Administration that it has not issued you a number. For a REAL ID, bring a letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration. State law requires the number only from an applicant who has been issued one.

You cannot get one of the documents

Contact the Alaska DMV and ask about other options before your visit.

What to bring if your name changed

Update your name with Social Security before you change it with the DMV. Then bring documents that connect your old name, your new name and any names in between. They must be originals or certified copies issued by a government agency. Examples: a current U.S. passport, an amended birth certificate, certified adoption papers, a marriage certificate, a court order or divorce decree, a Certificate of Naturalization and a Certificate of Name Change. To change the name on a license, permit or ID card later, bring the proof to a DMV office in person. You must tell the DMV about a name or address change within 30 days (AS 28.05.071).

Extra papers for applicants under 18

A teen applies for an instruction permit between ages 14 and 16, or for a provisional license between ages 16 and 18. For an instruction permit, bring Form D1, parental consent Form 433 (Form 433M for a motorcycle) and proof of your relationship to the minor, such as a birth certificate, adoption documents or guardianship documents. A parent or guardian, or a spouse who is at least 18, signs the application. For a motorcycle permit or license under 18, both parents or guardians must consent. The Alaska instruction permit guide has the full steps, and the practice question on consent for an applicant under 18 covers the signature rule.

Do you need a REAL ID in Alaska?

No. A REAL ID is optional for Alaskans with a non-commercial license.
Since May 7, 2025, a card that does not meet federal standards cannot be used to enter federal buildings or military bases, or to board commercial flights.
A valid passport or a military ID may already meet REAL ID requirements. So does a photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal government itself. IDs from village councils or other organizations may not.
The instruction permit has no REAL ID version and costs $15. The Alaska license and permit fees guide has the other fees.

Key takeaways

Apply in person at an Alaska DMV office with Form D1. Bring one document from each group: primary document, proof of address and Social Security number.
Proof of address must show a physical address. A post office box does not count.
Add proof of name change if your legal name differs from your primary document, and update Social Security first.
A REAL ID is optional. It costs $40 instead of $20 and needs two proofs of Alaska residency.
Next step: practice for your permit on the free Alaska Class D permit practice test.

Alaska DMV documents: common questions

Can I use my vehicle registration as proof of address in Alaska?

Only if the Alaska title or registration was issued at least 30 days before you apply. If you just moved and your registration is newer, bring another proof, such as a USPS change of address confirmation, first-class mail or insurance documents. The document must show your legal name and your physical address.

What if I was born in Alaska and do not have my birth certificate?

Order a copy from Alaska Vital Records at vitalrecords.alaska.gov. If no birth certificate is on file, Vital Records asks for an Application for Delayed Birth Registration, evidence of your birth in Alaska such as school or immunization records, and a Birth Certificate Order form with a $60 fee. A U.S. passport also works as a primary document.

Can I bring a photocopy of my marriage certificate to change my name?

No. Photocopies and fax copies are not accepted. Bring an original certified copy. The marriage certificate must come from Vital Statistics. A certificate of divorce, dissolution or annulment must be issued by the court system and state your new legal name. Update your name with Social Security first.

Do I bring my documents again if I already have an Alaska license and want a REAL ID?

Yes. All REAL ID applicants, including current Alaska card holders, must apply in person and give the DMV source documents, even if they sent them before. Use the DMV online REAL-ID Checklist to see which documents it accepts. The upgrade adds a $20 REAL ID fee to the $20 license fee.

Can I have both an Alaska driver license and an Alaska ID card?

Yes. An Alaska resident can hold both at the same time, but only one of them can be REAL ID compliant. A standard State Identification Card costs $15, and a REAL ID card costs $35 ($15 plus the $20 REAL ID fee) as of 2026. At age 60 or older, the standard card is free and the REAL ID card costs $20.