Driving Tests

Arizona Travel ID: Documents You Need, Cost and How Long It Lasts

informational·how to guide·Published June 29, 2026

Do you need an Arizona Travel ID to fly?

Only if you have no U.S. passport or other federally approved ID. Since May 7, 2025, domestic TSA checkpoints accept only a REAL ID compliant card such as the Arizona Travel ID, a passport or another federally approved ID. The optional Travel ID costs $25 and lasts up to eight years in most cases. Bring one proof of identity, two proofs of Arizona residency and your full Social Security number.

Where the Arizona Travel ID rules come from

The ADOT Arizona Travel ID page gives the documents, the $25 cost, the validity and the mail time. The Arizona Driver License Manual (revised March 2026) has a longer identity list and the fee list. The license expiration rule is in A.R.S. 28-3171. Other details come from the ADOT pages on driver license information, fees, license renewal, teen permits and licenses, and proof of identification. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division (azdot.gov/mvd) before you drive.

What ID works at an Arizona airport checkpoint

At TSA airport security for a domestic flight, show a REAL ID compliant card, a U.S. passport or other federally approved ID. The Arizona Travel ID is one of these cards: look for the circle with a star on it.
A non-travel Arizona license does not work at TSA checkpoints. It shows NOT VALID FOR OFFICIAL FEDERAL PURPOSES across the front. A REAL ID compliant license or other identification is also required to enter restricted federal buildings.

Documents you need for an Arizona Travel ID

One proof of identity: One document from the identity lists in the table below, for example an unexpired U.S. passport or an original or certified birth certificate.
Your full Social Security number: You must give your complete Social Security number when you apply.
Two proofs of Arizona residency: Two documents from different sources, each with your name and your current Arizona residential address, such as a utility bill, a credit card or bank statement, an insurance policy or a government document.

Proof of identity: the ADOT page list and the manual list

Proof of identity: the ADOT page list and the manual list
Source	Identity documents it names
ADOT Travel ID page	Original or certified birth certificate; unexpired U.S. passport or passport card. Without a birth certificate: a Permanent Resident Card or a U.S. Certificate of Citizenship.
Arizona Driver License Manual (one of these)	Valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card; original or certified copy of a birth certificate from a state vital statistics office; Consular Report of Birth Abroad; valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551); unexpired employment authorization document (EAD); unexpired foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and the approval I-94 form; Certificate of Naturalization; Certificate of Citizenship.

What if a document is missing or your case is different?

You do not have two proofs of Arizona residency

Complete an Arizona Residency Affidavit. It counts as one proof of residency, and you still need one more proof of Arizona residency.

Your current legal name differs from the name on a document

Show legal proof of the name change, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order.

You are not a U.S. citizen and you have authorized legal presence

Use a document from the manual list, such as a Permanent Resident Card, an EAD, or a foreign passport with a U.S. visa and the I-94 form.

You are under 18

A parent or legal guardian signature is required to apply for a driver license. For a permit, bring originals of your supporting documents and your parent or guardian to sign approval. See the practice question on parent approval for a minor's application.

How to apply for an Arizona Travel ID

1
Gather your documents
Collect one proof of identity, two proofs of Arizona residency and any proof of a name change. The AZMVDNow.gov website helps you find which documents to bring.
2
Check your address
If necessary, update your address at AZMVDNow.gov before you apply. The card goes by mail to the address on your application.
3
Choose where to apply
If you have an Arizona license or ID, start on AZ MVD Now to see if you can apply online or must make an MVD office appointment. If you have no Arizona license or ID, visit an MVD office or an Authorized Third Party driver license location with your documents. New to the state? Read our guide to getting an Arizona license after a move.
4
Pay the $25 fee
Pay the fee when you apply. At an office, you get a temporary credential receipt with a photo.

Can you get a Travel ID when you renew your license?

Yes. You can apply for the Travel ID when you renew your Arizona license. ADOT's renewal page says that for the Travel ID you visit an office to get a photo taken and to show your identification documents. Schedule the appointment at AZMVDNow.gov.

How much does an Arizona Travel ID cost?

An Arizona Travel ID costs $25 for the first card and $25 for each renewal. The Arizona Driver License Manual fee list shows $25 for both the Travel Driver License and the Travel Identification Card. A duplicate of a lost, stolen, destroyed or unreadable Travel ID costs $12. For the non-travel license fees by age, see our guide to Arizona license costs and expiration.

How long is an Arizona Travel ID valid?

How long is an Arizona Travel ID valid?
Who	How long it lasts	Source
Most applicants	Up to eight years in most cases	ADOT Travel ID page
Age 60 or older	Five years from the issue date	ADOT Travel ID page
Age 58 or 59	Expires on the same day and month as the issue date, in the year you turn 65	ADOT Travel ID page
Non-U.S. citizens with authorized legal presence	Until your immigration documents expire, not more than eight years	ADOT Travel ID page
Any Arizona driver license, by law	Valid until your 65th birthday; up to five years if first issued at age 60 or older; renewable for five-year periods after your 60th birthday	A.R.S. 28-3171

How long does the Travel ID take to arrive by mail?

Your Travel ID comes by mail in up to 2 weeks. The ADOT driver license information page gives a longer limit: allow up to 15 days to receive the card at the address on your application. Get your Travel ID at least two weeks before a trip to allow for shipping.

Key takeaways

A Travel ID is optional, but since May 7, 2025 TSA checkpoints for domestic flights accept only a REAL ID compliant card, a U.S. passport or other federally approved ID.
Bring one proof of identity and two proofs of Arizona residency from different sources, and give your full Social Security number.
The Travel ID costs $25 for the first card and each renewal. It comes by mail, so apply at least two weeks before a trip.
It lasts up to eight years in most cases, five years at age 60 or older, with a special rule at ages 58 and 59.
Next step: if you are getting your first Arizona license, practice on the free Arizona Instruction Permit practice test. It is in English only.

Arizona Travel ID: common questions

Is an Arizona Travel ID the same as a REAL ID?

Yes. The Arizona Travel ID is the Arizona credential that complies with the federal REAL ID rules. You can get it as a driver license or as an identification card. Both forms cost $25, for the first card and for a renewal.

Do I need to bring my Social Security card?

No. No document is needed for your Social Security number, but you must give the complete number on your application. The number is used to verify your identity, and it will not be used as your driver license or identification card number.

Does the Arizona Travel ID have an RFID chip?

No. State law prohibits the Travel ID from containing a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip. This applies to both forms of the Travel ID: the driver license and the identification card.

Is a birth certificate copy from the hospital enough?

No. Hospital records and hospital certificates are not acceptable as a birth certificate for a Travel ID. Use an original or certified copy from the state vital statistics office of your state of birth, or another identity document, such as an unexpired U.S. passport or passport card.

Can I use my Travel ID to travel to Mexico or Canada?

Plan on a passport. The rules for international travel did not change with the Travel ID: a valid passport or equivalent is required to travel outside the United States. Mexico and Canada are outside the United States, so this rule applies to those trips too.