Driving Tests

What to Bring to the CT DMV for a Learner's Permit and REAL ID

informational·how to guide·Published August 1, 2026

What documents do I need for a Connecticut learner's permit?

Bring two forms of identification (at least one from the DMV Primary list), two proofs of Connecticut address from two different sources, usually dated within 90 days, and your Social Security number. Also bring signed Form R-229, your printed Work Zone Safety Course certificate and the $40 exam fee. Photocopies are not accepted. A REAL ID gold star is optional.

Where this document list comes from

The list comes from the Connecticut DMV document checklist (form DI-3, revised June 2026). The DMV knowledge and vision test page, REAL ID page, license FAQ, exchange page, translator list and fee chart add the form, fee, certificate and gold star details. The Work Zone course rule comes from Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 14-111r (2026 Supplement). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Connecticut DMV (portal.ct.gov/dmv) before you drive.

Your permit appointment checklist

Two forms of identification, at least one from the DMV Primary document list (see the table below).
Two proofs of Connecticut residency from two different sources.
Your Social Security number. The DMV checks it with the Social Security Administration.
Form R-229, completed and signed. You can print it after you make your online DMV appointment.
The printed completion certificate from the free Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course.
The $40 license exam fee.
Glasses or contact lenses, if you need them for the vision test.
If you are under 18 and no parent or guardian comes to the knowledge test: Certificate of Parental Consent (Form 2-D).

What counts as identity, address and legal presence

What counts as identity, address and legal presence
Part of the checklist	What the DMV asks for	Watch out for
Identity (two documents)	At least one from the Primary list. For a U.S.-born person, that is a U.S. or U.S. territory birth certificate, or a U.S. passport or passport card. The Social Security card is on the Secondary list.	Two documents of the same type do not count. The Social Security card must not be laminated or metal, and people 16 and older must sign it.
Connecticut address (two proofs)	Two hard-copy documents from two different sources. Each shows your name and Connecticut address, is computer generated (typed) and is dated within 90 days. Some, such as a property or excise tax bill, may be up to 12 months old.	Postmarked mail counts, and the address on it may be handwritten. More examples are on the DMV checklist.
Legal presence (not born in the U.S.)	Documents that show you are in the U.S. legally. The DMV checks most of them with the SAVE system.	For a first Connecticut permit, go to a DMV hub office. A person with B1/B2, waiver-tourist or waiver-business visitor status is not eligible for a Connecticut license or ID.
Name change	If your name is different from the name on your Primary document, a name change document from Section E of the checklist.	Your new name must match the name the Social Security Administration has on file. Visit the SSA first to change it.

Do photocopies work at the CT DMV?

No. The DMV needs valid, unexpired original documents or certified copies. Photocopies, faxed copies, notarized photocopies, non-certified copies and damaged documents are not acceptable. Your two proofs of address must also be hard copies. Read the full DMV checklist before your appointment, because it lists every Secondary and residency document that counts.

Do I need a Social Security number for a permit?

Yes. By law, you must give your Social Security number, and the DMV verifies it with the Social Security Administration. The number of every new permit applicant is recorded on the application. For a REAL ID, the DMV no longer asks for documentation of the number, but a Social Security card can still be one of your identity documents. If you are not sure which documents to bring, call the DMV Contact Center at 860-263-5700.

Special cases: what changes for you

You are a minor and your parent or guardian has the bills

A parent or legal guardian who lives at the same address can give any two acceptable documents, addressed to them, to prove your residency. A parent or guardian can also use their own Connecticut license or ID with the same address as one of the two documents.

Your documents are not in English

A DMV-approved translator must translate them. The DMV does not accept a translation unless it has the translator number, the document type, the date, the business name (if any), the translator's printed name and signature, and the original document.

You hold a Connecticut non-driver ID

If it is unexpired, or expired no longer than two years, the card can be your only required identification for a new learner's permit. Bring it to the test. The DMV takes the card when it issues your permit. You can also choose to have your identity verified for REAL ID.

You hold a learner's permit from another state

Out-of-state learner's permits are not transferable, so you apply for a Connecticut permit. An out-of-state U.S., U.S. territory or Canadian photo learner's permit can count as one Secondary identity document.

Work Zone certificate, fees and the knowledge test

Since January 1, 2026, anyone who applies for a learner's permit must finish the free online Connecticut Work Zone Safety Course first (the law calls it an instruction permit). Give the printed certificate to the DMV, with your other documents, before the knowledge test. The practice question on the Work Zone course covers this step. The license exam fee is $40, and the Class D learner's permit fee is $19. You take the vision test first, then the 25-question knowledge test. Our guide to the Connecticut permit test covers the test itself.

What is a REAL ID gold star, and do I need one?

A REAL ID shows a gold star in the top right corner of the license or ID card. A card without the identity check is marked "Not for Federal Identification". To board a domestic flight or enter certain federal buildings, you need a REAL ID, a passport or another ID that the federal government accepts. The star is optional: you can decline verification and still drive legally. Only U.S. citizens, permanent residents and asylee/refugees with acceptable documentation are eligible for a full-term REAL ID. A drive-only license does not qualify. See the DMV REAL ID page for the current steps.

What to bring for a REAL ID gold star

Go to a DMV site in person for your first REAL ID. Non-U.S. citizens must go to a DMV office.
In most cases: a U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate, and a Social Security card.
Two pieces of mail from two different sources, dated within 90 days, that show you live in Connecticut.
The card arrives by mail within 20 business days.

Key takeaways

Bring two identity documents (one from the Primary list), two proofs of Connecticut address (usually dated within 90 days) and your Social Security number.
Take originals or certified copies. Photocopies, notarized photocopies and damaged documents are not accepted.
Also bring signed Form R-229, your printed Work Zone Safety Course certificate and the $40 exam fee.
A REAL ID gold star is optional. You can drive legally without it, and a drive-only license does not qualify.
Next step: practice for the knowledge test on the free Connecticut Class D practice test.

Connecticut permit documents: common questions

Can I use a hospital birth certificate for my Connecticut permit?

No. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable. Bring an original or certified U.S. or U.S. territory birth certificate or Registration of Birth, or use a U.S. passport or passport card as your Primary document. If you were born in Puerto Rico, a birth certificate dated before July 1, 2010 must be replaced first.

What if I don't have a Social Security number?

A non-U.S. citizen who is not eligible for a Social Security number must bring an ineligibility letter from the Social Security Administration. If you cannot show legal presence in the U.S. or have no Social Security number, you may be eligible for a Connecticut drive-only license instead.

What if I fail the permit knowledge test?

You wait seven days and pay $40 to reschedule your appointment, then take the test again. You need at least 20 correct answers out of 25 to pass. The practice question on the retest wait shows the rule in a short quiz.

How long does the DMV take to check my legal presence documents?

The DMV checks legal status with the SAVE system, and this may take ten business days or more. If you show a U.S. passport or passport card, the SAVE check is not needed. Plan for the wait before you count on a test date, and bring original documents.

Does a REAL ID gold star cost extra?

Not at renewal: a license or ID renewal costs the same with or without the identity check. If you are not due for a renewal and want a REAL ID now, you pay a $30 duplicate fee. Either way, you must go to a DMV site in person for your first REAL ID.