Driving Tests

What to Bring to the Indiana BMV for a Permit or License: Real ID Checklist

informational·how to guide·Published August 15, 2026

What documents do you bring to the Indiana BMV for a permit or license?

Bring originals or certified copies of one proof of identity, one proof of lawful status, one document with your full Social Security number and two printed proofs of Indiana residency to a BMV branch. A U.S. passport or a U.S. birth certificate covers identity and, in most cases, lawful status. With these four proofs, the BMV issues a Real ID-compliant permit, license or ID card.

Where this checklist comes from

The lists come from the Indiana BMV Real ID overview, the BMV learner's permit page and Appendix A of the Indiana Driver's Manual (July 2026). The ConfirmID facts come from the same Real ID page and a BMV news release. All facts are as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (in.gov/bmv) before you drive.

The four proofs for a new permit, license or ID card

The four proofs for a new permit, license or ID card
Proof	How many	What counts
Identity	1	An unexpired U.S. passport, or an original or certified U.S. birth certificate filed with a state or territory office of vital statistics.
Lawful status	1	In most cases your identity document also proves it. The BMV checks non-citizen documents through the federal SAVE program.
Social Security number	1	A Social Security card, a W-2 form, an SSA-1099 or non-SSA-1099 form, or a pay stub with your name and Social Security number. The full number must show.
Indiana residency	2, printed	Two different documents with your name and Indiana address (see the list below).

Which documents prove you live in Indiana

Two printed documents must show your Indiana address. A computer-generated bill from a utility company, credit card company, doctor or hospital counts when it is issued within 60 days of your branch visit. A bank statement, a pre-printed pay stub, or a Medicaid or Medicare benefit statement also counts. The manual asks for a date within 60 days on bank statements and pay stubs, and adds a lease, a rental contract or a mortgage with your name, your address and every needed signature.
Use the address where you live now. When you move later, tell the BMV about your new address.

What if you are missing a document?

You have no birth certificate

Ask your state or county Department of Health for an original or certified copy.

You have no Social Security card

Request a replacement card from the Social Security Administration. If you are not eligible for a number, bring Social Security Administration documents that show this.

You have fewer than two residency documents

Submit State Form 50879, the Indiana Residency Affidavit. The person who signs it for you does so at a BMV branch.

Your current legal name or date of birth differs from your identity document

Bring legal proof of the change.

A document has no English subheadings

Add an English translation typed on a separate page on the letterhead of a government entity, an accredited school or a translation agency, with a signed statement from the translator that it is complete and accurate.

You are not a U.S. citizen

If you show a foreign passport, also bring your I-94 arrival record and U.S. visa. The BMV checks your lawful status through SAVE. See the rules for a foreign license, or call the BMV Contact Center at 888-692-6841, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

Is every Indiana license a Real ID?

No. A Real ID driver's license or ID card has a star in the top right corner. A non-compliant card reads "NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES". It lets you drive and vote, but it is not acceptable for federal identification. Only people who already hold a non-compliant card can keep that status. Since May 7, 2025, you need a Real ID-compliant card to board a commercial flight or enter certain federal facilities. The BMV cannot remove the Real ID mark once it is on a card.

Do you need new documents for a Real ID?

You apply for your first permit, license or ID card

Bring the four proofs. Indiana asks every new applicant for them and then issues a Real ID credential.

Your card already has the star

You need no Real ID documents on later visits.

Your card says "NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES"

To get a Real ID, bring original or certified documents to a BMV branch when you renew, amend or replace it.

You have temporary or permanent resident status

You always get a Real ID credential, and you bring Real ID documents again on later visits.

ConfirmID: the airport rule for travelers without a Real ID

Since February 1, 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires a traveler without a Real ID or a TSA-approved ID, such as a U.S. passport, to complete an extra identity screening at the airport. It costs $45 and is valid for only 10 days. A Hoosier with a Real ID avoids ConfirmID.

Before you go to the BMV branch

1
Check your current card
Look for the star in the top right corner.
2
Match each document to the table
Take originals or verifiable certified copies. Make sure your name and date of birth match, or bring proof of the change.
3
Check the dates
Bills, bank statements and pay stubs for residency must be dated within 60 days of your visit.
4
Bring the adult who signs for a minor
Under 18, an adult signs the agreement of financial liability in person at the branch. That adult shows a valid ID, including a U.S. government-issued photo ID with a U.S. address. A permit applicant under 18 also gives an emergency contact who is 18 or older.
5
Know your permit age
At 15, bring the Certificate of Driver Education Enrollment from your BMV-licensed behind-the-wheel school. At 16, you need no course. See the learner's permit rules.

Key Takeaways

Bring four kinds of proof: identity, lawful status, full Social Security number and two printed Indiana residency documents.
Bring originals or certified copies to a BMV branch.
The star in the top right corner marks a Real ID. A card that says "NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES" is not acceptable for federal identification.
Missing a document? Ask the Department of Health for a birth certificate, the Social Security Administration for a card, or use the Indiana Residency Affidavit for residency.
Next step: practice for the knowledge exam on the free Indiana operator practice test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Indiana BMV accept a Matricula Consular card?

No. The BMV does not accept Matricula Consular cards to prove identity or residency. Bring another identity document from the list, such as a passport, and two other residency documents. Call the BMV Contact Center at 888-692-6841 if you are not sure which document fits your case.

Can a post office box be my address for the BMV?

No. A post office box cannot serve as a residential address. The only exception is an applicant enrolled in the Indiana Attorney General's Address Confidentiality Program. Everyone else uses the address where they live, and each residency document shows your name and that address.

Can I bring a photocopy of my birth certificate to the BMV?

For a new permit, license or ID card, the BMV asks for original versions or verifiable certified copies. A U.S. birth certificate must be an original or a certified copy filed with a state or territory office of vital statistics. If you do not have one, ask your state or county Department of Health for a certified copy before your visit.

Who can sign the Indiana Residency Affidavit for a permit?

For a permit, the signer must be at least 18 and live with you. The signer shows an unexpired Indiana license or ID, one identity document and two residency documents. The affidavit is State Form 50879, and it is signed at a BMV branch.

What do I bring if my last name changed?

Bring your identity document and legal proof of the change, such as a marriage license, a divorce decree or a court order. If your name changed more than once, you may need a document for each change. A court order or an amended birth certificate shows a change in date of birth.