For a REAL ID or driver’s license, you need one document from each of the first two categories, and two documents establishing your Tennessee residency.

The following original documents may be used to establish residency for Tennessee REAL ID, and at least one of the documents must be dated within the last four months:

Home utility bill (i.e. home or mobile phone, gas, electric, water)

Current Tennessee vehicle registration or certificate of title

Current Tennessee Voter Registration card

IRS tax return

Bank statement

Payroll check stub

Current rental/mortgage contract or receipt, including deed of sale for property

Notarized handwritten rental contracts or agreements

Current homeowner or renter insurance policy

Current automobile, life, or health insurance policy

Receipt for paid personal property or real estate taxes

Installment loans (automobile, student loan, bank loans, etc)

Current employer verification or letter from employer (must be on company letterhead with notarized signature)

Current driver’s license or ID

Handgun Carry Permit issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety to the applicant, or a parent, legal guardian, or spouse of the applicant

For a Tennessee driver’s license, applicants must present either two documents from the following list:

Current utility bill

Current bank statement

Current rental/mortgage contract or receipt including deed of sale for property

Current employer verification of resident address or letter from employer on company letterhead or with notarized signature

Current pay stub or work ID or badge, if address is included

Current automobile, life, or health insurance policy

Current driver’s license/ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety to a parent, legal guardian, or spouse of applicant

Current Tennessee motor vehicle registration or title

Current Tennessee voter registration

Current Internal Revenue Service tax reporting W-2 form (within the last year)

Receipt for personal property or real estate taxes paid (within the last year)

Photo student ID and acceptable documentation from the Dean or Bursar Office that the student lives on campus

If two documents cannot be provided from the above list, applicants can provide one from the above list and one from the list below to establish Tennessee residency:

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

Form I-94 issued to the applicant by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service

Employment Authorization Card (I-766) issued to the applicant by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service

I-551 issued to the applicant by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service

The two documents used to establish Tennessee residency may not be from the same source. For example, if you use your vehicle title as one document, you cannot use your vehicle registration as the second, as they’re both issued by the same entity.

MORE:

How to replace a lost driver's license in Tennessee

What documents do not qualify as proof of Tennessee residency?

Basically, any document not listed in this guide doesn’t count as proof of Tennessee residency. Also, photocopies of documents do not count. All documents must be either original or certified copies.

What qualifies for proof of identity in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, you must provide at least one document that establishes your citizenship or legal presence and one that establishes your Social Security Number to secure a driver’s license or REAL ID.

The following documents can be used to establish citizenship or legal presence for a REAL ID:

US Birth Certificate with a raised and/or color seal

Valid and unexpired US passport or passport card

US certificate or consular report of birth abroad (FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545)

Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card issued by DHS or INS (I-551)

Unexpired Employment Authorization Document issued by DHS (I-766 or I-688B)

Unexpired foreign passport with valid US visa and approved I-94 form

Certificate of Naturalization issued by DHS (N-550, N-570, or N-578)

Certificate of Citizenship issued by DHS (N-560 or N-561)

In addition to the above, drivers applying for a basic driver’s license may also use one of the following to establish citizenship or legal presence:

Official Birth Certificate issued by a US State, jurisdiction, or territory

US Government-issued Certified Birth Certificate

Foreign passport stamped by the US Government indicating that the holder has been “Processed for I-551

Arrival Departure Form I-94 with “Temporary I-551” stamp and holder’s photograph affixed

Travel Document issued to Permanent Resident (I-327)

Travel Document issued to Refugees (I-571)

Form I-94 stamped with one of the following statuses: Asylee, Parolee or Parole, Refugee, Asylum, HP-humanitarian parolee or PIP-public interest parolee

Applicants for REAL ID and driver’s licenses must present at least one of the following to establish proof of Social Security Number:

Social Security Card

W-2

IRS Form 1099

Printed pay stub

The documents must list your current legal name and your complete Social Security Number.

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