What Counts As Proof of Residency In Texas?
If you need proof of residency in Texas, you can use mortgage statements, current insurance policies, utility bills, or a valid voter registration card.
Written by Andrea Barrett
Edited by Jessica Barrett
You can use mortgage statements, current insurance policies, utility bills, or a valid voter registration card to provide proof of residency in Texas—but be sure it meets the Texas DPS’s requirements.
- You’ll need to have two documents that prove your Texas residency to apply for a driver’s license or REAL ID.
- Proof of identity documents fall into three categories: primary identity documents, secondary identity documents, and supporting identity documents.
- You can use several forms of documentation, such as a current Texas car insurance policy, mortgage statement, or health card, for proof of Texas residency.
- Documents proving your identity must be original—photocopies are only accepted for proof of residency.
- You’ll need to have two documents that prove your Texas residency to apply for a driver’s license or REAL ID.
- Proof of identity documents fall into three categories: primary identity documents, secondary identity documents, and supporting identity documents.
- You can use several forms of documentation, such as a currentTexas car insurancepolicy, mortgage statement, or health card, for proof of Texas residency.
- Documents proving your identity must be original—photocopies are only accepted for proof of residency.
You need two documents to prove Texas residency
If you’re looking to apply for a Texas driver’s license or REAL ID, the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) requires you to provide identification documents that prove the following:
- U.S. citizenship (or evidence of lawful presence)
- Texas residency
- Identity
- Social Security number
To verify your residency in the Lone Star State, you must provide two printed documents as proof of residency. They should contain your name and residential address. One document must show that you’ve lived in Texas for at least 30 days.
- Current deed, mortgage, monthly mortgage statement, mortgage payment booklet, or residential lease agreement
- Current homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy
- Current car payment booklet or payment
- Valid, unexpired Texas voter registration card
- Texas motor vehicle registration or title
- Texas boat registration or title
- Concealed handgun license (CHL) or license to carry (LTC)
- Utility bill (e.g., water, electricity, garbage, phone, gas, or cable) dated within 90 days of application
- Selective Service card
- Texas high school, college, or university report card or transcript for the current school year
- W-2, 1099, or 1098 tax form from your employer, government, or financial institution for the last tax year
- Bank statement dated within 90 days before the application
- Paycheck or pay stub dated within 90 days before the application
- Official mail from a state, county, city, village, or federal agency, including U.S. Military or Veterans Administration indicating residential address
- Medical or health card
- Recent release or parole document from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
- Current DS-2019 form from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Letter of Texas residency from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD)
Take note: Proof of residency documents may be photocopies, but proof of U.S. citizenship, identity, and Social Security number must be original documents.
Understanding proof of identity documents in Texas
To help reduce identity theft, individuals must present specific documents to verify their identity when applying for a Texas driver’s license or REAL ID. There are three ways to do this:
- Bring one item from the “Primary Identity Documents” category; or
- Bring two items from the “Secondary Identity Documents” category; or
- Bring one item from the “Secondary Identity Documents” category and two documents from the “Supporting Identity Documents” category.
Here’s a breakdown of what documents are accepted from each category.
Primary identity
Items classified as primary identity verification include:
- Texas driver’s license or ID card
- Valid U.S. passport book or card
- U.S. Certificate of Citizenship
- U.S. Citizen Identification Card
- Permanent Resident Card
- Machine Readable Immigrant Visa
- Employment Authorization Card
- Unexpired U.S. Travel Document
- Advance Parole Document
- I-94 stamped Sec. 208 Asylee or Sec. 207 Refugee
- Valid Refugee Travel Letter
- American Indian Card
- Northern Mariana card
- Valid foreign passport with attached visa
- U.S. military ID card
Secondary identity
If you’re bringing secondary identity items, there are a few options:
- Original or certified copy of a birth certificate
- Certificate of report of birth
- Original or certified copy of a court order with your name and date of birth indicating a name and/or gender change
Birth documents other than those listed must meet the following requirements:
- Issued by a local or state government
- Lists bearer's full name, date of birth, gender, and place of birth
- Lists parent(s) full names
- Has date filed with registrar's office
- Has the registrar's signature
- Has embossed, impressed, or multicolored seal of registrar
Supporting identity
If you don’t have a primary or two secondary documents, you can provide one secondary document (listed above) and two supporting documents. Acceptable documents include:
- Original Social Security card
- Texas driver’s license or ID card
- Valid driver’s license or ID from another state
- Receipt of Temporary Texas driver's license or ID card
- Form W-2 or 1099
- School report card
- School ID
- U.S. military dependent identification card
- Original or certified copy of marriage license or divorce decree
- Texas Voter registration card
- Original pilot license
- Concealed handgun license or license to carry
- Military Records
- Professional license from a Texas state agency
- Hospital-issued birth record
- Consular document from a state or national government
- Original or certified copy of an abstract birth certificate
- Texas Inmate ID card
- Veterans ID card
- Texas vehicle or boat registration
- Original Medicare or Medicaid card
- Original Selective Service card
- Immunization records
- Valid foreign passport
- Insurance policy (continuously for the previous two years)
- Tribal membership card
Again, remember that documents proving your identity must be original. Photocopies of accepted documents for a Texas driver’s license only apply to proofs of residency.
FAQs
Can you get a Texas ID without proof of residency?
No—the Texas DMV requires all individuals applying for a Texas driver's license (DL) or identification card (ID) to provide documents proving their residency in Texas for at least 30 days. If you haven’t lived in Texas for 30 days, you can fill out a Texas Residency Affidavit (DL-5).
What happens if you don't have proof of residency in Texas?
If you don’t have proof of residency in Texas but are still a resident of or a domicile in Texas, you must fill out a
Texas Residency Affidavit (DL-5)
. Someone who resides at the same address as you will need to complete the Affidavit and provide proper identification and two documents that verify residency.
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