Colorado driver license and state ID — guide for immigrants

Colorado issues a driver license, permit, and ID card to undocumented residents under the Colorado Road and Community Safety Act (SB 251 / CO-RCSA), as a non-REAL ID “Standard Credential.” As of a March 31, 2025 update, the requirements were simplified — no Social Security number, ITIN, or tax return is needed. Here is exactly what to bring, what it costs, and what the card can and cannot do.

Quick answer

  • Undocumented driver-license access: YES — SB 251 / CO-RCSA Standard Credential
  • Social Security number required: No — and (since March 2025) no ITIN or tax return either
  • Driver license fee: $34 · Permit: $21.50 · Non-driver ID: $13.30
  • Card validity: 3 years
  • Card marking: “Not Valid For Federal Identification, Voting or Public Benefit Purposes” — not a REAL ID
  • Agency: Colorado DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles) · Phone: 303-205-5600

Who can apply

Standard credentials are “for Colorado residents who are non-lawfully present/undocumented or temporarily lawfully present.” A non-driver ID card is also available under the same program (you cannot hold both a license and an ID card).

Documents you need (simplified as of March 31, 2025)

  • Proof of identity and date of birth — a home-country passport, consular card (matrícula), or home-country military ID, unexpired or expired less than 10 years.
  • A completed Colorado Residency Affidavit (form DR 2212A) — signed in the office or brought in.
  • One proof of your current Colorado physical address — in English, dated within the past year, no P.O. boxes.

Non-English documents need a certified English translation. You no longer need an SSN, ITIN, Colorado tax return, or two years of residency.

What the card can and cannot do

The Standard Credential is not REAL ID compliant and carries a black banner: “Not Valid For Federal Identification, Voting or Public Benefit Purposes.” That means:

  • You can legally drive and use the card as everyday identification.
  • You cannot use it to board a flight, vote, or establish eligibility for public benefits. Carry your passport for federal purposes.

How to apply

  1. Pre-register online and schedule an appointment at a state driver license office (an appointment is required; walk-ins only as the schedule allows).
  2. Bring your identity document, the DR 2212A Residency Affidavit, and your proof of Colorado address.
  3. At the office: pass a vision exam, give fingerprints (required by law), and have your photo taken.
  4. Pay the fee — $34 for a license, $13.30 for an ID. You receive a paper temporary credential; the card is mailed within 30 days.

Last verified: 2026-06-28. Sources: Colorado DMV — Standard License and ID Cards and State DMV Fees.

General procedural information. DMV policies, fees, and document requirements change frequently — verify with the Colorado DMV before visiting. Not legal or immigration advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney.