Maryland driver license and state ID — guide for immigrants

Maryland issues a noncompliant (standard) driver license and ID card to residents without lawful immigration status, in place since 2013. Instead of a Social Security number, you provide a Maryland tax-certification letter showing two years of Maryland income taxes. Here is exactly who qualifies, the documents, and what it costs.

Quick answer

  • Undocumented driver-license access: YES — the noncompliant (standard) license
  • Social Security number required: No — instead, a Maryland tax-certification letter (2 years of MD taxes)
  • Driver license fee: $88 (new, age 21+); $64 (8-year renewal)
  • ID card fee: $40 (no fee at 65+ or with a qualifying disability); valid 8 years
  • Card marking: noncompliant — not for federal purposes
  • Agency: MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)
  • Website: mva.maryland.gov · Phone: 410-768-7000

Who can apply

Immigrants without valid U.S. immigration documentation are eligible to apply for a noncompliant driver license or ID card. The card is “valid for everyday use but cannot be used for federal purposes such as boarding flights or entering federal buildings.” Maryland also issues a noncompliant non-driver ID card to people who cannot provide proof of lawful presence — ID eligibility is met by either legal status or filing Maryland taxes.

The Social Security substitute: a Maryland tax-certification letter

If you do not have a Social Security number, you obtain a Maryland tax-certification letter showing you filed Maryland income taxes for two years. This replaces the SSN requirement. (An existing holder with no verified SSN can still renew if the license/ID has not been expired more than one year — the new card will be noncompliant.)

Documents you need

Applicants presenting foreign documentation without USCIS documentation must schedule an appointment to apply for the federally noncompliant license. Use the MVA Online Document Guide to determine exactly which identity, residency, and Social Security (or tax-certification) documents to bring to your appointment.

What the card can and cannot do

The noncompliant card is not REAL ID compliant:

  • You can use it to drive and as everyday identification.
  • You cannot use it for federal purposes such as boarding a flight or entering a federal building. Carry your passport for those.

How to apply

  1. File Maryland income taxes for two years and request your tax-certification letter (if you have no SSN).
  2. Check the MVA Online Document Guide for your exact identity and residency documents.
  3. Schedule an in-person appointment at an MVA branch — first-time license/ID applications must be made in person by appointment.
  4. Bring your original documents and the tax-certification letter.
  5. Pay the fee — $88 for a new driver license (21+) or $40 for an ID card. Cards are valid 8 years.

If you are lawfully present

Lawfully-present non-citizens can get a REAL ID by proving legal presence and providing a document showing the full Social Security number. Temporary-status applicants receive a limited-term card valid only for the duration of their lawful status, with the fee prorated.

Last verified: 2026-06-28. Sources: Maryland MVA — Noncompliant Driver’s Licenses/IDs, Identification (ID) Card, and Fees.

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