There is no minimum age to get an ID in most of the United States. A state identification card can be issued to a resident of any age in the majority of states, a U.S. passport has no age floor at all, and a driver’s license becomes available somewhere between 14½ and 17 depending on where you live. Which answer applies to you depends on which kind of ID you mean.
State ID Cards: Usually Any Age
A state identification card is a government-issued photo ID that works like a driver’s license for proving who you are, without granting driving privileges. Most states allow residents of any age to apply, which means a parent can get one for a newborn, a toddler, or a school-age child. A small number of states do set a minimum age, so confirm your state’s rule on its motor vehicle agency website before you go.
For a teenager, a state ID card is useful for school enrollment, opening a bank account, or boarding a domestic flight once they turn 18. For younger children, it’s mostly a backup form of identification that parents keep on hand.
Applicants under 18 generally need a parent or legal guardian to come to the motor vehicle office with them and sign the application. Some states also ask for proof of the relationship, such as a birth certificate or a court custody order.
U.S. Passports: No Minimum Age
A U.S. passport can be issued at any age, including to newborns. Parents routinely apply for passports for infants when international travel is on the calendar. Passports issued to children under 16 are valid for five years, compared with ten years for adults.
For a child under 16, both parents or legal guardians must appear in person with the child and give consent. If one parent cannot attend, that parent submits a notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) along with a photocopy of their photo ID. A parent with sole legal custody can apply alone but must bring a court order or other documentation proving sole custody.1U.S. Department of State. Apply for a Child’s Passport Under 16
A passport book works as ID for both international and domestic air travel. A passport card is a cheaper, wallet-sized version that covers domestic flights and land or sea crossings to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, but it cannot be used for international air travel. Both are REAL ID-compliant.2U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passports and REAL ID
Driver’s Licenses: 14½ to 17 to Start
Every state uses some form of graduated driver licensing, a three-phase system that starts with a learner’s permit, progresses to an intermediate or provisional license, and ends with a full, unrestricted license. The minimum age to enter that system varies widely. South Dakota allows learner’s permits as young as 14½. New Jersey doesn’t issue a first license until age 17.3National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Graduated Driver Licensing
During the learner’s permit phase, a teen can only drive with a fully licensed adult in the vehicle. After holding the permit for a required period and completing supervised driving hours, the teen moves to an intermediate license that allows unsupervised driving with restrictions. Common restrictions include nighttime curfews and limits on how many passengers can ride along.
A full, unrestricted license is granted after the teen completes the intermediate stage and reaches the state’s required age, which in most states falls between 16 and 18. In most states, graduated licensing rules apply only to drivers under 18, so an adult applying for a first license typically faces a shorter process.
Vision and Medical Screening
Age alone doesn’t guarantee a license. Nearly every state requires applicants to pass a vision screening, with the standard minimum visual acuity set at 20/40 in the better eye, with or without corrective lenses. States may also require a medical evaluation if an applicant has a condition that could affect safe driving, such as epilepsy or a seizure disorder. Failing a screening doesn’t necessarily bar you from a license; it may result in a restricted license or a requirement to provide a physician’s clearance.
What a Minor Needs to Apply
When applying for an ID or license on behalf of a child, the parent or guardian typically needs to present their own valid ID along with the child’s documents. The three categories of proof most states ask for are the same ones adults bring:
- Identity: An original birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or Permanent Resident Card.
- Social Security number: A Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub showing the full SSN. For a newborn, parents can request a Social Security number at the hospital when providing information for the birth certificate, or later at a Social Security office.
- Residency: Documents showing the current address, such as a utility bill, lease, bank statement, or mortgage statement. Most states ask for two.
Getting a Social Security number for a newborn is voluntary but strongly recommended, since it’s needed for tax purposes, medical coverage, and eventually for the child’s own identification applications.5Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Children
If the child’s name has changed through a court order or adoption, bring the supporting document. Each state’s motor vehicle agency lists exactly what it accepts, so verify the list before the visit. Showing up without the right paperwork means a wasted trip.
Do Kids Need ID to Fly?
One place the age question comes up constantly is the airport. Children under 18 do not need identification to fly domestically. The TSA ID requirement, including the REAL ID rule in effect since May 7, 2025, applies only to passengers 18 and older.6Transportation Security Administration. Do Minors Need Identification to Fly Within the U.S.?7Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
So while a newborn can hold a passport and a toddler can hold a state ID card in most places, there is no federal rule forcing a parent to obtain one just to put a child on a domestic flight. Parents who do get an early ID or passport for a child are usually doing it for international travel, for identity records, or as a backup form of identification.
The Short Answer by ID Type
Pulling the ages together:
- State ID card: Any age in most states; a few states set a minimum.
- U.S. passport (book or card): Any age, including newborns, with both parents’ consent required under 16.
- Learner’s permit: As young as 14½ in some states.
- Full driver’s license: Typically 16 to 18, depending on the state and completion of graduated licensing stages.
Before you go, check your state’s motor vehicle agency website for its specific minimum age, document list, and whether a parent needs to appear in person. The requirements are consistent enough across states to plan around, but the fine details, especially the minimum age for a state ID and the exact graduated licensing timeline, are set locally.