On almost any permit, the permit number is printed on the front of the document, usually in the top-right corner or header, next to a label such as “Permit No.,” “License Number,” or “ID#.” Where exactly the permit number sits on your permit depends on what kind of permit you hold, but the labeled field on the face of the card or the first page of the form is where to look first.
Where to Look First on Any Permit
Check three spots before anything else: the top-right corner, the document header, and the area immediately beside or below your name. Agencies design permits so the number stands out, so look for a bolded or enlarged field with a label containing “permit,” “license,” “number,” “ID,” or “reference.” If the document runs several pages, check the first page and any cover or summary sheet before flipping through the rest.
Permit numbers are alphanumeric. Some are purely numeric; others begin with a letter code that signals the permit type, issuing office, or jurisdiction. Length varies widely, from a handful of digits on a local business license to thirteen or more characters on a state driver’s license. Don’t assume your number matches the format of someone else’s permit, even for the same type issued in a different state.
On a Driver’s License or Learner’s Permit
The license number is printed on the front of the card and is usually the most prominent set of characters after your name. Most states label it “DL” or “LIC#” or something similar. The number carries over unchanged from a learner’s permit to a full license, so you only learn it once.
Formats vary dramatically between states, running from as few as five digits to as many as fifteen characters, with different mixes of letters and numbers. If someone asks for your driver’s license number and you aren’t sure which field they mean, it’s the one labeled as your license or DL number on the front of the card, not your date of birth or any other identifier printed nearby.
On a Building or Construction Permit
Building permit numbers typically appear in the top-right corner or header section of the permit form. Most jurisdictions require the permit to be posted at the construction site in a location visible from the street, so the number is printed large enough to read from a short distance.
Many building permit numbers encode useful information. A prefix like “BP” or “RES” might signal a building permit versus a residential-only permit. Some jurisdictions embed the year of issuance in the first few digits, so a permit starting with “2026” was issued this year. Others include a code for the permit type, such as electrical, plumbing, or mechanical. If your jurisdiction offers an online permit portal, you can usually search by address or parcel number and pull up the full permit record, including the number.
On an Employment Authorization Document
An Employment Authorization Document (EAD or work permit), issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, displays the USCIS number on the front, along with your name, photo, date of birth, and expiration date. A category code also appears on the center front of the card, indicating the basis for your work authorization. A category beginning with the letter “C” followed by digits tells your employer the type of eligibility you hold.
If you have an older EAD and the layout doesn’t match current descriptions, look for the field explicitly labeled “USCIS No.” on the front.
On a USPS Mailing Permit
If you send bulk mail through the U.S. Postal Service, your permit number appears on every mailpiece you send. The permit imprint indicia is printed in the upper-right area of the mailpiece relative to the delivery address, and the last line reads “Permit” followed by your permit number.1USPS Postal Explorer. How to Design Permit Imprint Indicia
If you’ve lost track of your USPS permit number, check any mailpiece you’ve previously sent, or log into your Business Mail Entry Unit account. The number is tied to the post office where you originally obtained the permit.
On a Federal Permit Like an NPDES or I-94
Federal permits often pack information into a short code. An NPDES water discharge permit from the Environmental Protection Agency uses a nine-character ID that starts with the two-letter state abbreviation, followed by digits identifying the specific facility.2US EPA. NPDES Monitoring Data Download Help That state prefix makes the number easy to spot even without a label, because it’s the only field that begins with your state’s postal code.
Customs and Border Protection takes a similar approach with the I-94 arrival/departure record, which carries an 11-character admission number. Since 2019, that number has been alphanumeric: nine digits, a letter in the tenth position, and a digit in the eleventh.3U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Arrival/Departure Forms: I-94 and I-94W If you entered the U.S. by air or sea, your I-94 is electronic, and you can retrieve the number at the CBP website by entering your name and passport information.
If Your Permit Is Digital or Has a QR Code
If you applied online, the permit number is usually displayed on your confirmation page and repeated in a confirmation email. Check your inbox, including the spam folder, for messages from the issuing agency. Most agencies also maintain an online portal where you can log in with the credentials you created during application and view or reprint your permit.
Some jurisdictions add QR codes to physical permits. Scanning the code with a smartphone pulls up a detail page with the permit number, inspection results, and current status. If your permit shows a QR code but no visible number, scanning it will typically take you to a page that displays the number.
If You Still Can’t Find It
Start with any paperwork or digital trail connected to the permit. Confirmation emails, online account dashboards, and old inspection reports often include the number. If the permit was issued in person, the receipt from the fee you paid may list it.
If none of that works, contact the agency that issued the permit. For a driver’s license, that’s your state motor vehicle agency. For a building permit, it’s your local building or planning department. For immigration documents like an EAD or Green Card, USCIS handles replacements.4USAGov. How to Replace Lost or Stolen ID Cards Have your full name, address, and any other identifying details ready when you call. Most agencies can look up your record and provide the number over the phone or direct you to an online retrieval tool.