Get a REAL ID in Delaware

Get a Delaware REAL ID (federally compliant license or ID with a star): bring original documents to a DMV office once; you leave with the card the same day, at the regular fee.

Your situation

Do you already have a Delaware license or ID with a star in the upper right corner?

Delaware's compliant cards carry the star. A non-compliant card says "Not for Federal Identification" in the upper margin.

No, or I'm not sureYes

Are you a U.S. citizen?

YesNo

Is your current legal name different from the name on your birth certificate or passport?

For example, you changed your name when you married.

No, it's the sameYes

Update my plan

Your plan

1. Gather your documents

   • Proof of identity and U.S. citizenship
     DMV's Document Guide on its REAL ID page has the full list. Original or certified copy; photocopies are not accepted. Wallet cards, birth registrations and hospital records are not accepted.
     Accepted documents (bring 1)

     • U.S. birth certificate (original or certified copy with a raised seal, issued by a state Office of Vital Statistics or State Board of Health)
     • Valid, unexpired U.S. passport
     • Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240, DS-1350 or FS-545)
     • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570)
     • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561)
     • Certificate of Naturalization N-578 or Certificate of Citizenship N-645 (listed in DMV's Document Guide)
     • U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-179 or I-197) (listed in DMV's Document Guide)
   • Proof of Social Security number
     Must show your full Social Security number. Medicare and Medicaid cards are not accepted.
     Accepted documents (bring 1)

     • Social Security card
     • W-2 tax form
     • SSA-1099 or SSA Non-1099 form
     • Pay stub showing your full SSN
     • Any valid Social Security Administration document showing your full SSN
   • Two proofs of Delaware residency · 2 different documents
     From two different sources, with your name and residential street address (no P.O. boxes or business addresses), delivered by USPS and postmarked or dated within the last 60 days. Photocopies or printouts of bills are not accepted, and personal mail and non-U.S. postal mail are not accepted.
     Accepted documents (bring 2)

     • Utility or cable bill
     • Credit card statement
     • Auto or life insurance policy
     • Voter registration card
     • Bank account records
     • Employment records
     • Rental agreement
     • USPS change of address confirmation, or postmarked mail with a forwarding label
     • Other non-personal mail (junk mail) postmarked within the last 60 days

2. Check the checklist

   DMV's one-page checklist lists what to bring. All documents must be originals or certified copies.

   Federally compliant license/ID checklist (PDF) ↗

3. Extra documents in some cases

   Moving from another state: also bring your out-of-state license or ID, or an official out-of-state driving record. Under 18: a parent, legal guardian or court-appointed custodian with valid ID must come with you (legal custody order if applicable), and your birth certificate must list both parents' names.

   Federally compliant license/ID checklist (PDF) ↗

4. Go to a DMV office

   Delaware has DMV offices in Wilmington, Delaware City, Dover and Georgetown. Wilmington's scheduler says appointments are required there; DMV's REAL ID pages don't say for the others. Questions: (877) 477-7117.

   Wilmington DMV online scheduler ↗

5. At the office

   Your photo is taken at the start, your documents are verified electronically, and you pay the regular license or ID fee. You leave with the card the same day.

Common reasons people get turned away

• Photocopies are not accepted: every document must be an original or certified copy.
• Residency proofs must be postmarked or dated within 60 days, from two different sources, and show your street address, not a P.O. box.
• If your name differs from your birth certificate, you need every name change document, and Social Security must have your new name at least 48 hours before your visit.
• Non-U.S. citizens: your card can't outlast your authorized stay, and DMV uses a one-year term when your records show "duration of status".

Offices that issue REAL ID

Delaware DMV says you bring your original documents to your local DMV when applying for or renewing a license or ID card to get a federally compliant one. Agency source.

4 offices in Delaware

• Dover DMV Dover ✓ Office type issues it
• Georgetown DMV Georgetown ✓ Office type issues it
• Delaware City DMV New Castle ✓ Office type issues it
• Greater Wilmington DMV New Castle ✓ Office type issues it

Find a nearby office by city or ZIP

Search

Results show offices that issue REAL ID or may, nearest first, each labelled.

Read more

• Delaware driver license and ID card: first license, renewal, replacement and REAL ID
• REAL ID explained: what changed and which ID you need to fly

Sources · checked October 30, 2026

• Real ID / Federally Compliant Driver License / ID Card (Delaware DMV)
• Naturalized Citizens and Non-US Citizens (Delaware DMV)
• Checklist to Obtain a Federally Compliant Driver License or Identification Card (Delaware DMV)
• DMV Fees (Delaware DMV)
• License Renewals (Delaware DMV)
• Identification Cards (Delaware DMV)
• Wilmington DMV Online Scheduler (Delaware DMV)

We wrote this plan ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMVorganization.org is independent and not a government agency; we don't book appointments or take payments.