Get a REAL ID in Kentucky

Get a Kentucky REAL ID: bring your documents in person to a Driver Licensing Regional Office, leave with a 30-day temporary document and get your card by mail.

Your situation

Do you have a Kentucky driver's license, permit or ID card?

A Kentucky REAL ID shows a black star icon. A card without the black star is a standard card and can't be used to board U.S. flights.

Yes, a standard card that expires in more than 6 monthsYes, a standard card that expires within 6 monthsNo, this is my first Kentucky cardYes, and it already has the black star

Are you a U.S. citizen?

YesNo

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

For example, your birth certificate shows your name before marriage. If you already have a Kentucky REAL ID, answer Yes only if the name on that card is no longer your legal name.

No, it's the sameYes

Update my plan

Your plan

1. Gather your documents

   • Proof of identity
     Original or certified copy with the appropriate seal; no photocopies. A Kentucky driver's license is not proof of identity. Under 18: you must bring a certified birth certificate and your Social Security card, plus a parent or guardian form and a school compliance verification form; residency proofs may be in a parent's or guardian's name.
     Accepted documents (bring 1)

     • U.S. birth certificate (issued by a U.S. state or territory; hospital-issued certificates are not accepted)
     • U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad
     • Valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
     • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570)
     • Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561)
   • Proof of Social Security number
     The document must show your full Social Security number. Non-citizens: temporary visitors: Kentucky lists proof of identity and lawful status and two residency proofs; ask the office if you have no Social Security number.
     Accepted documents (bring 1)

     • Social Security card (must show your current name; no photocopies)
     • SSNAP replacement printout
     • W-2 or 1099 (most recently issued, not handwritten)
     • Paycheck stub or statement
   • Two proofs of Kentucky residency · 2 different documents
     Bills and statements must be dated within the last year. A post office box is not proof of your physical address, and forwarded mail is not accepted.
     Accepted documents (bring 2)

     • Utility bill (landline, electric, gas, cable)
     • Telephone bill
     • Bank statement
     • State or federal tax return
     • Pay slip or salary statement
     • Kentucky voter registration card
     • U.S. Postal Service postmarked mail
     • Kentucky driver's license, instruction permit or ID card
     • Property tax bill
     • Kentucky vehicle registration or title
     • W-2 or 1099 (most recent tax year)
     • Lease, rental agreement or mortgage statement
     • Insurance policy
     • Kentucky school enrollment record
     • Kentucky hunting or fishing license

2. Check your documents online

   Take the IDocument Guide quiz for a personalized list of documents, or check the Valid Proof Documents PDF.

   IDocument Guide quiz ↗

3. Pre-apply on myDrive (optional)

   Create a myDrive account and complete a pre-application before your visit to save time.

   myDrive pre-application ↗

4. Book an appointment or walk in

   Appointments are recommended and can only be booked online; new slots are released weekly. Walk-ins are served first come, first served, and every Regional Office has walk-in hours one Saturday a month, 8:00 to 11:30 a.m.

   Schedule an appointment ↗

5. Visit a Driver Licensing Regional Office

   Apply for the REAL ID version and show your documents. Offices are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and take cash, checks and cards. You leave with a 30-day temporary document valid for driving and identification.

   Find an Office ↗

6. Watch your mail

   Your card is mailed within 10-15 business days. If it hasn't arrived after 30 days, call the Division of Driver Licensing at (502) 564-1257.

   REAL ID FAQ ↗

Common reasons people get turned away

• A hospital-issued birth certificate or a photocopy as proof of identity.
• A handwritten W-2 or pay stub, or a document that doesn't show your full Social Security number.
• A marriage license instead of a certified marriage certificate; it's needed even if your Kentucky card already shows your married name.
• Forwarded mail or a P.O. box address as proof of Kentucky residency.

Offices that issue REAL ID

KYTC says you must bring all required documents in person to any Driver Licensing Regional Office to apply for a REAL ID. Agency source.

35 offices in Kentucky

• Bardstown Regional Office Bardstown ✓ Office type issues it
• Bellevue Regional Office Bellevue ✓ Office type issues it
• Bowling Green Regional Office Bowling Green ✓ Office type issues it
• Burlington Regional Office Burlington ✓ Office type issues it
• Catlettsburg Regional Office Catlettsburg ✓ Office type issues it
• Columbia Regional Office Columbia ✓ Office type issues it
• Covington Regional Office Covington ✓ Office type issues it
• Danville Regional Office Danville ✓ Office type issues it
• Elizabethtown Regional Office Elizabethtown ✓ Office type issues it
• Frankfort Regional Office Frankfort ✓ Office type issues it
• Henderson Regional Office Henderson ✓ Office type issues it
• Hopkinsville Regional Office Hopkinsville ✓ Office type issues it
• Independence Regional Office Independence ✓ Office type issues it
• Jackson Regional Office Jackson ✓ Office type issues it
• Leitchfield Regional Office Leitchfield ✓ Office type issues it
• Lexington – Leestown Regional Office Lexington ✓ Office type issues it
• Lexington – Spindletop Regional Office Lexington ✓ Office type issues it
• London Regional Office London ✓ Office type issues it
• Louisville – Bowman Field Regional Office Louisville ✓ Office type issues it
• Louisville – Dixie Highway Regional Office Louisville ✓ Office type issues it
• Louisville – Hurstbourne Regional Office Louisville ✓ Office type issues it
• Louisville – L&N Building Regional Office Louisville ✓ Office type issues it
• Louisville – Nia Center Regional Office Louisville ✓ Office type issues it
• Madisonville Regional Office Madisonville ✓ Office type issues it
• Manchester Regional Office Manchester ✓ Office type issues it
• Mayfield Regional Office Mayfield ✓ Office type issues it
• Maysville Regional Office Maysville ✓ Office type issues it
• Morehead Regional Office Morehead ✓ Office type issues it
• Owensboro Regional Office Owensboro ✓ Office type issues it
• Paducah Regional Office Paducah ✓ Office type issues it
• Pikeville Regional Office Pikeville ✓ Office type issues it
• Pineville Regional Office Pineville ✓ Office type issues it
• Prestonsburg Regional Office Prestonsburg ✓ Office type issues it
• Richmond Regional Office Richmond ✓ Office type issues it
• Somerset Regional Office Somerset ✓ 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

• Kentucky 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 (DRIVE Kentucky)
• What is a REAL ID (DRIVE Kentucky)
• Can I Renew or Upgrade to a REAL ID? (DRIVE Kentucky)
• What Do I Need to Apply (DRIVE Kentucky)
• Valid Proof Documents (KYTC, PDF)
• REAL ID Pricing (DRIVE Kentucky)
• REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions (DRIVE Kentucky)
• Under 21 (DRIVE Kentucky)
• Non-US Citizen Information (DRIVE Kentucky)
• Find an Office (DRIVE Kentucky)
• Renew, Replace or Update (DRIVE Kentucky)

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.