How to Obtain a Free Birth Certificate, ID and Driver’s License in Florida: Instructions and the Law
Recent policy reform in Florida helps unaccompanied homeless youth obtain vital documents like birth certificates, identification cards, and driver’s licenses for FREE. The law also provides funding for driver education to be paid for. This resource includes instructions on how to obtain these vital documents and cites applicable law.
Who Qualifies for the Fee Exemptions?
Florida defines the term “unaccompanied homeless youth” as:
- An individual who is 16 years of age or older
- and not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian, including a youth who has run away from home, who has been forced to leave his or her home, or whose parents have left the area and left the youth behind.
Birth Certificates
- Have this form filled out by
- A designated school district liaison (See link, scroll down to “School District Liaisons Contact List (PDF)”, designated liaisons are marked with an asterisk (*)
- Or a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Runaway or Homeless Youth Basic Center
- Or a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Emergency Shelter
- Fill out this birth certificate application form
- Mail those two forms with a copy of your ID (Driver’s License, School ID, State Identification Card, Passport, Military Identification Card) to Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, Fl 32231-0042. Or bring the forms to a local office with your ID and turn them in right there.
Identification Cards
- Have this form filled out by
- A designated school district liaison (See link, scroll down to “School District Liaisons Contact List (PDF)”, designated liaisons are marked with an asterisk (*)
- Or a DHHS Runaway or Homeless Youth Basic Center
- Or a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Emergency Shelter
- Bring the form along with required documents to a local service center
Driver’s Licenses
- Florida has established a program to support you in obtaining your FREE driver’s license and driver’s education.
- The Keys to Independence program provides guidance, resources, and financial support to move through the licensing process.
If you run into any trouble…here are the relevant laws.
Below is a list of relevant laws you can present to your school, the vital statistics office for obtaining a birth certificate, or the DMV when applying for an ID or driver’s license:
- Fee waiver for birth certificate – s. 743.067(3)(b)2., F.S. and s. 382.0255(3), F.S.
- Fee waiver for identification card – s. 743.067(3)(b)1., F.S.
- Fee waiver for driver’s licenses and driver’s education – s. 409.1454(2)(b) and (4)(c)
Please help spread the word!
SHC is working to ensure more unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in Florida know their rights when it comes to obtaining vital documents like birth certificates, identification cards, and driver’s licenses. This outreach toolkit contains sample emails to reach youth-serving organizations in Florida, as well as young people directly. We have also included several social media posts for you to use.