Need a birth certificate, ID, or driver’s license?
There are laws to help you!

If any one of these situations applies to you:

  • You are staying in a home that is not yours or your parent’s (or legal guardian’s) because you had to leave your home
  • You are in an unstable living situation, without a safe or steady home
  • You are sleeping in a motel, car, tent, abandoned building, or public place
  • You are staying in a shelter or transitional living program OR
  • You are in foster care

1. Then it’s easier than ever to get your birth certificate (if you were born in Texas)! You don’t have to pay for it, and you don’t need a parent’s signature. You can do this on your own, even if you’re under 18.

  • Fill out this application form.
  • Get this form completed by your school counselor (or if you are in a shelter or program for youth experiencing homelessness, someone at the program can complete the form).
  • Mail those two forms with a copy of your ID* (click here to see what IDs are accepted) to this address. Or bring the forms to a local office with your ID and turn them in right there.

2. And then, it’s easier than ever to get your ID or driver’s license! You don’t have to pay for it, and you don’t need a parent’s signature. You can do this on your own, even if you’re under 18.

  • Fill out this application form.
  • Get this form completed by your school counselor (or if you are in a shelter or program for youth experiencing homelessness, someone at the program can complete the form).
  • Get proof of your identity (check here for the different ways to prove your identity).
  • Get proof of your Social Security number (check here for ways to prove that).
  • Grab your original birth certificate (not a copy).
  • Make an appointment to bring everything to your local DMV office. 

If you run into any trouble, this link has all the laws you can show to your school, the vital records (birth certificate) office, or the DMV (ID) office.

Also, if the vital records office or DMV won’t give you your documents, you can contact the Texas Foster Youth Justice Project at 877-313-3688 or info@texasfosteryouth.org for help (even if you have not been in foster care).

Use This Link

* You can use one of these IDs:

  1. Driver’s license from a U.S. state 
  2. Federal or state ID card 
  3. Military ID card 
  4. U.S. passport 

OR, you will need a combination of IDs. You will need one of these:

  1. Current School or Work ID 
  2. Social Security – Must be Signed 
  3. Medicaid card 
  4. Health Insurance card 

AND two of these:

  1. Official School Transcript
  2. Library Card
  3. Social Security Letter
  4. Recent Medical Record or Bill
  5. Recent Paycheck Stub 
  6. Recent Cell Phone Bill with Current Address
  7. Public Benefits Letters or Applications (like SNAP (Food Stamps), Medicaid, TANF)
  8. Voter Registration Card
  9. Bank Account Statement
  10. Lease Agreement or Recent Rent Receipt 

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