Legal Presence U.S./Naturalized Citizen

You must provide proof of legal presence in the United States to obtain or renew a driver’s license or state ID. The full administrative rules for evidence of legal presence are available here. The following is a list of the most common documents United States citizens and nationals present to satisfy this requirement. Documents must be legible, valid, and unexpired or having no expiration date. This is not an all-inclusive list, and alternative documentation may be approved at the discretion of the Secretary of State. Additional documents may be required in certain circumstances, including but not limited to the issuance of a REAL ID credential. If you have questions about how to demonstrate legal presence, please contact the License Information section at the Main Office of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles before visiting a branch office. The License Information section may be contacted at (207) 624-9000 ext. 52114 or License.BMV@maine.gov.

A.            United States Passport or Passport Card.
B.            Certified copy of a birth certificate from a State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency showing the individual was born in:

1.            a State of the United States;

2.            District of Columbia;

3.            Puerto Rico after January 12, 1941;

4.            Virgin Islands after January 16, 1917;

5.            Guam after April 11, 1899;

6.            Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands at or after 11:00 a.m. (Saipan time) on January 9, 1978;

7.            American Samoa after February 16, 1900; or

8.            Swains Island after March 4, 1925; or

C.            Consular of Report of Birth Abroad, Certificate of Report of Birth or Certification of Report of Birth.

D.            Certificate of Naturalization.

E.            Certificate of U.S. Citizenship.

F.            United States Citizen Identification Card.

G.           Identification Card for Resident Citizen in the U.S.

H.            American Indian Card.

I.             Northern Mariana Identification Card.

*Comment: On July 1, 2010, the Vital Statistics Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico began issuing new, more secure certified copies of birth certificates to U.S. citizens born in Puerto Rico, because of a new Puerto Rico birth certificate law. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will not accept any certified copies of Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 for the purpose of establishing legal presence for driver license and identification applications.