Identity documents — Utah Permit Test

Every Utah applicant must provide acceptable proof of identity, and lawful status decides which certificate or card they may obtain.

The state is putting a name on a card that opens doors for eight years. It checks who that name belongs to first.

An individuals lawful status will determine what type of driving certificate or identification card the applicant is eligible to obtain.

A U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or legal permanent resident alien may apply for a regular Class D driver license, a regular CDL, or a regular identification card.

Regular means full-term. The paperwork behind it does not expire, so the card does not have to be renewed early.

U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, and Legal Permanent Resident Aliens can apply for a regular Class D driver license, regular CDL, or a regular identification card.

Utah asks for a state-certified birth certificate, and will not accept a hospital-issued, miniature, laminated, or photocopied certificate.

A hospital souvenir is not a record of birth. Only the certificate the state filed can be checked against anything.

the division seeks the best-documented evidence to establish credible identification of the applicant by requesting a state-certified birth certificate (hospital-issued, miniature, laminated, or photocopied certificates are not acceptable.)

A signed social security card proves the number, and the stub will not be accepted.

The stub is the part that tears off and proves nothing. The signed card is the document the office is looking for.

Social security card issued by the U.S. government that has been signed (stub will not be accepted.)

A driving privilege card applicant must also provide a fingerprint card and photo obtained and sealed at the Bureau of Criminal Identification or an approved vendor.

The card is issued without federal lawful presence documents, so the fingerprints are what stands in their place.

Fingerprint card and photo (additional fee required.) It must be obtained and placed in a sealed envelope at the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), a participating law enforcement agency, or an approved fingerprint vendor.

Proof of driving experience is required for a first Utah driver license, but not when obtaining a learner permit or an identification card.

A permit is the thing you get before you have experience. Asking for it then would make the permit impossible to obtain.

Proof of driving experience required for first Utah driver license (not required when obtaining a learner permit or an identification card):

What decides which Utah certificate or card an applicant may obtain?

Their verified lawful status. The state is putting a name on a card that opens doors for eight years. It checks who that name belongs to first. Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.14: “An individuals lawful status will determine what type of driving certificate or identification card the applicant is eligible to obtain.”