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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 186.4122: Personal identification card application for United States citizen or

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 186

permanent resident -- Photograph -- Scanning and retaining application

information -- Proof of residency -- Homeless child or youth -- Issuance of

personal identification card and operator's license or instruction permit --

Term of identification card.

(1) As used in this section, "applicant" means a person who:

(a) Is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; or

(b) Meets the minimum requirements for federal recognition in Section 202 of the

REAL ID ACT of 2005, as amended, in 49 U.S.C. sec. 30301 note, and has

been admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant pursuant to a compact

of free association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall

Islands, the Republic of Palau, or the Federated States of Micronesia.

(2) The Transportation Cabinet shall issue a personal identification card to an applicant

who:

(a) Is a Kentucky resident;

(b) Applies in person to the cabinet or through alternative technology; and

(c) Complies with the provisions of this section.

(3) Upon application for a personal identification card under this section, the cabinet

shall capture a photograph of the applicant in accordance with KRS 186.4102(1).

(4) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the cabinet shall

electronically scan the documents required for application under this section

and shall electronically retain the application, supporting documents, and the

photograph of the applicant. T he cabinet shall present the applicant with a

temporary personal identification card, which shall be valid for thirty (30)

days until a permanent personal identification card is mailed to the applicant

by the Transportation Cabinet.

(b) The cabinet shall only electronically scan the birth certificate of an individual

applying for a voluntary travel ID personal identification card. If the applicant

is not seeking such a document, the cabinet shall not electronically scan the

applicant's birth certificate.

(c) An applicant for a personal identification card shall not be required to

surrender the applicant's birth certificate for image capture, image storage, or

image transmission to any entity, including the federal government, unless

express consent is given by the applicant during the course of obtaining a

voluntary travel ID personal identification card.

(5) (a) An application for a personal identification card shall be accompanied by the

same information as is required for an operator's l icense under KRS 186.412,

except if an applicant does not have an established and fixed nighttime

residence of regular return, the applicant may:

1. Until July 1, 2025, use as proof of residency a signed letter from a

homeless shelter, health care facility , or social service agency currently

providing the applicant treatment or services and attesting that the

applicant is a resident of Kentucky; or

2. On or after July 1, 2025, follow the procedures outlined in KRS

186.412(3).

(b) An applicant who does not h ave an established and fixed nighttime residence

of regular return shall not be issued a voluntary travel ID personal

identification card.

(c) An applicant for a personal identification card who is at least sixteen (16)

years of age but less than eighteen (18) years of age shall not be required to

obtain a signature of a parent or legal guardian on the application if the

applicant has been verified as a homeless child or youth, as defined in 42

U.S.C. sec. 11434a(2), by at least one (1) of the following:

1. A director or designee of a governmental or nonprofit agency that

receives public or private funding to provide services to homeless

people;

2. A local educational agency liaison for homeless children and youths

designated pursuant to 42 U.S.C. sec. 11432 (g)(1)(J)(ii), or a school

social worker or school counselor;

3. The director or director's designee of a federal TRIO Program or a

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program; or

4. A financial aid administrator for an institution of higher education.

(d) It shall be permissible for the application form for a personal identification

card to include as an applicant's most current resident address a mailing

address or an address provided on a voter registration card.

(e) If the applicant is not the legal owner or possessor of the address provided on

the application form, the applicant shall swear that he or she has permission

from the legal owner, authorized agent for the legal owner, or possessor to use

the address for purposes of obtaining the personal identification card.

(6) (a) Every applicant for a personal identification card under this section shall

swear an oath to the cabinet as to the truthfulness of the statements contained

on the application form.

(b) A personal identification card may be suspended or revoked if the person who

was issued the card presents false or misleading information to the cabinet

when applying for the card.

(7) A personal identification card issued under this section shall be valid for a period of

eight (8) years from the date of issuance, except that if the personal identification

card is issued to a person who does not have an established and fixed nighttime

residence of regular return, then the personal identification card shall be valid for

one (1) year from the date of issuance.

(8) (a) An applicant shall not be issued a personal identification card if the applicant

currently holds a valid Kentucky instruction permit or operator's license. A

person shall not hold more than one (1) license or personal identification card.

(b) If a person's instruction permit or operator's license has been suspended or

revoked, the person may be issued a personal identification card. A personal

identification card shall be surrendered when the person applies to have his or

her instruction permit or operator's license reinstated.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:51:38Z. Source file · JSON

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