The municipality of the city of New York issues identification cards (ID) for its residents. These cards provide their holders with significant benefits.
Who Can Apply for the NYC ID Card?
Requirements:
- You are 14 years of age or older.
- Identity documents such as birth certificate or passport, even from another country.
- Prove that you live in one of the five boroughs of New York City (Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island).
- Fill in the application form.
- You are not asked about your immigration status, so it can be requested by citizens, residents, foreigners on a visa and also by undocumented immigrants.
Where Can I Apply?
In any of the 12 permanent or mobile recruitment centers around the city of New York.
What Can I Do with It?
- Open an account at a bank or credit union.
- Request the card for the fabulous public libraries of the city.
- Identify yourself when renting property.
- Access public buildings.
- Identify yourself when requesting certain public benefits.
- Identify yourself to take the high school equivalency exam of the State of New York.
- Get discounts for medical assistance in health and wellness centers.
- Get discounts for prescriptions within the program known as BigAppleRx.
- Get free membership in more than 30 cultural institutions or entertainment centers, like the Bronx Zoo, the Metropolitan Museum and the Carnegie Hall.
What Can’t I Do with It?
- It is not a license. It CANNOT be used to drive.
- It is not a proof of identification to fly within the United States.
In Which Situations Should Undocumented Immigrants Not Apply?
- When the immigrant has an arrest warrant.
- When the immigrant has a pending subpoena.