Department of Motor Vehicles
FAQs about Enhanced Driver Licenses and Enhanced Non-Driver Photo ID Cards

FAQs about Enhanced Driver Licenses for U.S. Citizens Who are Residents of NYS

This page provides answers to questions about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) and New York State Enhanced photo driver licenses (EDLs) and Enhanced non-driver photo ID cards (ENDIDs). NYS issues EDLs (this includes Enhanced photo learner permits and ENDIDs) that comply with WHTI to applicants who can prove U.S. citizenship and NYS residency.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was recommended by the 9/11 Commission to strengthen border security and to facilitate travel in the Western Hemisphere. WHTI is a federal rule that regulates which documents U.S. citizens can use when they travel in the Western Hemisphere.

As of June 1, 2009, only WHTI approved documents can be used for travel in the Western Hemisphere.

NYS now issues a WHTI-Compliant Enhanced driver licenses (EDL) (includes Enhanced learner permits) and Enhanced non-driver photo ID cards (ENDID) to applicants who can prove U.S. citizenship and NYS residency. An EDL or ENDID can be used instead of a passport to return to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and some countries in the Caribbean. Contact your travel agent, your cruise line or the specific countries of destination to verify travel document requirements.

An EDL or ENDID is not acceptable for air travel between these countries.

Top 10 Enhanced Document FAQs:

Other Enhanced Document FAQs:

• Who is eligible for an EDL or ENDID?
• For how long is an EDL or ENDID valid?
• What if my name has changed and is different from what is on my current driver license or non-driver photo ID card?
• What countries, territories and islands are considered part of "the Caribbean" under WHTI?
• Do the EDL and ENDID look different from the regular NYS photo documents?
• How do I use an EDL or ENDID at the border to make it easier to cross?
• Why does an EDL or ENDID have a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag?
• Is my personal information stored in the RFID tag?
• Can the RFID tag in my EDL be damaged if I make photocopies of the document? Can the tag be damaged if the document is scanned by security devices at airports or other locations?
• How do I get a replacement if one of the documents required to apply for an EDL or ENDID is missing?
• How can I re-enter the U.S if my EDL or ENDID expires or is lost or stolen while I am in Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean?
• What if I entered Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean by land or sea with my EDL or ENDID, but I have to fly home for an emergency?
• How can I get additional information or answers to questions about an EDL or an ENDID?

Top 10 Enhanced Document FAQs:

1.  When and how can I apply? Do I have to wait until my driver license is due for renewal? What forms and proofs are required?

You can apply for an EDL or ENDID at any time:

To apply for an EDL or ENDID, you must visit a NYS DMV office and provide your Social Security Card and proofs of identity, U.S. citizenship and NYS residency.

You must also show your Social Security Card or proof of your Social Security Number (SSN).

If you have a verified SSN on file with the NYS DMV, instead of your Social Security Card you can show one of the following documents that has your complete SSN:

You should have a verified SSN on file with the NYS DMV if you currently have a valid NYS Driver License or you have a Non-Driver Photo Identification Card that was issued after 12/10/2002.

You may be interviewed about your documents by a DMV representative. To apply, read form MV-44.1EDL and complete form MV-44EDL.

See the list of DMV offices and the notes about the offices. You cannot apply for an EDL or ENDID at an office that does not process driver license transactions. You also cannot apply for an EDL or ENDID at the Oneida County Satellite Offices or Monroe County Mobile Offices.

2.  What does it cost?

The fee for an EDL or ENDID is $30 in addition to any fees required for your driver license or non-driver photo ID card transaction. In comparison, the cost of a U.S. passport is more than $130.

The fees for an early renewal vary based on the class of the EDL or type of ENDID and date you apply in relation to your day and month of birth. The early renewal page has a fee calculator to help determine your fee.

3.  How long does it take to receive one?

It takes approximately two weeks from the date your application is processed to receive your Enhanced document in the mail. This is the same amount of time it takes to receive a regular NYS DMV driver license or non-driver photo ID card.

4.  If an EDL or ENDID is lost or stolen, what is the cost to replace it?

The cost to replace a lost or stolen EDL or ENDID is $17.50, the same fee paid to replace a regular driver license or non-driver photo ID card. There is no fee to replace a 10-year ENDID issued if you are age 62 or older and a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). You pay the additional $30 EDL or ENDID fee noted above only when you apply for the Enhanced document the first time and at renewal.

5.  What are the advantages of an EDL or ENDID?

An EDL or ENDID can be used instead of a passport to return to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and some countries in the Caribbean. Contact your travel agent, your cruise line or the specific countries of destination to verify travel document requirements. An Enhanced document also speeds border crossings, costs less than a passport and fits in your wallet.

An EDL or ENDID is not acceptable for air travel between these countries.

6.  Can a child under age 16 or a person with a disability get an ENDID?

Yes.  A parent can show his or her proofs that are required for an ENDID, complete form MV-45, and sign the name of the child if the child is too young to sign. An official of a government facility or a government-approved facility that represents a person with a disability can complete form MV-45A and sign the applications and documents for the person with a disability.

7.  Is an EDL or ENDID acceptable for domestic air travel within the U.S.?

Currently, yes. For domestic air travel within the U.S., an EDL, a regular driver license or a non-driver photo ID card are all acceptable as proof of identity to board a domestic flight. However, this is subject to change based on Federal laws and regulations.

8.  Does a driver need both a NYS driver license and an EDL to legally drive?

No. An EDL is both a driver license and a travel identification document for land and sea travel to return to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and some countries in the Caribbean.

9.  Do the Enhanced documents replace passports, passport cards or NEXUS cards?
     Do I need an EDL/ENDID in addition to one of these other documents?

An EDL or ENDID does not replace a passport, passport card or a NEXUS card, but can be used in place of these documents to return to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and some countries in the Caribbean. Contact your travel agent, your cruise line or the specific countries of destination to verify travel document requirements.

An EDL or ENDID is not acceptable for air travel between these countries.

A U.S. Passport Card is a wallet-size travel document that can only be used to re-enter the United States at land border-crossings or sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. The card provides a less expensive, smaller, and more convenient alternative to the passport book for those who travel frequently to these destinations by land or by sea.

A NEXUS card is also a WHTI-compliant document that is acceptable to travel by land, sea or air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and some countries in the Caribbean.

An EDL or ENDID is not acceptable for air travel between these countries.

A U.S. passport is acceptable to cross land, sea and air borders in countries worldwide.

10.  Is a person required to get an EDL or ENDID?

No. The EDL or ENDID is offered as an option to NYS residents who are U.S. citizens. NYS photo driver licenses and non-driver ID cards that are not enhanced remain available and valid.

Other Enhanced Document FAQs:

Who is eligible for and EDL or ENDID?

Only an applicant who can provide proof of identity, NYS residency and U.S. citizenship is eligible for a NYS EDL or ENDID. An EDL is also available to a driver who qualifies for a commercial driver license (CDL) or a motorcycle license. Enhanced versions of other types of NYS documents are also available.

For how long is an EDL or ENDID valid?

An EDL is valid for a maximum of 8 years, the same amount of time as a current NYS driver license. As with a regular non-driver photo ID card, an ENDID is issued for 4 or 8 years, or up to 10 years if you are age 62 or over and/or you receive Supplemental Security Income. If you convert from a regular driver license to an EDL or ENDID, the expiration date of your EDL or ENDID remains the same as the expiration date of your current document. If you choose to renew early, the expiration year of your document is extended.

What if my name has changed and is different than what is on my current driver license or non-driver photo ID card?

If your name has changed, you must submit proof of the name change. Acceptable proof includes a marriage or divorce certificate, court-ordered name change documents, or 6 points of proof of identity in your new name. For more information, read the instructions for a change of name on DMV documents and records.

Do the EDL and ENDID look different from the regular NYS photo documents?

Yes. The NYS EDL and ENDID have a U.S. Flag image and the word "Enhanced" on the front of the document and a machine readable zone that uses optical character recognition (OCR) text on the reverse.

An Enhanced document also has a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to speed border crossings.

How do I use an EDL or ENDID at the U.S. border to make it easier to cross?

The web site of U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a publication and a video that explains WHTI documents and how to use them at the U.S. border.

Why does an EDL or ENDID have a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag?

The RFID tag is a requirement of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that can help to expedite traffic and reduce the environmental effects of traffic at border crossings. Equipment at border crossings can recognize an RFID tag from as far as 30 feet away to speed your crossing.

Is my personal information stored in the RFID tag?

No. The RFID tag contains only a unique number assigned to the tag that will verify issuance of the document to one individual.

Can the RFID tag in my EDL be damaged if I make photocopies of the document? Can the tag be damaged if the document is scanned by security devices at airports or other locations?

No. The RFID tag in your EDL is very durable. The tag cannot be damaged through normal uses that include making photocopies and exposure to security devices that scan the document.

How do I get a replacement if one of the documents required to apply for an EDL or ENDID is missing?

Information is available on the Internet about how to apply to replace a:

Social Security card , U.S. passport , NYS birth certificate , New York City birth certificate , other state birth certificate , Consular Report of Birth Abroad , New York City marriage certificate , and U.S. citizenship and naturalization documents.

What countries, territories and islands are considered part of "the Caribbean" under WHTI?

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (includes St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas) are U.S. possessions. In addition, the U.S. State Department site has a list of the 17 countries, territories and islands that are not U.S. possessions but that are also part of "the Caribbean" under WHTI.

How can I re-enter the U.S if my EDL or ENDID expires or is lost or stolen while I am in Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has procedures in place for emergency situations and an individual can be referred for a secondary inspection in order to establish identity and citizenship. When U.S. citizenship is determined, the traveler will not be refused re-entry to the United States.

What if I entered Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean by land or sea with my EDL or ENDID, but I have to fly home for an emergency?

Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance to help you travel home. Get the addresses and phone numbers for the Embassy and Consulate offices in that country from the Department of State web site before you travel.

The U.S. Embassies and Consulates are closed on weekends and holidays. If a phone number is provided for the Embassy or Consulate after-hours duty officer when you call, contact the duty officer.

How can I get additional information or answers to questions about an EDL or an ENDID?

You can call the NYS DMV EDL Helpline to speak with a representative. You can call Monday through Friday except state holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at 1-518-474-9981.