- A quick picture of the problem
- Minnesota’s Driver’s Licenses for All law
- What documents can prove identity in Minnesota
- If you can’t get required documents
- Can undocumented immigrants get a Minnesota driver’s license
- Privacy protections around DPS information
- SSN and ITIN on the application
- Can someone else submit your application
- What if you already have a license from another state
- REAL ID and why it matters
- Can dreamers get REAL ID in practice
- How REAL ID cards look
- DACA recipients and the May 7 2025 deadline
- TSA alternatives if you don’t have REAL ID
- If your DACA status expires after getting REAL ID
- A simple checklist for DACA recipients
- What REAL ID is good for and what it is not
- Bottom line for dreamers
This post explains two Minnesota rules that many “dreamers” (DACA recipients) ask about. You’ll learn what Minnesota’s Driver’s Licenses for All law does, what REAL ID is, and what the May 7, 2025 airline deadline can mean for people flying within the United States.
A quick picture of the problem
Imagine this: you have a DACA work permit and you need a driver’s license or state photo ID. You also need to fly for school, family, or work. Now add a second worry: the REAL ID rules for airports change on May 7, 2025. Suddenly, something that should be simple—showing identification—can become confusing, stressful, and time-sensitive.
Minnesota’s Driver’s Licenses for All law
Minnesota’s law is often called Driver’s Licenses for All.
What it is
In 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed the law. The main point is simple: it lets all Minnesotans get a standard Class D driver’s license starting in October 2023, regardless of immigration status.
When it starts
The law goes into effect on October 1, 2023.
Who can get a standard Class D license
Starting October 1, all Minnesotans can get a standard Class D driver’s license if they meet the regular testing rules and identity requirements.
Here’s what the law says about citizenship and immigration questions:
| Question | What the law allows |
|---|---|
| Can DPS ask about immigration status for a standard Class D license | No. DPS is not allowed to ask. |
| Do you need proof of citizenship or immigration status | No for the standard Class D license. |
Requirements for a standard Class D driver’s license
For adults 21 or older, the law says you must:
- prove your identity
- pass a vision test
- pass the written test and the driving test
(Requirements for younger applicants exist too, but this article focuses on the key points most people worry about.)
Will the license show citizenship or immigration status
No. The standard Class D license will have no markings showing citizenship or immigration status.
What documents can prove identity in Minnesota
To get a standard Class D card (license), applicants must show acceptable document proof of identity.
Starting October 1, Minnesota allows additional options beyond typical U.S.-only documents. The published examples include:
- a foreign passport
- a foreign birth certificate
- a foreign adoption certificate
- certain immigration filing and approval notices
If you can’t get required documents
If it is hard to get the identity documents in time, the law’s timeline still gives people time before it starts. If you truly can’t get what is required, Minnesota notes there may be a variance process, meaning there may be a way to apply despite missing some documents—though details are to be finalized closer to the start date.
Can undocumented immigrants get a Minnesota driver’s license
Yes. Starting October 1, proof of lawful immigration status is not required as part of applying for the standard Class D license.
Does it grant work authorization or immigration status
No. A Minnesota driver’s license issued under state law does not change immigration status. Immigration status is handled under federal law, not state licensing.
Privacy protections around DPS information
Minnesota’s law also tries to protect privacy. In short:
1. DPS cannot share information about your citizenship or immigration status.
2. DPS cannot share information about people who applied for or received a Class D license with ICE unless a court orders it.
3. If any outside sharing happens, the receiving agency must certify it will not share with ICE or use it to enforce immigration laws.
This matters because it affects how your information travels beyond the state licensing system.
SSN and ITIN on the application
Many people worry that they must have a Social Security number to get a license.
Is an SSN required
No. A Social Security number is not required to get the standard Class D license.
But the application process works like this:
- If you have an SSN, you list it.
- If you do not, you sign an attesting statement that you do not have one.
What about an ITIN
Don’t put your ITIN in the SSN space.
- If the updated application includes a separate place for ITIN, provide it there.
Can someone else submit your application
You must apply yourself. Minnesota says:
- applications must be submitted by the individual applying
- applications can’t be submitted until October 1
What if you already have a license from another state
Check Minnesota DVS guidance, because rules depend on where your previous license came from and whether it is still valid.
REAL ID and why it matters
What REAL ID is
The REAL ID Act is a federal rule. It sets minimum standards for what identification must include so it can be used for certain federal purposes.
By May 7, 2025, non–REAL ID licenses will stop being accepted by TSA for boarding commercial aircraft.
In other words: REAL ID changes what you can show at the airport checkpoint.
How REAL ID affects travel by air
As of May 7, 2025, to fly on commercial aircraft you must present one of these:
- a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID, or
- another acceptable alternative document on the TSA list
Can dreamers get REAL ID in practice
Here’s the careful answer: whether a DACA recipient can get a REAL ID depends on state rules and whether the state can issue a REAL ID to people with that immigration situation.
Important points:
- Most states allow DACA recipients to get REAL ID, but not all do.
- A REAL ID can be tied to DACA status timing. If DACA expires, the REAL ID may need renewal too.
How REAL ID cards look
REAL ID cards have markings that help identify them.
| Card type | How you can tell it’s REAL ID |
|---|---|
| REAL ID compliant | Often includes a star marking in the upper part of the card |
| Standard ID or standard license | Does not have the REAL ID star marking |
So one practical step is simple: look for the REAL ID star.
DACA recipients and the May 7 2025 deadline
Why the deadline creates stress
After May 7, 2025, TSA won’t accept standard non–REAL ID licenses and IDs as identification for boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft.
That means a dreamer who flies regularly needs to check:
- whether their current driver’s license is REAL ID compliant
- whether they can get a REAL ID in time
- whether they should plan an alternative TSA document
TSA alternatives if you don’t have REAL ID
If you don’t have a REAL ID license or state photo ID, TSA may accept other documents. The TSA list includes (examples):
- a U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards such as Global Entry
- Permanent resident card
- Employment authorization card (I-766)
- enhanced driver’s license (if available in your state)
- certain tribal photo IDs and other federal or recognized IDs
Also, even without valid ID at the checkpoint, TSA says you may still be allowed to fly after an identity verification process, but you can face extra screening.
If your DACA status expires after getting REAL ID
REAL ID eligibility for non-citizens often depends on lawful status. If your DACA expires, your REAL ID may also expire or become up for renewal at the same time.
That’s why the best plan is timing:
- try to renew DACA before it expires
- then keep your identification documents current
A simple checklist for DACA recipients
Before May 7, 2025
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Check your current card | Look for the REAL ID star marking |
| Confirm your state rules | Use your state DMV guidance to see what documents they require for DACA |
| Gather proof early | Make sure you have the document pieces you need for identity and residency proofs |
| Plan backup options | Save a TSA-acceptable alternative like a passport or I-766 if you might not get REAL ID in time |
| Travel timing | Don’t wait until the last weeks to book an appointment |
What REAL ID is good for and what it is not
REAL ID helps for specific “official federal purposes,” especially airport security checkpoints.
But it does not automatically replace other immigration needs (like a passport for international travel). And some everyday uses—like driving—still depend on state rules, not federal ID acceptance.
Bottom line for dreamers
- Minnesota lets people get a standard Class D driver’s license regardless of immigration status under Driver’s Licenses for All.
- The standard license will not show immigration status on the card.
- For flying, the key change is the federal May 7, 2025 REAL ID enforcement date: non–REAL ID licenses won’t work for TSA boarding.
- Many DACA recipients can get REAL ID, but it depends on the state and your documentation timing.