New Jersey’s 6 Points of ID: documents for your permit appointment

For a New Jersey permit or license appointment, six identity points are only one part of the document requirements. Start with the MVC 6 Points of ID page, then choose the checklist for Standard or REAL ID. Their document lists differ.

Check all four Standard requirements

The points example covers identity only and does not replace the other three requirements. Every document must satisfy its official type, validity and certification conditions; REAL ID has a separate checklist. Select the image to enlarge it. Original study diagram based on official guidance.

Standard license or permit: prepare the full packet

The Standard document checklist requires:

• At least six identity points, including at least one primary document and one secondary document. You may count no more than two documents worth one point each.
• One proof of your New Jersey residential address displaying your name and address.
• Social Security number verification, or the applicable ITIN or affidavit alternative.
• A completed BA-208 application. Applicants under 18 need parent or guardian consent.

Identity documents must be originals or certified copies, with the required seals; a phone image or ordinary photocopy does not replace them. Documents in another language need a certified English translation. Standard primary and secondary documents cannot be expired more than three years, and individual document conditions still apply.

How the identity points work

For example, a qualifying four-point U.S. birth certificate and a three-point civil marriage certificate exceed the six-point minimum and supply a primary and secondary document. Another possible combination is a four-point primary, a one-point Social Security card and a one-point bank statement. Use only documents listed in the checklist and meeting its conditions. A bank statement and ATM card cannot be counted together.

A hospital birth souvenir is not a certified vital record. Puerto Rico birth certificates must have been issued on or after July 1, 2010. For Jersey City or Hudson County birth records, follow the specific instructions linked from the MVC page.

Address and SSN requirements

For Standard credentials, accepted address examples include an unexpired lease, a bank statement or utility bill from the past year, or a pay stub from the past six months. Applicants under 18 may use parent/guardian address certification on MR-24. Address documents may be electronic or paper. A New Jersey license and vehicle registration cannot both be submitted together as address proofs.

Enter your SSN on the application for electronic verification. If verification fails, bring a listed document showing your name and full SSN, such as a Social Security card or qualifying tax or pay document. If you have an ITIN, use a listed IRS or New Jersey tax document showing your name and ITIN. The affidavit option is for applicants ineligible for an SSN who do not have an ITIN; it must be notarized or signed before an MVC employee.

REAL ID uses its own checklist

The REAL ID document selector uses two address proofs, SSN verification and six identity points. Select exactly one primary document and the required secondary documents. The ITIN/affidavit alternative for a Standard credential does not replace the REAL ID SSN requirement. Use the REAL ID list for accepted documents, dates and any name-change evidence.

Some eligible paper documents can satisfy more than one requirement, such as an address proof that is also listed as a secondary identity document. Check each requirement rather than assuming you need a different document for every category.

Prepare your packet before booking the permit and knowledge-test appointments. The six identity points are unrelated to violation points on a driving record.