Idahoans who haven't gotten a Star Card ID yet may want to start planning so they're ready for the deadline, which was recently extended to May 2025.
At that time Idahoans will need a Star Card, U.S. Passport, military ID, or some other form of REAL-ID compliant identification to enter federal buildings or board commercial airplanes.
To get a Star Card, Idahoans must provide a birth certificate or passport, social security card, and two proofs of Idaho residency such as a mortgage statement or current utility bill to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
For those who do not have passports, the Department of Health and Welfare's Bureau of Vital Statistics can provide copies of Idaho birth certificates for $16.
Birth certificate order processing times vary depending on the volume of requests. As requests increase, processing times may also increase. Those who wait until the last minute may encounter delays.
The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics does not have a public counter, and all requests for certified copies of birth certificates must be submitted online or by mail. Go to www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/vitalrecords for information about how to submit a request and estimated processing times.
If you were not born in Idaho, visit https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm to access a list of U.S. vital records offices
The bureau can also help if there's a mistake on your birth certificate. As with requesting a copy of your birth certificate, act sooner than later to help ensure that mistakes are corrected in time for the new deadline.
Additional information is available at the following links:
- Department of Homeland Security: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id
- Idaho Transportation Department: https://itd.idaho.gov/starcard/
- DHW's Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics: www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/vitalrecords
Kathy Anderson has worked in the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics for 14 years.
James Aydelotte has been bureau chief of the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics for 16 years.
Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates and information you can trust.
Join the Discussion
Please note the following terms of participation in commenting on the DHW Voice blog.
To ensure a productive discussion you agree to post only comments directly related to this post and to refrain from posting obscenities; threatening, abusive or discriminatory language; sexually explicit material; and other material that would violate the law if published here; promotional content; or private information such as phone numbers or addresses. DHW reserves the right to screen and remove inappropriate comments.