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Why am I being prompted to provide identification to purchase a license?
- On March 26, 2026, the TPW Commission adopted new rules concerning proof of residency and identification requirements. These changes were made for two primary reasons: first, to prevent fraud and misrepresentation by ensuring that only Texas residents receive resident licenses and pricing; and second, to support law enforcement in the field by making sure that the identification required to be in a person’s immediate possession while hunting or fishing is also verified at the point of sale.
- When will this identification requirement take effect?
- Monday, August 3, 2026
- Who will need to provide identification?
- Any individual age 17 and over.
- What kind of identification will be required?
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For Texas residents, an unexpired driver’s license or personal identification certificate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
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Non-Texas residents may be required to provide identification that is REAL ID compliant. See “I am not a resident of Texas, what kind of identification will I need to provide?”
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Person with a ”temporary” or “limited term” driver’s license or personal identification certificate, for both Texas and non-Texas residents, will need to provide additional documentation. See “I have a ‘temporary’ or ‘limited term’ identification, what will I need to provide?”
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Foreign residents will need an unexpired passport and if required by the country of residence, a permanent resident card or unexpired immigrant visa. See “I am a resident of a foreign country what kind of identification will I need to provide?”
- What do I do if I don’t have a Driver License or State Issued ID?
- Prior to purchasing a hunting or fishing license, residents of any U.S State, Territory or the District of Columbia will need to acquire one of the above documents in order to purchase a license.
- What licenses are being impacted?
- Most recreational hunting, fishing, and combination licenses for residents and non-residents. Excludes the youth hunting license as well as lifetime license tags (those who have previously purchased a lifetime license).
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Impacted licenses License Code License Description 101 Resident Hunting 102 Senior Resident Hunting 105 General Non-Resident Hunting 111 Super Combo Package 117 Res Sr Super Combo Package 157 Nonresident 5Day Special Small Game/Exotic Hunting 208 Lake Texoma Fishing 213 Resident One Day All Water Fishing License 214 Non-Resident One Day All Water Fishing License 231 Resident Freshwater Fishing Package 232 Resident Saltwater Fishing Package 233 Resident All Water Fishing Package 234 Senior Resident Freshwater Fishing Package 235 Senior Resident Saltwater Fishing Package 236 Senior Resident All Water Fishing Package 237 Resident Year-From-Purchase All Water Pkg 244 Special Resident All Water Fishing License 250 NR Freshwater Fishing Package 251 NR Saltwater Fishing Package 252 NR All Water Fishing Package 502 Disabled Veteran Super Combo 503 Resident Combo Hunting and Freshwater Fish Pkg 504 Resident Combo Hunting and Saltwater Fish Pkg 505 Resident Combo Hunting and All Water Fish Pkg 506 Resident Combo Senior Hunting and Freshwater Fish 507 Resident Combo Senior Hunting and Saltwater Fish 508 Resident Combo 510 TX Resident Active Military Super Combo 511 TX Resident Active Military All-Water Fishing Pkg 512 TX Resident Active Military Hunting Package 980 Lifetime Combination License Purchase 981 Lifetime Hunting License Purchase 982 Lifetime Fishing License Purchase 983 Lifetime Hunting to Combo Upgrade 984 Lifetime Fishing to Combo Upgrade
- I am a Texas resident, what kind of identification will I need to provide?
- Texas residents will need to provide an unexpired driver’s license or ID card. REAL ID, or non-REAL ID is accepted provided it is not “temporary” or “Limited Term.” See “I have a ‘temporary’ or ‘limited term’ identification, what will I need to provide?“
- Residents of: AL, AK, AZ, AR, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, WV, WI or WY will need to provide an unexpired driver’s license or personal identification certificate. REAL ID, or non-REAL ID is accepted provided it is not “temporary” or “limited term”.
- Residents of: CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, MA, MD, MN, NV, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, UT, VT, VA, WA, DC or US Territories will need to provide an unexpired driver’s license or personal identification certificate that is REAL ID compliant not “temporary” or “limited term” or
- Non-REAL ID driver’s license or personal identification certificate plus one of the following:
- Original US birth certificate
- Original US birth certificate abroad document (FS-240, DS-1350, FS-545)
- Unexpired US passport or passport card
- Unexpired US military ID
- Note: Transactions requiring supplemental documents must be presented in-person at a TPWD, or agent location. Online transactions are unavailable.
- Non-REAL ID driver’s license or personal identification certificate plus one of the following:
- I have a “temporary” or “limited term” identification, what will I need to provide?
- “Temporary” or “limited term” identification from any state including Texas will need to provide an unexpired driver’s license or personal identification certificate (REAL ID, or non-REAL ID) plus one of the following:
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Original US birth certificate
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Original US birth certificate abroad document (FS-240, DS-1350, FS-545)
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Unexpired Texas Handgun License (Texas residents only)
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Unexpired US passport or passport card
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Unexpired US military ID
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- Transactions requiring supplemental documents must be presented in-person at a TPWD, or agent location. Online transactions are unavailable.
- I am a resident of a foreign country, what kind of identification will I need to provide?
- Residents of a Visa Waiver Program country or Canada will need to provide an unexpired passport.
- For the most up-to-date list of eligible Visa Waiver Program countries please see:
- Residents of all other countries will need to provide an unexpired passport plus a US permanent resident card or unexpired immigrant visa whichever is applicable.
- Note: All foreign residents must present identification and documents in-person at a TPWD, or agent location. Online transactions are unavailable.
- How do I know if my identification is REAL ID compliant?
- A star in the upper right or left corner will indicate a REAL ID.
- This symbol can vary by state, refer to the Transportation Security Administration website for REAL ID examples and information by state.
- Do youth need to provide identification as well?
- No, the identification requirement only applies to individuals age 17 and over. For youth hunters, the 169-Youth Hunting License is not on the list of licenses that require identification validation. For youth anglers, fishing licenses are not required under age 17.
- I am a non-Texas resident. The online license sales system is prompting me to upload an image of my identification. Is this legitimate? Can I opt out?
- This required step is part of the new process to validate your identity for online sales. If you do not wish to do so online, you may purchase in person at a TPWD location where licenses are sold or at a license agent location by providing proper documentation.
- Are you permitted to show someone else’s ID to get their license when they’re not physically present?
- No, for in-person transactions each individual must be physically present.
Article source and photo credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
