Legal presence means that you are a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or otherwise legally present in the U.S.
When you apply for a driver license, driver permit or identification card you will be required to provide at least one document listed below as proof that you are a U.S. citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident or that you are legally present in the U.S. for a temporary period of time.
All documents submitted must be original or certified copies issued by a federal, state or local government agency of the United States, with the exception of a foreign passport being presented with an acceptable immigration document, and must be acceptable to DMV. DMV has the discretion to reject or to require additional evidence to verify your legal presence in the U.S., your identity and date of birth.
The following documents can be used as proof of U.S. Citizenship:
U.S. Government-issued birth document certified by a city, county, state or federal agency, including District of Columbia, U.S. Census Bureau or a U.S. Territory (American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and North Mariana Islands), however:
The document cannot be laminated
DMV will not accept birth documents issued by a non-government agency, such as a hospital issued birth certificate, hospital issued birth card, hospital issued birth registration or a baptismal certificate
Birth documents from the Canal Zone are only acceptable if the birth was prior to 1980;
A U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240);
A Request for Verification of Birth (DD372) that must include date/signature of recruiting officer, and signature, date and official seal or stamp of the issuing Vital record agency;
Report of Child Born Abroad of American Parent(s);
A valid U.S. Passport, Passport Card or Emergency Passport expired no more than 5 years; or
A tribal ID card issued by one of the following:
Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation
Burns Paiute Reservation
Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians
Official Tribal Identification of the Klamath Tribes
Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde Oregon
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians.