New Hawaii Driver License Requirements Begin Monday

Image courtesy County of Maui.

By Sonia Isotov

New requirements for individuals who want to renew, reinstate and apply for a Hawaii state driver license or learner permits will take effect on Monday, March 5, 2012.

Individuals will have to provide proof of their legal name, birthdate, Social Security Number and legal presence in the United States at county Motor Vehicle, Licensing and Permits Division offices.

The following are examples of documents that will prove everything apart from a Social Security Number:

• An original or certified copy of a birth certificate filed with a state Department of Health or equivalent agency in the individual’s state of birth

• A valid, non-expired US passport

• A valid, non-expired permanent resident card issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Form I-551

• A certificate of naturalization issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Form N-550

• A certificate of citizenship issued by the DHS, Form N-560

• A valid foreign passport with Visa and Form I-94, issued by Customs and Border Protection, DHS

Image courtesy County of Maui.

The following are examples of the documents that will provide proof of an individual’s Social Security Number:

• A valid social security card

• A Medicare ID card (Suffix A, M, T and TA only – indicates Social Security Number for the person named on the card)

• Wage and Tax Statement Form W-2 or 1099R, provided the Social Security Number is printed on the document, original or certified copy

• SSA-1099 form, from a previous year, original or certified copy

Additional requirements may apply. For instance, married women who have changed their last names must also provide a valid or certified copy of their marriage licenses.

A full list of all potential documents, new requirements and frequently asked questions can be found at http://www.hawaii.gov/dot. Links to the site are also available on all four county websites.

The new requirements are mandated by the Legal Presence Act in accordance with Act 38 of the 2010 state legislative session.

In conjunction with implementation of the Legal Presence Act, all counties will begin issuing 60-day temporary licenses. Upon completion of all document verifications, a plastic license will be mailed within two weeks unless issues come up during processing.