Military & Veteran ID Cards

* All honorably discharged veterans can shop online at military exchanges through VetVerify.org — this is not tied to any specific card.

The CAC is the standard Department of Defense identification card for people currently connected to the military. It's a "smart card" with an embedded chip used for both physical and digital access.

Who Gets One

• Active-duty military personnel (all branches)
• Selected Reserve members
• DoD civilian employees
• Eligible contractor personnel

What It Provides

• Base access — physical entry to military installations
• Computer network access — log on to DoD systems, encrypt email, digitally sign documents
• TRICARE healthcare (for eligible holders)
• Commissary and exchange shopping (in-person and online)
• MWR facility access (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation)
• TSA-accepted ID for domestic air travel (REAL ID compliant)
• Veteran/military discounts at participating businesses

How to Get One

• Must be sponsored and registered in DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System)
• Issued at RAPIDS offices on military bases, National Guard armories, and reserve training locations
• Requires DD Form 1172-2 and two forms of valid, unexpired ID (one must be a photo ID)
• Find a RAPIDS office: RAPIDS Site Locator

The USID is the non-CAC military ID card issued to people who have military benefits but aren't active-duty or DoD employees. Historically issued as the DD Form 2 (various versions: Active, Retired, Reserve, Dependent).

Who Gets One

• Military retirees (DD Form 2 — Retired)
• Dependents of active-duty, retired, or deceased service members
• Reserve/National Guard members not on active duty
• Medal of Honor recipients
• 100% service-connected disabled veterans eligible for DoD healthcare
• Surviving spouses and children of eligible members
• Former spouses meeting the 20/20/20 rule (20 years of service, 20 years of marriage, 20 years of overlap)

What It Provides

• Base access to military installations
• TRICARE healthcare (depending on category)
• Commissary and exchange shopping (in-person and online)
• MWR facility access
• Military discounts at participating businesses
• TSA-accepted ID for domestic air travel

How to Get or Replace One

• Complete DD Form 1172-2 with sponsor signature
• Visit a RAPIDS office with two forms of valid, unexpired ID (one must be photo ID)
• Retirees need retirement orders and/or DD-214 (Member Copy 4)
• Some renewals can be done through the ID Card Office Online
• DEERS information must be current before renewal

A photo ID card issued by the VA specifically for veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. It's the card you use to check in for VA medical appointments.

Who Qualifies

• Any veteran enrolled in VA healthcare
• You do not need to have a service-connected disability — enrollment in VA healthcare is the only requirement

What It Provides

• VA appointment check-in — quickly verify identity at VA medical centers
• Proof of veteran status for discounts at many stores and businesses
• TSA-accepted ID for domestic air travel
• With special markings only: Commissary, exchange, MWR, and base access (card must display "SERVICE CONNECTED," "PURPLE HEART," or "FORMER POW")

What It Does NOT Do

• It is NOT a credit card or insurance card
• It does NOT authorize care at non-VA facilities
• It is NOT required to receive VA healthcare — it just makes check-in easier
• A VHIC without special markings does NOT grant base or commissary access

How to Get One

Important: Only request your card once — either online OR in person, not both.

Processing time: 7–14 days for U.S. residents; up to 30 business days for international residents.

Replacement: Call the VA (800-827-1000), visit a VA medical center, or go through AccessVA online. If your VHIC doesn't show "SERVICE CONNECTED" or other designations you're entitled to, request a replacement with the correct markings.

A VA-issued photo ID that proves veteran status. It was created so veterans could get discounts without carrying their DD-214. As of September 2022, all new VICs are digital only (delivered via email).

Who Qualifies

• Served on active duty, in the Reserves, or National Guard (including Coast Guard)
• Received an honorable or general discharge (under honorable conditions)
• NOT eligible if discharge was dishonorable, bad conduct, or other than honorable

What It Provides

Proof of veteran status for discounts at participating businesses (restaurants, hotels, stores). That's it — this card is strictly for proving you're a veteran.

What It Does NOT Do

• Does NOT grant base access
• Does NOT provide commissary/exchange access
• Does NOT replace a VHIC or DoD ID card
• Is NOT accepted as a government ID for TSA, banking, etc.

How to Apply

1. Go to the VA.gov VIC application page or sign in through AccessVA
2. Sign in with Login.gov or ID.me
3. Provide your Social Security number
4. Upload a digital copy of your discharge papers (DD-214, DD-256, DD-257, NGB-22, or PHS-1867)
5. Upload a current government-issued ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
6. Upload a color headshot photo: full front view, cropped shoulder-up, square format, plain background, taken within the last 10 years (.jpeg, .png, .bmp, or .tiff)
7. Submit — if approved, the digital card is sent as an email attachment

Cost: Free.

Support: Email vetidcard@va.gov for help or replacement requests.

Bottom Line

• Enrolled in VA healthcare? Get the VHIC. It covers discounts AND healthcare check-in, and is TSA-accepted. If you have a VHIC, you don't need a VIC.
• Not enrolled in VA healthcare but want proof of service? Get the VIC. It's the simplest free option for proving veteran status for discounts.
• Want base/commissary access? You need a VHIC with the right markings ("SERVICE CONNECTED," "PURPLE HEART," or "FORMER POW") or a DoD ID card.

All 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico offer a special marking (usually the word "VETERAN" or an emblem) printed on your state driver's license or state ID card. This is not a separate card — it's a designation added to your existing license.

What It Provides

• Quick proof of veteran status for discounts at businesses
• Accepted by many retailers and restaurants as proof of service
• Convenient — you always have your driver's license with you
• Some states accept it for state-level veteran benefits

What It Does NOT Do

• Does NOT grant base access
• Does NOT provide commissary/exchange access
• Does NOT replace a DoD ID, VHIC, or VIC for federal purposes

General Requirements

• DD-214, DD-215, or equivalent discharge paperwork (most states)
• Must have an honorable or general discharge (varies by state)
• Visit your state DMV/licensing office (some states allow mail-in)
• Usually requires paying a license replacement fee if your current license hasn't expired ($5–$30+ depending on state; some states waive the fee for veterans)

State Variations

• Documentation: Most states require just a DD-214. Some also accept county veteran IDs, federal activation orders, or VA disability letters.
• Cost: Varies by state — some waive the replacement fee for veterans.
• Process: Most require an in-person visit; some allow mailing copies of discharge paperwork.
• Appearance: The marking itself varies — some states print "VETERAN," some add an emblem or flag, some use a special code.

Military ID cards issued to eligible family members (dependents) of service members, retirees, and certain veterans. The legacy version is the DD Form 1173; new cards are issued as Next Generation USID cards.

Who Qualifies

Dependents registered in DEERS who are family members of:

• Active-duty service members
• Reserve/Guard members on active duty for more than 30 days
• Military retirees
• Medal of Honor recipients
• 100% service-connected disabled veterans
• Deceased service members (surviving spouses and children)

Age requirement: Generally, dependents under age 10 do not need a military ID card unless there are special circumstances (single-parent sponsor, dual-military household).

What It Provides

• TRICARE healthcare (depending on sponsor's status)
• Base access to military installations
• Commissary and exchange shopping
• MWR facility access
• Military discounts at participating businesses

How to Get One

1. Sponsor must register the dependent in DEERS
2. Complete DD Form 1172-2 (requires sponsor's signature or verification)
3. Visit a RAPIDS office
4. Bring two forms of valid, unexpired ID (one must be photo ID)
5. For children: birth certificate, court order, or adoption decree may be required

Traditional Full Access (with DoD ID Card)

These groups have always had in-person commissary, exchange, and MWR access:

• Active-duty service members and their dependents
• Military retirees and their dependents
• Reserve/Guard members and their dependents
• Medal of Honor recipients
• 100% service-connected disabled veterans

Expanded Access (Since January 1, 2020)

The 2020 NDAA (Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act) expanded in-person access to:

• Veterans with ANY VA-documented service-connected disability (0%–90%)
• Purple Heart recipients
• Former prisoners of war
• VA-approved primary family caregivers

Required ID: A VHIC displaying "SERVICE CONNECTED," "PURPLE HEART," or "FORMER POW" on the front. If your VHIC doesn't show the correct marking, request a new one from your VA medical center.

Online Exchange Shopping (All Honorably Discharged Veterans)

Since November 11, 2017, ALL honorably discharged veterans can shop online at military exchanges — regardless of disability rating or retiree status:

• Army & Air Force Exchange: ShopMyExchange.com
• Navy Exchange: MyNavyExchange.com
• Marine Corps Exchange: MyMCX.com
• Coast Guard Exchange: ShopCGX.com

Verify your eligibility at VetVerify.org. Note: online exchange shopping does NOT grant base access or in-person commissary privileges.

Base Access for Expanded-Eligibility Veterans

• First visit: Present your VHIC (with correct markings) at the installation's Visitor Control Center
• You'll undergo a background check (criminal history, terrorism screening)
• If cleared, you may be enrolled for recurring access (typically 1–3 years)
• On subsequent visits, go directly to the gate with your VHIC
• You can bring guests, but guests must independently clear the Visitor Control Center with their own REAL ID-compliant license or passport — guests cannot make purchases

As of May 7, 2025, all air travelers 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another acceptable form of ID to board domestic commercial flights.

Military/Veteran IDs Accepted by TSA

These are accepted at TSA checkpoints as valid ID (no REAL ID driver's license needed):

• U.S. Department of Defense ID (CAC, USID — including dependent IDs)
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

NOT Accepted by TSA

• Veteran ID Card (VIC) — NOT accepted as a standalone ID at TSA checkpoints
• State veteran designation on a non-REAL-ID-compliant license — the veteran marking does not make a non-compliant license acceptable

No acceptable ID? Since February 1, 2026, travelers without acceptable ID can pay a $45 fee for "TSA ConfirmID" — an identity verification process at the checkpoint. This is a last resort, not a substitute for having proper ID.

As of January 31, 2025, veterans must sign in to VA.gov using one of two methods:

• Login.gov — the federal government's shared sign-in service
• ID.me — a private identity verification service partnered with VA

Legacy sign-in methods (My HealtheVet username/password, DS Logon) are no longer accepted.

What This Means for Getting Your Cards

• VIC application: Requires Login.gov or ID.me sign-in
• VHIC online request: Requires Login.gov, ID.me, DoD CAC, or PIV card sign-in through AccessVA
• DoD ID cards (CAC/USID): Handled separately through RAPIDS/DEERS — no VA.gov sign-in needed