Mayor Bill de Blasio in July signed Local Law No. 35, establishing the New York Identification Card Program.
Photo Courtesy of Rob Bennett/Mayoral Photography Office
Mayor Bill de Blasio, Human Resources Administration Commissioner Steven Banks, and Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs Nisha Agarwal announced this week the publication of the municipal identification card program eligibility and privacy policies, establishing broad access for all New Yorkers to apply for the card. The policies also include strong measures to ensure applicant privacy and prevent against fraud and identity theft. The official name and logo of this initiative is IDNYC.
“A great deal of analysis and care went into ensuring our IDNYC card is strong on privacy and security, while providing access to as many people as possible,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We want New Yorkers to feel proud to carry this card in their wallet, but also to feel confident knowing that their information is safe and secure.”
In July this year, Mayor de Blasio signed Local Law No. 35, establishing the New York City Identification Card Program to ensure that every New Yorker is provided the opportunity and peace of mind that comes with possessing a government-issued photo identification.
The newly published rules provide that:
- The IDNYC card will be free of charge for the first year of the program
- The IDNYC card will expire after five years
- The minimum age to apply for the card will be 14
- Applicants will be required to present proof of identity and proof of NYC residency
- Homeless New Yorkers without a permanent address will be able to obtain a card, and
- The card will provide address confidentiality protections to survivors of domestic violence.
Additionally, the rules establish over 40 categories of documents that may be used to establish identity, including foreign birth certificates and passports, military identification, and U.S. high school diplomas. Residency will be demonstrable with cable, phone, or utility bills, and bank statements, among other documents, and points will be assigned to the documents, as in the system used by the New York State DMV.
Applicants with no home address will be able to list a “care of” address on their cards. Passports that are machine-readable will be accepted up to three years after expiration, but all other documents must be current.
Approximately half of NYC residents aged 16 and older do not have a New York State Driver’s License. The IDNYC card will connect New Yorkers in all five boroughs to public and private sector services, including one-year free membership packages at 33 of the City’s cultural institutions.
By Forum Staff
