NYC’s popular municipal ID cards will be easier to get under new City Council bill

Signing up for New York City's popular municipal ID program will soon become easier for city residents due to a City Council bill passed on Wednesday.

The measure will resume some same-day walk-in appointments for people registering for the IDNYC photo ID card. The card gives New Yorkers an ID they can use to show their employers, enter their children’s school building or show local law enforcement — regardless of their immigration status.

“Let's make this program one that is not just available like any other service, but one that is a flagship program for New Yorkers and makes you a part of the fabric of our city,” said Councilmember Shahana Hanif, the bill's author.

The cards are available to all New Yorkers and can be used for a range of purposes, including accessing immunization records, obtaining discounts or free memberships to museums and zoos, or as a library card.

Hanif said making IDNYC more accessible has taken on greater urgency amid the Trump administration's promises of mass deportations. Demand for the ID cards soared last year in large part due to the increase in asylum-seekers arriving in the city. Residents and organizations had complained last year about the challenges of snagging appointments after the city eliminated walk-in appointments after some people were waiting in long lines or overnight in the cold for an ID.

Nearly 65,000 cards were issued between July and October, a 14% increase compared to the same time period the year before, according to data from the preliminary Mayor’s Management Report.

Here are answers to some basic questions about the IDs:

Who is eligible?

All New Yorkers who are at least 10 years old are eligible, regardless of their immigration status. Applicants need to bring different documents to prove their identities such as a passport, a driver’s license or utility bills.

What can IDNYC be used for?

IDNYC serves as a proof of identity and is accepted by NYPD officers and other city agencies. Residents can also use the ID to enter public buildings like schools, and high schoolers can use it to take the high school equivalency exam.

They can also be used to register for the state’s insurance marketplace and local hospitals, to access immunization records or prescription discounts, or as library cards. The cards also unlock other city benefits like discounts or free membership to museums and zoos.

IDNYC, however, does not grant work authorization or immigration status. It also can't be used as identification to buy alcohol or tobacco, to travel by air, or as a driver’s license.

It does allow residents to choose a gender marker: M, F, X or not designated.

How can I get an appointment now?

For now, appointments can be made online here or by calling 311. About 7,500 appointments are released every week on Fridays for the following week. The website allows users to search by borough and date. There are 11 sites across all five boroughs.

Under the new legislation, there will be at least one site in every borough where same-day appointments are allowed. The locations will be decided by the city.

There is no process to review denied applications and the IDs don’t have the date they were issued.

What options will be available under the new legislation?

The new legislation will once again allow residents to walk into enrollment centers and request a same-day appointment. The bill will establish a walk-in center in every borough where same-day appointments are allowed, but the locations for those centers have yet to be established.

The Department of Social Services, which administers IDNYC, also has the option to end the pilot program for any reason, including if long lines form outside the sites.

The bill also aims to improve the website where New Yorkers sign up for appointments to get the IDs, Hanif said.

The bill requires additional training for staff and establishes a review process for any application denials. The IDs will also add a date of issue to show how long cardholders have lived in the city.

The changes are expected to take place later this year once the legislation takes effect.