How to Get a Veteran ID Card

What the Veteran ID Card is for

The Veteran ID Card is a digital photo ID that VA issues so veterans can show their status at restaurants, hotels, stores and other businesses that offer veteran discounts, without carrying a DD214 or sharing sensitive personal information at the counter. VA notes that businesses take part voluntarily, so a discount being offered does not mean VA recommends that business.

It is a discount card, not an all-purpose ID. According to VA you cannot use it to:

• get on a military base or into a commissary or exchange,
• show ID at the airport,
• check in to a VA hospital,
• prove eligibility for federal benefits or proof of retirement from the Armed Forces, or
• prove wartime service for a special license plate from the DMV.

Who qualifies

Both of these must be true:

• You served on active duty, in the Reserves, or in the National Guard (including the Coast Guard), and
• You received an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge.

Other than honorable, bad conduct and dishonorable discharges are not eligible. If your discharge is uncharacterized or unknown, VA has to verify eligibility first, which can mean requesting your records from the National Personnel Records Center and a longer wait.

What you need before you apply

The application is online. Have these ready:

• Your Social Security number.
• A scanned copy of your discharge papers: a DD214, DD256, DD257, PHS1867 or NGB22, as a PDF, JPEG or PNG file.
• A current, valid government-issued ID such as a driver's license, passport or state ID card.
• A digital color photo of you from the shoulders up: full front view, eyes open, neutral expression, no hat or headphones, everyday clothing, a square crop on a white or plain background, taken within the last 10 years, as a JPEG, PNG, BMP or TIFF file.

If you can't find your DD214, request a copy first through VA's request military records page. The veteran benefits guide covers the other programs your discharge papers unlock.

How to apply, step by step

1. Go to VA's How to apply for a Veteran ID Card page and start the online application.
2. Upload your discharge document, your government ID and your photo.
3. VA checks that your character of discharge qualifies, that your ID is valid and that your photo meets the standards.
4. VA emails you about the status. If it asks for more information, sign in to AccessVA and update the application.
5. If you're approved, VA emails you the digital card. Save it to your phone so it's ready at checkout.

To check status later, sign in to AccessVA. To replace a lost card or get help, VA's listed contact is vetidcard@va.gov.

You may not need one at all

VA says you only need one ID that shows you're a veteran, and any of these work for the same retail and restaurant discounts:

• DoD ID (CAC or Uniformed Services ID): for retirees, active duty, and Guard and Reserve members (including Selected and Inactive Ready Reserve). Apply with DD Form 1172-2 at a RAPIDS ID card office.
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC): for veterans enrolled in VA health care. Request it online or at your VA medical center after you enroll. See how to get a VA health ID card.
• Veteran ID Card (VIC): for veterans with an honorable or general discharge. Apply online at VA.gov; the digital card arrives by email.
• Veteran designation on a driver's license or state ID: offered in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with rules that vary. Apply through your state DMV, usually with a copy of your DD214.

A VHIC also gets you checked in at VA appointments and a DoD ID gets you on base, so if you already have either, a Veteran ID Card adds little. The VIC is most useful for veterans who are not retirees and not enrolled in VA health care. The state license designation is handy because you carry it anyway, but requirements differ, so check with your state's DMV.

Using it for discounts

Each business sets its own proof rules. Some accept any of the IDs above, some verify online through a third-party service, and some accept a DD214 or a VA benefits letter. Read the brand's own policy before you go. The Basepass military discounts list links each brand's official terms and says which proof it asks for, and the Veterans Day 2026 free meals and deals page notes what to bring on November 11, when most restaurants ask for proof of service.

Sources

VA: Types of Veteran ID cards and How to apply for a Veteran ID Card, both checked October 9, 2026. Basepass is independent and not affiliated with VA or the Department of Defense. Rules can change; VA.gov is the final word.