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Home > Driver Licenses & IDs > Proving Maine Residency

Proving Maine Residency

Any resident seeking to acquire or renew a Maine driver license or Maine non-driver identification card will need to provide documentary evidence of Maine residency. This documentary evidence must contain an actual physical address.

Please bring with you one form of documentary evidence that you live in Maine. Some specific examples are listed below, but this is not an all inclusive list:

Examples of documentary evidence of Maine residency
(documentation must contain an actual physical address)
  • A tax return
  • W-2
  • Paycheck stub
  • Tax bill
  • Utility Bill
  • Recent Maine Driver’s License with a physical address
  • Document issued by a government entity
  • Conditional order of restoration
  • Maine Vehicle Registration or other credential
  • Maine Resident Hunting and or Fishing License
  • Contract in their name – mortgage agreement, lease, insurance policy, insurance ID card, SR22

 

There are a few exemptions for non-residents:

Non-Resident exemptions from providing documentary evidence of Maine residency

  1. A non-resident person that proves they are on active duty in the US Armed Forces
  2. The spouse or child of a non-resident person that has proven they are on active duty in the US Armed Forces
  3. A non-resident student enrolled in a university, college or school within Maine.

An applicant must provide proof that they qualify for the exemption. Some examples are:

Examples of proof of qualification of exemption
  • Military ID
  • Military dependent ID card
  • Military service location orders
  • Certified school record/transcript
  • College ID card with no visible signs of irregularity
  • Form I-20 issued to an F-1 student (issued and signed by the school)
  • Form DS2019 issued to a J-1 scholar (issued and signed by the school)


Affidavits may be submitted if Acceptable Documentary Evidence is Unavailable

Affidavits will be available at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If an affidavit is used it must be the one provided by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

A person that can not provide acceptable documentary evidence but resides in Maine or is domiciled in Maine may submit affidavits from 2 individuals who have personal or professional relationships with the applicant and knowledge of the person and the person’s residence or domicile which may include a shelter in Maine.

If the applicant is a minor, only one affidavit is required if it is signed by the applicant’s parent or guardian.