New Florida law will change what appears on driver's licenses in 2027

Maykel Gonzalez, Miami Herald on Apr 9, 2026

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MIAMI — Driver’s licenses and ID cards that meet REAL ID requirements in Florida will indicate the legal status of their holders beginning in 2027 under a new state law.

House Bill 991 was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis as part of the Florida SAVE Act legislative package, which focuses on election “security.”

Under the law, new, renewed and replacement driver’s licenses issued on or after Jan. 1, 2027, will indicate whether the holder is a U.S. citizen or has another legal immigration status.

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez issued a statement on HB 991, describing it as “a comprehensive measure that strengthens verification processes, enhances data coordination and modernizes how identification and eligibility are handled across Florida.”

“My office is at the center of many of these processes because we handle driver licenses and identification services for our residents”, he said.

Fernandez said including legal status on identification documents is “a significant step toward greater transparency and accountability in government records.”

He added that his office “is proactively evaluating how these changes will be implemented locally,” and pledged a “smooth transition for residents.”

Holders of current driver’s licenses or ID cards will not be required to get new documents, as their existing cards will remain valid until they expire.

The regulation will not take effect immediately. Instead, it will be phased in as drivers go through the renewal or replacement process beginning in 2027.

The new format will officially take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and will apply to all first-time, renewed and replacement licenses issued from that date forward.

That means if you recently renewed your Florida driver’s license or ID, your document will remain valid until its expiration date.

The new law is part of a broader effort to tighten Florida’s election system. In certain cases, it will require voters to provide additional documents proving citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate.