How Foster Youth Can Get Their Texas Birth Certificate, Texas Identification (ID) Card, and Texas Driver’s License - Step 1 Know Your Rights About Identification Documents

Sep 19, 2026

Upload by Rizky

Guidance for Texas foster youth on obtaining identification documents and understanding related rights. It explains when DFPS must provide original certified birth certificates, Social Security cards, and Texas ID cards, and what to do if documents are missing, mishandled, or left behind after placement changes. It also covers requirements for youth born outside the U.S., safe keeping, and step-by-step actions using DFPS Form 2042 for residency verification and license or fee waiver processes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Step 1: Know Your Rights About Identification Documents

Rights and required original documents

How to store and access documents

What to do when documents are not returned

Step 2: Get a DFPS Form 2042 Foster Care Residency Verification

Requesting DFPS Form 2042 and required applications

Address selection for the application

Getting help if forms are not provided

How Foster Youth Can Get Their Texas Birth Certificate, Texas Identification (ID) Card, and Texas Driver’s License Step 1: Know Your Rights About Identification Documents a. If you are in the Texas foster care system, you have rights about getting your identification documents. You are considered in foster care if the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has managing conservatorship over you. DFPS is the same thing as CPS, which stands for Child Protective Services. b. Before you turn 16, your DFPS caseworker must get you your certified birth certificate, your Social Security card, and a Texas Identification (ID) Card. These must be originals, not copies! c. If you were not born in the United States, you also need the legal document that shows your immigration status or your Certificate of Citizenship. d. Your foster care placement should keep these documents in a safe place for you. 1. You should have access to them whenever you need them. 2. Only carry your Texas ID Card or Driver’s License with you securely in your wallet. It should not be carried loosely around in a bag. 3. Only take your birth certificate or Social Security card out from the safe place when you need to show them for paperwork at a new job or places where you must show them for official purposes. Be sure to put them back in the safe place once you have finished using them. 4. Always remember to ask to take your documents with you when you leave a placement permanently. Sometimes the person who takes you to a new placement doesn’t get them. If they are left behind, ask for them to be brought to you. If you don’t get them back, contact the Texas Foster Care Ombudsman. e. There are laws that make it easier for a foster youth to get their Texas birth certificate and Texas ID Card and Texas Driver’s License. This document has information about how you can get them if DFPS has not gotten them for you. 1. You must be in foster care or extended foster care or supervised independent living to be covered by these laws. If you are not in foster care, you might be covered by special laws for homeless youth. See [TexasFosterYouth.org](TexasFosterYouth.org) for more information. Step 2: Get a DFPS Form 2042 Foster Care Residency Verification a. Ask your caseworker to complete and give you the DFPS Form 2042, Youth or Young Adult in Foster Care Residency Verification for a Driver License or State ID Fee Waiver (DFPS Form 2042 Foster Care Residency Verification) . b. If you are under 18, also ask your caseworker to complete the Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application form. The instructions in the forms have information and links for them. 1. If you are under age 17 and 10 months, they should complete the DL-14B Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application (Minor) . They must sign it before a notary public if they are approving you to get a driver’s license or learner’s permit/license. If it is only for an ID, it does not need to be notarized. 2. If you are 17 years and 10 months old or older, they should complete the DL-14A Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application (Adult) . They must sign it before a notary public if they are approving you to get a driver’s license or learner’spermit/license. If it is only for an ID, it does not need to be notarized. 3. If you are over 18, you do not need anyone’s permission to apply for a driver’s license, so you do not need the caseworker to complete a Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application. 4. You should know that all foster youth have a right to get an ID. But when you are under 18, you can only get a driver’s license if your parent or person with legal authority consents (says you can) . If you are in foster care, your caseworker is the person who consents. c. Decide with your caseworker about what address to list on your Texas Driver License or Identification Card Application form. Your caseworker should list on

FAQs

Who is considered in Texas foster care for purposes of getting identification documents?

You are considered in foster care if the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has managing conservatorship over you.

What original documents should DFPS provide before you turn 16?

Before you turn 16, DFPS caseworkers must get you a certified birth certificate, a Social Security card, and a Texas Identification (ID) Card—these must be originals, not copies.

What should you do if a placement ends and your documents are not returned?

Ask to take your documents with you when leaving permanently. If they are left behind, ask for them to be brought to you; if you do not get them back, contact the Texas Foster Care Ombudsman (if under 18).

Sep 19, 2026

Upload by Rizky