                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS WITHOUT PHOTOGRAPHS; FEE;
CONFIDENTIALITY; PENALTIES (§ 46.2-345.2)

A. On the application of any person with a sincerely held religious belief
prohibiting the taking of a photograph who is a resident of the Commonwealth and
who is at least 15 years of age, the Department shall issue a special
identification card without a photograph to the person, provided that:

   1. Application is made on a form prescribed by the Department and includes the
   applicant&#8217;s full legal name; year, month, and date of birth; social
   security number; sex; and residence address. Applicants shall be permitted to
   choose between &#8220;male,&#8221; &#8220;female,&#8221; or
   &#8220;non-binary&#8221; when designating the applicant&#8217;s sex on the
   application form;

   2. The applicant presents, when required by the Department, proof of identity,
   legal presence, residency, and social security number or non-work authorized
   status;

   3. The applicant presents an approved and signed U.S. Department of the
   Treasury Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 4029 or if such applicant is a
   minor, the applicant&#8217;s parent or legal guardian presents an approved and
   signed IRS Form 4029; and

   4. The applicant does not hold a driver&#8217;s license, commercial
   driver&#8217;s license, temporary driver&#8217;s permit, learner&#8217;s
   permit, motorcycle learner&#8217;s permit, or special identification card.

B. The fee for the issuance of an original, duplicate, reissue, or renewal
special identification card without a photograph is $2 per year, with a $10
minimum fee, except no such fee shall be assessed against homeless youth, as
described in subdivision A 7 of &#xA7; 22.1-3.

C. Every special identification card without a photograph shall expire on the
applicant&#8217;s birthday at the end of the period of years for which a special
identification card without a photograph has been issued. At no time shall any
special identification card without a photograph be issued for more than eight
years. Notwithstanding these limitations, the Commissioner may extend the
validity period of an expiring card if (i) the Department is unable to process
an application for re-issue due to circumstances beyond its control or (ii) the
extension has been authorized under a directive from the Governor. However, in
no event shall the validity period be extended more than 90 days per occurrence
of such conditions.

D. A special identification card without a photograph issued under this section
may be similar in size, shape, and design to a driver&#8217;s license and shall
not include a photograph of its holder. The card shall be readily
distinguishable from a driver&#8217;s license and shall clearly state that
federal limits apply, that the card is not valid identification to vote, and
that the card does not authorize the person to whom it is issued to drive a
motor vehicle. Every applicant for a special identification card without a
photograph shall appear in person before the Department to apply for a duplicate
or reissue unless specifically permitted by the Department to apply in another
manner.

E. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, a valid Virginia driver&#8217;s license
or special identification card shall be surrendered for a special identification
card without a photograph without the applicant&#8217;s having to present proof
of legal presence as required by &#xA7; 46.2-328.1 if the Virginia
driver&#8217;s license or special identification card is unexpired and has not
been revoked, suspended, or canceled. The special identification card without a
photograph shall be considered a reissue, and the expiration date shall be the
last day of the month of the surrendered driver&#8217;s license&#8217;s or
special identification card&#8217;s month of expiration.

F. Any personal information, as identified in &#xA7; 2.2-3801, that is retained
by the Department from an application for the issuance of a special
identification card without a photograph is confidential and shall not be
divulged to any person, association, corporation, or organization, public or
private, except to the legal guardian or the attorney of the applicant or to a
person, association, corporation, or organization nominated in writing by the
applicant, his legal guardian, or his attorney. This subsection shall not
prevent the Department from furnishing the application or any information
thereon to any law-enforcement agency.

G. Any person who uses a false or fictitious name or gives a false or fictitious
address in any application for a special identification card without a
photograph or knowingly makes a false statement or conceals a material fact or
otherwise commits a fraud in any such application is guilty of a Class 2
misdemeanor. However, where the special identification card without a photograph
is obtained for the purpose of committing any offense punishable as a felony, a
violation of this section shall constitute a Class 4 felony.

H. When requested by the applicant, the applicant&#8217;s parent if the
applicant is a minor, or the applicant&#8217;s guardian, and upon presentation
of a signed statement by a licensed physician confirming the applicant&#8217;s
condition, the Department shall indicate on the applicant&#8217;s special
identification card without a photograph that the applicant has any condition
listed in subsection K of &#xA7; 46.2-342.

I. The Department shall establish a method by which an applicant for an
original, reissued, or renewed special identification card without a photograph
may indicate his blood type. If the applicant chooses to indicate his blood
type, the Department shall make a notation of this designation on his special
identification card without a photograph and in his record. Such notation on the
special identification card without a photograph shall only be used by emergency
medical services agencies in providing emergency medical support. Upon written
request of the license holder or his legal guardian to have the designation
removed, the Department shall issue the special identification card without a
photograph without such designation upon the payment of applicable fees.
			Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department shall not disclose
any data collected pursuant to this subsection except to the subject of the
information and by designation on the special identification card without a
photograph. Nothing herein shall require the Department to verify any
information provided for the designation. No action taken by any person, whether
private citizen or public officer or employee, with regard to any blood type
designation displayed on a special identification card without a photograph,
shall create a warranty of the reliability or accuracy of the document or
electronic image, nor shall it create any liability on the part of the
Commonwealth or of any department, office, or agency or of any officer,
employee, or agent thereof.

J. Unless the Code specifies that a photograph is required, a special
identification card without a photograph shall be treated as a special
identification card.

HISTORY: 2019, c. 832; 2020, c. 544; 2022, c. 796; 2024, cc. 474, 497; 2025, c.
181.