VA Identification Cards

VA Healthcare Enrollee ID Card

When you’re enrolled in VA health care, you get a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) that you use to check in to your appointments at VA medical centers. You may also use this card to get discounts offered to Veterans at many stores, businesses, and restaurants. If you have a VHIC, you don’t need to request another type of photo ID card to prove you’re a Veteran or to get retail or business discounts.

Veteran ID Card

A Veteran ID Card (VIC) is a form of photo ID you can use to get discounts offered to Veterans at many stores, businesses, and restaurants. In order to be eligible for this ID card, veterans had to have served on active duty and received an honorable or general discharge. Or were in the Reserves, or National Guard, and had federal activation, title 10, or executive order, and received an honorable or general discharge. When you have this card, you won’t need to carry around your military discharge papers or share sensitive personal information to receive discounts. If you have a VIC, you don’t need to request another type of photo ID card to prove you’re a Veteran or to get retail or business discounts.

To apply for a Veteran ID Card, visit the VA Website.

100% VA Disabled/Dependent ID Card

A Department of Defense (DoD) 100% VA Disabled Veteran or Dependent Identification Card is used to get access to services at military bases. You may also use this card to get discounts offered to Veterans at many stores, businesses, and restaurants. If you have a DoD Identification Card, you don’t need to request another type of photo ID card to prove you’re a Veteran or to get retail or business discounts.

State Veteran Identifier

The state of Wisconsin offers a Veteran designation (an identifying mark) printed on state-issued driver’s licenses or IDs. If you have a Veteran’s designation, you may be able to get discounts offered to Veterans at many stores, businesses, and restaurants.

Eligibility for Veteran ID Card & State Veteran Identifier

To be eligible you must meet certain requirements related to your term and characterization of military service.

• Character of Service: The Character of Service Field on your DD214/DD215 must show, Honorable, General under honorable conditions, or Honorable under General. (Other than Honorable conditions will not allow you to certify through this process.)
• Length of Service: You must have at least one period of service that encompassed at least two continuous years of active duty or 90 days of active duty during a designated wartime period, where the character of service meets the requirements above.

To get the veteran identifier on your driver's license or ID card:

• Verify your eligibility with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. Contact the Veterans Benefits Resource Center at 1-800-WIS-VETS or visit the VetExpress Website.
  Or,
  Contact your local County Veterans Service Officer to obtain certification of your veteran status for the identifier. Visit the CVSO Website for more information.
• Once you’ve established eligibility, you may apply at the Wisconsin DMV. If renewing or getting your first driver's license or ID card, you’ll need to visit your local DMV. If it’s not time to renew, you have the option to get a duplicate product online. Visit the Wisconsin DOT Website for more information.

For this purpose, “active duty” means active duty other than active duty for training (ACDUTRA). Military service in the armed forces of the United States or in forces incorporated as part of the armed forces of the United States. Full-time National Guard duty or Reserve duty, weekend drill does not qualify as “active duty” under federal law. Active federal military service performed by the National Guard members under Title 10 of the U.S. Code or executive order may qualify as “active duty.”