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Key Takeaways

  • Oregon accepts government-issued photo IDs that are current or expired within 3 years
  • Acceptable IDs include driver's licenses, passports, military IDs, and tribal IDs
  • The ID must contain both a photograph and signature of the individual
  • Foreign passports from officially recognized countries are acceptable
  • Expired IDs are valid only if expired within 3 years of the notarization
Last updated: January 2026

Acceptable Forms of Identification

Oregon notaries must verify the identity of every person for whom they perform a notarial act. ORS 194.240 specifies what constitutes satisfactory evidence of identity.

Primary Identification Documents

ID TypeRequirementsExpiration Rule
Oregon driver licensePhoto + signatureCurrent or expired ≤3 years
Other state driver licensePhoto + signatureCurrent or expired ≤3 years
Oregon ID card (DMV)Photo + signatureCurrent or expired ≤3 years
U.S. passportPhoto + signatureCurrent or expired ≤3 years
U.S. passport cardPhoto + signatureCurrent or expired ≤3 years
Foreign passportOfficially recognized countryCurrent or expired ≤3 years
U.S. military IDPhoto + signatureCurrent or expired ≤3 years
Tribal ID cardFederally recognized tribeCurrent or expired ≤3 years

Key ID Requirements

Every acceptable ID must have:

  1. Photograph of the individual
  2. Signature of the individual
  3. Issued by government (federal, state, county, or local)
  4. Current or expired within 3 years

Government-Issued Documents

Oregon accepts identification issued by:

  • Federal government (passports, military ID)
  • State governments (driver licenses, ID cards)
  • County or local governments
  • Federally recognized Indian tribes
  • Foreign governments (officially recognized passports)

The 3-Year Expiration Rule

ID StatusAcceptable?
Currently validYes
Expired 1 year agoYes
Expired 2 years agoYes
Expired 3 years agoYes
Expired 4+ years agoNo

Example: If today is January 10, 2026, an ID that expired on January 15, 2023 is acceptable (less than 3 years). An ID that expired on January 5, 2023 is NOT acceptable (more than 3 years).

Documents That Are NOT Acceptable

DocumentReason
Social Security cardNo photo
Credit cardsNot government-issued
Employee ID badgesNot government-issued
Student IDsNot government-issued (usually)
Birth certificatesNo photo or signature
Expired ID (>3 years)Beyond acceptable period

On the Exam

  • 3-year rule: Expired IDs acceptable up to 3 years
  • Photo + signature: Both required on ID
  • Government-issued: Must be from official source
  • Foreign passports: Acceptable if from recognized country
Test Your Knowledge

A person presents a driver's license that expired 2 years ago. Can you accept this ID?

A
B
C
D
Test Your Knowledge

Which of the following is NOT an acceptable form of ID for Oregon notarizations?

A
B
C
D
Up Next

3.2 Alternative Identification Methods

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