Florida began issuing a new design for its driver's licenses and identification cards on Wednesday, a change that will gradually roll out to the wallets of millions of state residents.
But there is something important that Cubans residing in Florida should know: it is not necessary to renew a valid license solely to obtain the new design. Current documents remain valid until their expiration date.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) began issuing the new credentials on September 30 across offices statewide. The previous design stopped being printed on Tuesday.
What are the new licenses like?
The card includes various symbols associated with Florida. On the front, the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine is featured, while an orange is part of the word "Florida." You can also see a manatee and an alligator integrated into the REAL ID star.
The reverse pays tribute to the Space Coast with an image of the Discovery shuttle, which completed 39 missions before landing for the last time in Florida in 2011.
The changes are not just aesthetic. The FLHSMV assures that the new credential incorporates enhancements aimed at strengthening security and making counterfeiting more difficult.
The new format also includes a specific identification for certain commercial driver's licenses (CDL) and commercial learner's permits (CLP). In such cases, when it pertains to a temporary commercial credential for a person classified as non-domiciled, the document may display the indication "Temporary Non-Domiciled."
This registration should not be confused with a general mark for identifying foreigners or non-citizens on Florida's ordinary licenses. It is a category specifically related to certain business credentials and the applicable requirements for their holders.
What's happening in Miami-Dade?
The Miami-Dade tax collector, Dariel Fernández, reported that his 13 offices and the TConnect mobile units are ready to issue the new credentials.
During the first few days, there may be slight delays due to the update of the necessary equipment and systems to print them.
"The driver's license or identification card are very important documents for Floridians, and when the state makes a change to that credential, residents need to know exactly what to expect," Fernández noted.
Those who need to renew or replace their document can now receive the new format when completing the process in person.
And what about the immigration status on the licenses?
The redesign that will come into circulation this Wednesday should not be confused with the changes approved this year by the Florida Legislature regarding citizenship on licenses and identification cards.
Current legislation establishes that, by July 1, 2027 at the latest, licenses or identifications issued to applicants listed in the system as U.S. citizens must include their citizenship status when it comes to a new issuance, renewal, or replacement.
The regulation also states that a person who becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen will be able to obtain a free updated license or identification if they promptly notify of the status change.
Therefore, the new design that Florida began to release on September 30 does not itself introduce a new visible identification of the holder's immigration status.
Dave Kerner, executive director of the FLHSMV, stated that the new format aims to enhance the security of one of the most commonly used identification documents in the state and to ensure compliance with REAL ID standards.
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