Fort Wayne City ID Cards

About:

On October 14, 2021, Fort Wayne's Mayor Tom Henry signed a mayoral executive order establishing a Fort Wayne Community Identification Card program. Catholic Charities will serve as the fiscal agent and issuer of the cards.

Difficulty in obtaining an identification card has long kept members of the community feeling sidelined and unable to connect to activities as basic as receiving a library card and as important as having identification to provide police officers, to open bank accounts, open city utilities and a host of other vital services. In the end, we believe this initiative will contribute to the overall health and safety of all our community members.

How to Apply:

Schedule an appointment by calling 260-422-5625 (no walk-ins).
Bring valid proof of residence in the city and two forms of proof of identification.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Why would someone need an ID card? (What’s the difference between this and a state ID?)

A: City ID cards, while still requiring documentation, are less strict than the current state-issued ID cards. City IDs will require three points of verification, as listed below.

Q: Is this a legal document?

A: It is not a state-issued ID but will be accepted by city officials as a proof of identity, or any other organization, agency or entity under the jurisdiction of the City of Fort Wayne.

Q: Why are the cards not issued directly by the city or the BMV?

A: City Identification Cards are not a state government-issued ID

Q: Is this a new concept?

A: The program is new to the city of Fort Wayne, but cities throughout the country have been issuing City IDs for years, including nearby cities of South Bend, Elkhart, Plymouth and Goshen. The model for Fort Wayne’s ID cards will be based off the successful program in South Bend, which has been in effect since 2016.

Q: Who might be interested in getting a city ID?

A: Anyone who needs identification for daily activities but is having trouble collecting the necessary documents to access a state-issued ID. Activities this would be helpful for include picking up children from daycare, going to the doctor or taking their child to the doctor, getting a library card, or providing proof of identity for city officials such as the parks department or police officers.

Q: Is this only for adults?

A: No. ID cards are available to adults for $25 and minors and senior citizens for $20

Q: Are there situations where a City Identification Card would not be sufficient?

A: Yes, among other things, a community identification card would not authorize the holder to:

Vote
Drive
Board an airplane
Access public benefits like food stamps or Medicaid

A Fort Wayne community ID card is not recognized outside the City of Fort Wayne.

Who accepts this ID?

Private businesses may use their discretion in deciding whether or not to accept a Community ID card as valid unless state or local law. Some businesses include (but not limited to):