Title 38 › PART IV — GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 57 — RECORDS AND INVESTIGATIONS › SUBCHAPTER I — RECORDS › § 5706
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must give a photo ID card to any veteran who asks for one, shows a DD–214 or another official military service record, and pays a fee. The card will have the veteran’s photo and name, a number that is not the veteran’s Social Security number, and a statement that it is not proof of benefits. It will show the person served in the Armed Forces and that a DD–214 or similar record is in their official file. The Secretary sets the fee (including for replacements) to cover the program’s costs, reviews the fee every five years, and puts the money into a VA account for this purpose, following normal appropriation rules. The card does not give or prove any VA benefits. The VA must keep card information secure, can make rules for replacements, work with the National Personnel Records Center, and may do outreach to tell veterans about the card. This does not change other VA ID cards for veterans in the health care system under section 1705(a).
Full Legal Text
Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 5706
Title 38, Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110