Acceptable forms of ID

An acceptable form of identification is needed for credit checks, activations, upgrades, and in-store exchanges.

Acceptable IDs for activation & verification

  • The table below lists all IDs that you can use for activation or in-store verification. Only the listed ID types are accepted.
  • If the customer brings an ID that is not listed, has been modified, or expired, then it is not acceptable ID.
    • Ask the customer if they have a form of ID on the list below.
    • If they do not, offer to activate prepaid service and speak to them about the Smart Phone Equality program.
    • Do not scan your own ID or attempt to use a workaround.
  • Some countries use date-month-year format, instead of month-date-year.
  • U.S. customers must be at least 18 years of age.
Activity & Account TypeAcceptable Forms of ID

Verification for:

  • Postpaid
  • Prepaid
  • Smartphone Equality

Activation for:

  • Postpaid
  • U.S. Driver's License issued by the DMV
    • U.S. driver learner's permit
    • U.S.-issued temporary paper driver’s license ID card in acceptable standard format: 
      • 2 inches by 3.5 inches in rectangular format
      • Must have photo
      • Note: Other paper IDs are not accepted. Temporary ID that does not scan is not acceptable ID.
    • Digital ID: Louisiana and Puerto Rico only. See Digital ID validation steps.
 
  • U.S. ID card issued by the DMV (including Driver’s Authorization cards)
    • State IDs issued by the DMV that do not have an expiration date are accepted.
      • They show 1/1/999 expiration when scanned.
      • If not, then manually enter a future date.
    • Digital ID: Louisiana and Puerto Rico only. See Digital ID validation steps.
 
  • U.S. Territory IDs
    • American Samoa
    • Guam
    • Puerto Rico
      • All acceptable IDs can be used for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 
      • Customers must be at least 21 years old in PR stores, including the BRP and AU.
      • Voter's ID must be offered voluntarily by the customer. 
        • The ID must be within 10 years of the issue date and must have a photo on the card.
        • A Voter's ID requires a signed and attached Voter Consent Form. Forms are attached below.
      • Driver's licenses with vertical violet stripe are not acceptable.
    • U.S. Virgin Islands

 

  • Other ID types
    • IDNYC for New York City residents
    • U.S.-issued passport (Passport cards are not accepted.)
    • State or Federal firearms permit
    • Federally recognized Tribal ID
    • Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
    • Eligible Work Visas (A1, A2, E1, E2, E3, G1, G2, G4, H1B, I, L1, O1, O2, P1A, R1, TN)
    • U.S. permanent resident card (For example: green card, resident alien card)
    • Puerto Rico voter registration card (Only accepted if the card is in acceptable paper format and includes a photo)
    • Only stores on military bases:
      • U.S. military ID, including active duty, reserve, or retired.
      • (Stores that are not located on a military base cannot accept any military ID.)
 
  • International / no SSN prospects only at retail stores
    • U.S.-Issued Student Visa with college annotation (F1, J1, M1) (Select Visa when activating, not Student Visa.)
    • Mexico Passport: The customer must show a utility bill with a U.S address for verification.
    • Matricula Consular or Consular ID (CID). The ID must:
      • Have a US address 
      • Be issued by a country on this list:
        • Guatemala (GT)
        • Mexico (MX)
        • Dominican Republic (DO)
        • Brazil (BR)
        • Colombia

        • Honduras (HN)
        • Ecuador (EC)
        • Uruguay (UY)
        • El Salvador (ELSL)
        • Argentina (AR)
        • Bolivia (BO)
    • See No Social Security number (SSN) for steps if activating with No SSN.

Verification for Business

Activation for Business

T-Mobile asks for three types of documents for verification when a business customer requests service. Refer to Acceptable forms of business ID.

Activation for Prepaid

(Not for verification)

Prepaid activations do not require any specific form of ID.

Verification for Postpaid

Activation for Smartphone Equality

  • Smartphone Equality activations can accept all forms of postpaid identification (listed above)
    • Conversion customers opting for a credit check using an International ID or Student Visa also require an address verification document.
    • Conversions without a credit check require a photo ID, but not address verification.
  • Mexico passports
    • Can be used as an exception for Smartphone Equality activations.
    • Can be used for existing Postpaid verification.

 

Validate an ID

When verifying identification for account creation, access, or changes, confirm the following:

  • Confirm the person presenting the ID matches the individual on the ID.
  • If facial features are obscured by a mask:
    • Politely ask them to briefly lower or remove the mask for verification.
    • Complete the check, then allow them to secure the mask before proceeding.
  • For individuals wearing religious coverings (niqab, hijab, or burqa):
    • For a niqab, request they briefly uncover their face to match the ID photo.
    • For a hijab, ask them to remove just a portion to allow comparison with the photo.
  • Also refer to steps on:

Digital ID validation

Digital IDs are accepted only from Louisiana and Puerto Rico.

All Louisiana (LA) stores must accept the Louisiana Digital Driver’s Licenses (DDLs) presented in the “LA Wallet” app on a customer’s phone as a valid form of ID.

Do not take the customer’s phone during verification. Ask the customer to perform the following steps on their phone in the LA Wallet app.

  1. Open the LA Wallet app on the phone and tap the Tap to view text to view the ID card.
  2. Once the ID card is opened, check the Validation Bar at the top of the screen in the app:
    • Green: Valid
    • Red: Invalid (The Digital ID cannot be used. Request another form of ID.)
  3. Check the Security Seal on the ID. 
    • Have the customer activate the Security Seal by touching and holding the screen on the phone.
    • A valid LA State Security Seal will display on the screen.
  4. Refresh the Digital ID.
    • In the Tap to view screen, tap the Refresh button.
    • The app will display the refresh timestamp and the Validation Bar will update. If the Validation Bar changes colors, follow the steps above based on the color.
  5. Request to view the back of the Digital ID.
    • In the Tap to view screen, tap the View button. 
    • The back of the ID card becomes visible, including the bar code for easy scanning.
  6. If ID is validated, proceed with ID Capture on REMO.
    • Capture the front and back of the Digital ID using ID capture on REMO and proceed as usual.
  7. If you cannot validate all these steps, request another form of ID.
  8. Existing Sprint customers: If ID is validated with the steps above, capture the front and back of the Digital ID in GST using ID Capture on REMO and proceed as usual.

All stores in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands must accept the Puerto Rico Digital ID available through the CESCO application as a valid form of ID. Do not take the customer’s phone during verification, instead ask them to perform the following steps on their device:

  1. Open the CESCO Digital App and have the customer click on the avatar/icon on the top, right-hand corner to view the ID card.
    • If the license is also a Real ID, a star will be displayed on the avatar border.
  2. Once the ID card is open, complete the following steps for proper validation:
    1. Confirm the user is at least 21 years of age or older.
    2. Validate the date/time located in the top, left-hand corner.
      • Must show today’s date and time
      • Seconds timer must be counting
      • Confirm DL is not expired
      • Confirm the license number matches digital DMV License Number on the CESCO app home page .
  3. Swipe to the right to review the back of the license and barcode.
  4. If ID is validated, proceed with ID Capture on REMO.
    • Capture the front and back of the Digital ID using ID capture on REMO and proceed as usual.
  5. If you cannot validate all these steps, the customer must provide another form of ID.
  6. Existing Sprint customers: If ID is validated with the steps above, capture the front and back of the Digital ID in GST using ID Capture on REMO and proceed as usual.

Digital ID is not accepted from other states. The acceptable list will be updated when an ID is approved and able to authenticate in our systems.

ID has incorrect or no address / address verification

IDs with no address or incorrect address require a utility bill for address verification.

  • Acceptable utility bill: gas, electric, oil, water, cable/satellite TV dated in the last 60 days.
  • Only a summary page is required and must contain utility name, customer name matching photo ID, customer address, billing date, and bill amount.
  • Must be an original bill. 
  • Not accepted:
    • Copies
    • Remittance slips (mailed in with payment)
    • Collections notice
    • Service termination notices
    • Other wireless carrier bills.
Attachments
File Preview
File name File type Preview Download
Voter_Declaration_Consent_Form_ENGLISH.pdf PDF Download from preview
Voter_Declaration_Consent_Form_SPANISH.pdf PDF Download from preview

PDF Files should be downloaded from the preview tab