First, you’ll need to be enrolled in VA health care. If you’re not already enrolled, you can apply now. 

Find out how to apply for VA health care

After you receive your VA health care welcome call, you can apply for a VHIC in person at a VA medical center or online.

Note: Only request your card once, either in person or online. If you request your card more than once, it will cause a delay.

In person

Contact your nearest VA medical center and ask to speak with the enrollment coordinator. Ask the coordinator to help you arrange to get your picture taken for your new Veteran Health Identification Card.

Find a VA medical center near you

You can also ask for help with getting your picture taken at your next VA health care appointment.

Bring a current, unexpired ID to your photo appointment

You can bring any of these ID types:

• State-issued driver’s license, or
• U.S. passport, or 
• Federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID showing your name, address, and date of birth

Note: If your ID doesn’t show your address, you’ll need to bring a separate document to confirm your address. This could be your electric bill, cable bill, voter registration card, or another mailed document.

Online

You can sign in to AccessVA to request your VHIC. You’ll need a Login.gov, ID.me, DS Logon, My HealtheVet, or Department of Defense Common Access Card (CAC) account. 

If you don’t have any of these accounts, you can create one now. Follow the instructions on the sign-in page to register for a sign-in partner.

Go to AccessVA to request your VHIC online

Note: If you live outside the U.S. and you don’t have any of these accounts, you’ll need to create an ID.me account to verify your identity.

Learn how to verify your identity if you live outside the U.S.

Have a photo and current ID ready

When you apply for a VHIC online, you’ll need to upload a digital color photo of yourself and a copy of your current photo ID. 

Upload a copy of any of these types of current, unexpired IDs:

• State-issued driver’s license, or
• U.S. passport, or 
• Federal, state, or local government-issued photo ID showing your name, address, and date of birth

Note: If your current ID lists an address different from what we have on file, you’ll need to update your address with us before you can request a VHIC online. 

Find out how to change your address in your VA.gov profile

Or call us at  877-222-8387 (TTY: 711) and ask to change your address. We’re here Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. 

Upload a digital color photo of yourself that follows these rules:

• Use a photo taken in the last 6 months, and
• Use a white or off-white background, and
• Show a full front view of your face (with no hat, head covering, face covering, headphones, or eyeglasses), and
• Make sure your eyes are open and your hair isn’t covering your eyes or ears, and
• Crop the photo in a square shape from your shoulders up (like a passport photo), and
• Upload your photo as a .jpeg, .png, .bmp, .gif, or .tiff file