VHIC vs VIC: What's the Difference Between VA Veteran ID Cards?
VHIC vs VIC comparison table
| Feature | VHIC | VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Veteran Health Identification Card | Veteran ID Card |
| Who qualifies | Veterans enrolled in VA health care. | Veterans who served in the Armed Forces (including the Reserves and National Guard) and meet VA's discharge-character requirements, generally an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge. |
| Main purpose | Identifies you at VA medical facilities and for VA health care check-in. | Proof of veteran status without carrying your DD-214, for example at businesses that offer veteran discounts. |
| Cost | Free from VA. | Free from VA. There is no application fee. |
| VA health care identification | Yes. This is its primary use. | No. It is not a health care card. |
| Proof of veteran status | Generally accepted as proof you are a veteran enrolled in VA care. | Yes. This is its primary use. |
| Commissary and exchange privileges | Can be used for in-person commissary, exchange, and MWR access only by veterans who qualify under the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act (service-connected rating, Purple Heart, or former POW) and do not hold a DoD ID card. The card itself is not the entitlement. | No. A VIC does not provide commissary, exchange, or MWR privileges. |
| Military installation access | Can be presented by eligible veterans for installation access, subject to the installation's identity check and background screening. | No. A VIC alone does not grant installation access. |
| Application process | Enroll in VA health care first, then request the card at the enrollment office of your VA medical center, where your photo is taken. | Apply online at VA.gov with a Login.gov or ID.me account, a copy of your discharge document, and a digital photo. |
Commissary, exchange, MWR, and installation privileges depend on your qualifying status and current DoD and installation policies, not on simply holding a card.
How Much Does a Veteran ID Card (VIC) Cost?
The VA-issued ID Card (VIC) is free. There is no application fee for the VA's VIC program, and the VHIC is also issued free to enrolled veterans.
Be careful with look-alike products. Private companies sell " ID" cards that are not issued by VA, and state veteran designations on a driver's license or ID card are set by each state's DMV and may carry that state's normal license or renewal fees. Neither is the VA VIC.
Apply for the VA card only through VA's official page: /records/get--id-cards/vic/.
Can You Use a VHIC or VIC to Access Military Bases?
- A VIC alone does not grant installation access, and it is not accepted for commissary or exchange privileges.
- Since January 1, 2020, the Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act has extended in-person commissary, exchange, and certain MWR privileges to veterans with a VA service-connected (including 0%), Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, and primary family caregivers in VA's caregiver program.
- Eligible veterans who do not have a DoD ID card commonly use a VHIC for this access. The VHIC should show the qualifying status below the photo, such as "SERVICE CONNECTED," "PURPLE HEART," "FORMER POW," or "MEDAL OF HONOR."
- Since November 1, 2024, eligible veterans without a VHIC, and eligible caregivers, can enroll for installation access at the visitor center with a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state ID; VA and DoD verify eligibility electronically instead of requiring a VA letter.
- On a first visit, installations typically require a stop at the visitor control center for identity proofing and a background check before unescorted access is allowed. An installation can deny access based on that screening.
- Requirements vary by installation, security posture, and location (including overseas). Neither card automatically establishes entitlement to every military privilege.
What ID Card Do 100% Permanent and Total Disabled Veterans Receive?
Veterans with a qualifying 100% service-connected disability determination from VA may be eligible for a DoD-issued Uniformed Services ID card, issued through a DEERS/RAPIDS ID card office, not by VA. The DoD card is separate from both the VHIC and the VIC.
DoD has been replacing the older paper-style DD Form 2765 with the Next Generation Uniformed Services ID card, so the card you receive may look different from older cards. DEERS staff verify eligibility against VA records at the appointment.
- VHIC: VA-issued; based on VA health care enrollment, not on a rating percentage.
- VIC: VA-issued; based on military service and discharge character; no rating required.
- DoD Uniformed Services ID card: DoD-issued; based on a qualifying 100% service-connected disability determination and verification in DEERS. It can also bring privileges for eligible dependents.
- () status is a separate VA finding that a total rating is not expected to improve. It affects things such as card expiration and some other programs (for example, Space-A travel eligibility and certain benefits), but it is not the same thing as a 100% .
- Not every with a combined 100% rating automatically fits every DoD ID category. Confirm with the ID card office which documents and VA letters it needs for your status.
ID cards and disability compensation are different programs
Getting a card does not change your VA , and a is not appealed through an ID card office. If the real question is whether your rating, , or is right, those are compensation issues decided by VA under 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.
- How VA total and permanent ratings work: see Permanent & Total Rating.
- Higher compensation above 100%: see letter levels and rates.
- If you disagree with a : compare the three appeal lanes.
- If VA started your benefits too late: see effective-date disputes.
Frequently Asked Questions
References & sources
- Veteran ID cards (VHIC, VIC, DoD ID) — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Veteran ID Card (VIC) — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Commissary, exchange, and MWR access extended to veterans (Jan. 1, 2020) — VA News
- VA and DoD update veteran and caregiver installation access (Nov. 2024) — VA News
- ID Card Office Online / RAPIDS site locator — Defense Manpower Data Center
Useful Tools & Topics
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Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. No guarantees of outcomes are made. Each claim is decided on its individual facts.
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