As of Friday, New Yorkers as young as 10 can now take advantage of the plethora of benefits that come with the city’s IDNYC card program, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs announced.
The government-issued photo identification card program that launched in 2015, was previously only available for residents 14-years-old and up, but has now expanded to include children between the ages of 10 and 13 as well.
With this expansion, benefits like free museum and zoo memberships and an array of citywide discounts and more will now be accessible for up to 300,000 additional children, officials said.
“IDNYC’s accessibility has been key to its success from the very start,” said MOIA Commissioner Bitta Mostofi. “More New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, will be able to demonstrate eligibility for their IDNYC card, opening doors throughout the five boroughs.”
IDNYC benefits
In addition to serving as an acceptable photo ID form, IDNYC also gives cardholders access to numerous benefits that include free, one-year memberships to more than 40 of the city’s museums, zoos, concert halls, botanical gardens and other cultural institutions.
Among those included in the program are the American Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Botanical Garden, MoMA and MoMA PS1, Staten Island Museum, Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden and more.
Several banks and credit unions also offer accounts for cardholders, who can also nab discounts on entertainment such as movies, Broadway shows, attractions and sporting events.
Younger New Yorkers can also access KidPass, a monthly membership that allows parents to search and book more than 20,000 kid-friendly activities.
H2 How to get an IDNYC card
New York City residents ages 10 and older are eligible for an IDNYC card. To obtain one, they need to fill out an application and submit it and proof of identity and residency in the city at one of 26 IDNYC Enrollment Centers across the five boroughs.
For more info, visit nyc.gov/IDNYC.
