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After several delays, the REAL ID enforcement deadline is here. Starting Wednesday, you’ll need a compliant identification card to board a domestic flight and enter certain federal facilities.
Enforcement of the ID requirement, which stems back to legislation passed following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, officially begins on Wednesday, May 7.
Here are some things to know before the REAL ID deadline takes effect.
Do I have a REAL ID?
Before you schedule a trip to your DMV, check your wallet: you may already have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state identification card. Many states have been issuing compliant cards for years.
If there is a star on your driver’s license or state ID card, you have a REAL ID-compliant card. The star may be black or gold, completely filled in or just the outline. Either way, you’re compliant.
Some states — Minnesota, Michigan, New York, and Vermont — issue REAL ID-compliant IDs and enhanced driver’s licenses (Washington only issues the latter). State-enhanced driver’s licenses are marked with a flag rather than a star and include a chip that can make it easier to enter the U.S. by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. REAL IDs cannot be used for crossing the borders.
Can I still get a REAL ID?
The short answer is yes, REAL IDs will still be issued even after the May 7 enforcement date. If you are flying domestically soon and do not have a REAL ID, however, you’ll need to bring along more than your driver’s license to board the flight (more on that in a moment).
If you’re in a rush to get one, however, you may be out of luck. Several states have reported a lack of appointments to get a REAL ID in recent weeks, including offices in New Jersey, Illinois, and Kentucky, the Associated Press reported.
How do I get a REAL ID?
Should you be lucky enough to schedule an appointment for a REAL ID (if that’s necessary in your state), you’ll want to make sure you have the necessary documentation.
At minimum, you’ll need to prove your full legal name, your date of birth, your Social Security number, two proofs of address for your principal residence, and your lawful status.
Four documents — your birth certificate and your Social Security card (or, in some cases, just the number), plus a bill and a pay stub — could help you meet all of those requirements. You may, however, need different or additional documents depending on your situation.
Ultimately, you’ll want to check with your local DMV to determine qualifying documents and roughly how long it will take for your REAL ID to be available.
What if I don’t have a REAL ID?
You will not necessarily be kept from boarding a plane, or other activities that require a valid driver’s license.
If you do not have a REAL ID and have a domestic flight planned for departure after the May 7 deadline, don’t panic: You can use another approved form of identification to board your flight.
TSA lists several on its website, including:
U.S. passport or passport card
Foreign government-issued passport
Veteran Health Identification Card
DHS trusted traveler cards
Department of Defense ID (including those issued to dependents)
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
Acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards
HSPD-12 PIV cards
Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation worker identification credential
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
You can find more details about TSA’s screening process here. The TSA notes that even if you arrive at the airport without a valid form of identification, you may still be able to fly by completing an identity verification process with a TSA officer.
Do I need a REAL ID?
It depends. REAL IDs are optional and the need for one will vary based on your situation.
You do not need a REAL ID to drive, vote, receive benefits or services from your state or federal government, buy alcohol, enter a federal facility that otherwise does not require an ID (like a post office), go to a hospital, or “participate in law enforcement proceedings or investigations,” like jury duty.
Generally, if you are flying domestically, or visiting nuclear power plants, military bases, or other sites with federal ID requirements, you may need a REAL ID.
Children under the age of 18 do not need to provide identification while flying within the U.S.
Travelers with a non-compliant ID will face additional screening measures, possible travel delays
Today, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the imminent implementation of its REAL ID enforcement measures at TSA checkpoints nationwide.
“Secretary Noem and the Trump administration are enforcing the 2005 REAL ID Act and regulations on May 7, as directed by Congress and the American people,” said Adam Stahl, TSA Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator. “The Real ID requirement bolsters safety by making fraudulent IDs harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists. TSA will implement REAL ID effectively and efficiently, continuing to ensure the safety and security of passengers while also working to minimize operational disruptions at airports.”
On May 7, TSA will no longer accept state-issued identifications that are not REAL ID compliant at TSA security checkpoints. All airline passengers 18 years and older, including TSA PreCheck® members, must present REAL ID-compliant identification or another acceptable ID, such as a passport, at TSA security checkpoints. Noncitizens illegally present in the U.S. who are voluntarily self-deporting on international flights will not be denied boarding under this requirement.
Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (e.g., passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint.
Currently, 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints present an acceptable identification including a state-issued REAL ID. TSA expects the number of passengers obtaining REAL IDs to steadily increase and will continue with additional screening measures for those without a REAL ID until it is no longer considered a security vulnerability.
Also:
TSA Begins REAL ID Full Enforcement on May 7