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It’s official: If you’re flying within the US, you’ll now need a Real ID May 7, 2025. Your old driving license is no longer valid from this date. Only a real ID or other form of acceptable identification guides you through the Transportation Security Authority security checkpoint.
The Real ID lawwhich enforces uniform and secure standards for identification when traveling by air and entering federal facilities, was adopted in 2007. Thereafter several DelaysIt is scheduled to come into force next May. U.S. citizens over 18 must present a Real ID-enhanced driver’s license or other government-recognized ID, such as a passport, for domestic flights.
Here’s everything you need to know about a Real ID, including where to apply, what to bring, and what happens if you no longer have one after the deadline in 2025. Further information on travel regulations can be found here Renew your passport online and the Actions to take if your flight is delayed or canceled.
What is a Real ID and how do I know if I have one?
Starting next spring, airport security will require Real IDs.
Essentially, Real ID is an enhanced version of your standard state driver’s license or ID card, designed to help authorities combat terrorism and identity fraud.
Today, all 50 states and the District of Columbia adhere to Real ID standards, the Department of Homeland Security said. If you recently renewed your driver’s license, it is probably already compliant. If it’s been a few years, you probably need to update it.
Real ID-approved licenses have one of these stars in the upper right corner.
You can tell this from your driver’s license: If there is a gold, black or white star in the top right, you have a real ID. (There are some slight variations – California places a white star over the state’s bear logo, while Maine places it in an outline of the state.)
How do I apply for an ID card in my state?
The state agency that issued your driver’s license is responsible for distributing Real ID cards. The paperwork required varies, but typically includes proof of identity and status as a U.S. citizen or citizen, proof of your Social Security number, and several proofs of your current address.
Originals or printouts of documentation – birth certificate, social security card, US passport – are required, photocopies and screenshots are not accepted. Check yours State Driver License Agency website for more details.
After you apply, you should receive a temporary paper ID until your Real ID-compliant license arrives in the mail about three or four weeks later.
With a few exceptions, the cost of obtaining a Real ID compliant driver’s license is the same as renewing your driver’s license or non-driver’s license.
What happens if I don’t receive a Real ID before the deadline?
Starting in May 2025 — unless the deadline is extended again — federal agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration will only accept Real ID-approved licenses and credentials “for access to federal facilities,” according to DHS.
This also includes security checks at the airport.
Without one, adults in the United States must present a valid passport even when flying domestically, or one of these other forms of ID:
An example of a driver’s license with a Real ID logo.
Lack of a Real ID compliant license does not affect other uses of a driver’s license, including verifying a person’s ability to drive a vehicle or purchase alcohol, firearms or tobacco.
You can find more tips for flying here Track flight cancellations on your iPhone and why they exist better travel card options than the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
