After many false starts, The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced on January 14 that travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card to board commercial aircraft for domestic flights by May 7, 2025. This is a hard deadline; there will be no extensions. So, if you’ve been putting off getting down to your state’s driver’s licensing agency, you need to do so as soon as possible in order to meet the deadline.
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US Air Travelers Will Need This Type of ID to Fly Starting May 7 (Officially This Time)
The REAL ID Act passed by Congress in 2005 prohibits federal agencies from accepting licenses and identification cards for individuals wanting to board domestic flights and access federal government facilities and nuclear power plants.
“Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to enhance security standards for identification, directly in response to the security vulnerabilities highlighted by the 9/11 attacks,” says TSA Administrator David Pekoske in a statement.
The process for enforcing the act has been a drawn-out process. The deadline of May 2008 was pushed due to implementation challenges at the state level, political opposition, COVID-19, and citizens in some states dragging their heels in applying for the ID.
Pekoske stresses the importance of having the new ID as a “foundational to security.”
“I urge those who use a driver’s license or state-issued identity card as their primary form of identification to access federal facilities or board commercial passenger aircraft, to ensure these credentials are REAL ID-compliant. We are committed to engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions, and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025, which this rule supports,” Pekoske continues.
So, if you’ve not yet applied for a REAL ID, now is not the time to procrastinate. The TSA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advise individuals to apply for their REAL ID as soon as possible to avoid extended processing times and potential delays. There will likely be an increase in applications as the May 7 enforcement deadline approaches.
To obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state identification card, you will need to visit your respective state’s driver’s licensing agency in person. Specific documentation requirements vary by state. This information can be found on your state agency’s website.
At a minimum, you must provide proof of your full legal name, date of birth, social security number, two proofs of address, and lawful status.
If you don’t have a REAL ID by May 7, the TSA will still accept the following forms of identification: A US passport, a US passport card, a DHS trusted traveler card, a permanent resident card, acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation or Indian tribe, HSPD-12 PIV card, or a passport issued by a foreign government. 