Time is running out to get a Real ID ahead of May 7 deadline
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Reminders to get a Real ID have been posted in airports. Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
If you have travel plans for May or beyond, check your ID to see if it meets federal requirements.
Why it matters: Starting May 7, a Real ID compliant license or identification card — or another acceptable document — is needed to board a commercial aircraft in the U.S.
- The guidelines also apply when visiting military bases and secure federal buildings like courthouses.
What is a Real ID?
The big picture: A Real ID is a state-issued driver's license or identification card that meets federal security standards.
- Compliant IDs are typically marked with a star in the upper right corner, though the specific design may vary by state.
When is the Real ID deadline?
Threat level: May 7 is the enforcement deadline for Real ID after years of delays.
- The Department of Homeland Security estimates that 61.2% of Real IDs, relative to all driver's license and identification in circulation, will be Real ID-compliant by May 7, according to a final rule published in January.
Real ID Act of 2005
Flashback: Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005 after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, seeking to beef up security surrounding IDs used at airports.
- The law was scheduled to be enforced in 2008 but has been delayed many times.
- All states were compliant for issuing Real IDs in 2020 but many states were in compliance earlier.
- In 2022, the enforcement deadline was extended to May 2025.
When you need a Real ID and when you don't
Zoom in: You need a Real ID if:
- You travel on a plane in the U.S. (and don't have a valid passport or other acceptable ID),
- Visit a military base or a secure federal building like a courthouse or
- Enter nuclear power plants.
Zoom out: You don't need a Real ID to drive, vote or open a bank account.
- TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the count
How to get a Real ID, DMV appointments
How it works: Go to your state's driver's licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a Real ID.
- In some states, you can order a Real ID and others you'll need to make an appointment with the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Between the lines: Federal and state officials are urging people to upgrade their IDs now so they're prepared for the upcoming deadline.
- Last-minute surges in demand for Real IDs are expected ahead of the deadline.
- Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said Thursday that state facilities are seeing "unprecedented" traffic for Real ID appointments, NBC Chicago reports.
Real ID requirements
State of play: DHS says at a minimum you must provide documentation that shows your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of principal address and lawful status, DHS says.
- Find your states' requirements and how to get a Real ID on this DHS page.
- Check out Axios Local guides for getting a Real ID in the following cities: Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Richmond and Seattle.
Real ID alternatives include passport
What we're watching: The Transportation Security Association says there are other forms of acceptable identification to show at the airport checkpoint in order to travel.
- Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Vermont are also considered acceptable alternatives.
- U.S. passport or passport card and DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- Permanent resident card
- Find the TSA's full list of acceptable identification here.
Will the Real ID deadline be extended again?
The latest: Another extension isn't expected but TSA published a final rule in January that provides a "framework for federal agency phased enforcement" of Real ID requirements starting May 7.
- TSA has not made a final decision on an exact phased approach, an agency spokesperson told Axios.
What happens if you don't have a Real ID after May 7
What's next: "Travelers who fly after May 7, 2025 and still do not possess a REAL ID are strongly encouraged to use their U.S. passport or other acceptable form of ID when flying domestically," the TSA spokesperson told Axios.
- "TSA also recommends that these passengers arrive a little earlier than normal to allow time for the identity verification process."
Long lines and airport delays are expected.
- "TSA recommends individuals without acceptable identification arrive at least three hours in advance of their flight time," the government agency said.
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