REAL ID requirements coming to Oregon airports soon
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That little star will make a big difference in May. Photo: Courtesy of Oregon DMV
If you plan to travel in the U.S. by plane this year, you may need to upgrade your ID to meet new federal requirements.
Why it matters: New rules that prevent you from using a standard state-issued driver's license to board a domestic flight will take effect May 7, federal officials say.
- State and federal officials are urging people to upgrade their IDs now so they're prepared for the upcoming deadline.
The fine print: If you want to use a state-issued ID for plane travel, you'll need to have an enhanced driver's license, an enhanced ID card or another type of state ID that is compliant with the federal REAL ID Act (typically denoted by a star on the license), per the Department of Homeland Security.
- REAL ID-compliant licenses can only be issued to people who can prove they are legally in the U.S.
- Passports, green cards, military IDs and certain other documents also will be accepted for air travel between U.S. states, DHS says.
Flashback: The REAL ID Act was originally supposed to take effect in 2008.
- But the Department of Homeland Security delayed enforcement for more than a decade to give states more time to comply and residents more time to get compliant IDs.
- After the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the federal agency delayed the enforcement deadline another three times, to account for closures of driver licensing offices and other changes in licensing operations.
How it works: In Oregon, you'll need some documentation to prove who you are:
- Proof of identity, like a passport, birth certificate or permanent resident card.
- Proof of address, which can be a combination of any two of several options — an Oregon driver's license, a pay stub or a piece of mail from a utility or a bank, among others.
- The DMV has a full breakdown of what you'll need and what your options are on its website.
Then you'll want to make an appointment at the DMV.
💠Kale's thought bubble: Walking in without an appointment is an option, though not a very wise one.
- I learned this the hard way after casually sauntering into the Gresham DMV on Friday at 2:45 pm, only to learn I was 118th in line and the estimated wait was five hours.
Between the lines: There's a chance the May 7 deadline could be relaxed — but you shouldn't count on it.
- A rule adopted last month allows the Transportation Security Administration to implement a "phased enforcement plan," under which it could accept standard state IDs through May 2027.
- As of last week, however, the TSA had not decided to go that route, the agency told Axios in an email.