Starting May 7, 2025, all air travelers flying within the United States will need a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative form of identification, such as a passport, to board a flight. If you don’t have a REAL ID, you can still use other forms of identification, such as a U.S. passport, a permanent resident card, or a DHS trusted traveler card (like Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST). However, if you don’t have an acceptable form of identification, you won’t be able to pass through airport security checkpoints and, therefore, won’t be able to board your flight.
Accepted options, according to the TSA, are as follows:
- Enhanced driver’s license issued by a state
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- Acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal nation, including enhanced tribal cards (ETC).
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- 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
- Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC)
A REAL ID is an identification that meets federal standards established by the REAL ID Act of 2005.
These standards require states to meet certain security requirements when issuing driver’s licenses and identification cards. The original deadline for travelers to obtain a REAL ID was October 1, 2020, but it has been postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current deadline is May 7, 2025.
If you’re unsure whether you have a REAL ID, you can check if your current driver’s license or ID card has a gold star in the upper right corner. If it has the star, then you have a REAL ID. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to obtain a REAL ID before May 7, 2025, if you want to use it to board a domestic flight.
To get a REAL ID, you’ll need to provide proof of identity, proof of Social Security number, and proof of residency. The exact requirements vary by state, so you’ll need to check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency for more information.
If you don’t have a REAL ID and don’t have other acceptable forms of identification, you may need to postpone your trip until you can obtain an acceptable form of ID.
Image: Infobae
