Why You Should Get a Real ID Now
The Department of Homeland Security has imposed a deadline on us to obtain a REAL ID—a U.S. driver’s license or state identification card that meets the REAL ID Act security standards required for air travel—but the deadline is just under a year away. If you haven’t received yours yet, you must do so by May 7, 2025.
The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 in response to the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to standardize the issuance of ID cards. States were initially expected to meet the requirements by 2008, but after several extensions, travelers age 18 and older were ordered to obtain this expanded form of ID by October 1, 2020. This deadline was then moved to May 3, 2023 , and then postponed again. during COVID until 2025.
Many states have been issuing REAL IDs for several years, and you can check to see if you already have one (through renewals or renewals in recent years) by looking for a gold or black star in the corner of your state-issued driver’s license. or ID.
If you don’t and want to use your license to go through airport security or enter certain federal buildings, you should start the process now.
How (and why) to get a REAL ID right now
If you do not have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID after May 7, 2025, you will not be able to board a plane with your standard state-issued driver’s license or ID (although TSA will still accept several other documents , such as passport or DHS Trusted Traveler Card, for security purposes).
While May 2025 may still seem very far away, it’s worth updating your current ID sooner rather than later, as gathering the necessary documentation and making an appointment with the driver’s license office can take time, especially if you wait until the last minute.
You can use this Department of Homeland Security map to directly indicate your state’s requirements for a REAL ID. In most cases, you will need proof of your full name, date of birth, social security number, two documents showing your address, and legal residency status. You’ll also need a new photo, so while you can apply for a REAL ID online, you’ll have to complete the process in person. And of course, in most cases you will pay a fee.
Please note that REAL ID is not required for other purposes, such as driving or voting.