Unlocking the Mystery: Your Guide to Discovering and Obtaining It!

A Real ID emblem on all state-issued identification documents will soon be necessary, particularly if you intend to travel this upcoming summer and after. It is certainly not too early to visit your state’s driver’s licensing bureau to arrange your documents.

Anyone seeking to fly has until May 7, 2025, to acquire a state-issued ID card or driver’s license featuring a Real ID emblem, as stipulated by the Department of Homeland Security. (Unless you possess a valid passport.)

Any state-issued identification document lacking the emblem does not comply with the “minimum security standards” established by The Real ID Act of 2005, which restricts travelers from flying domestically and entering specific federal establishments.

The requirement was initially set to be implemented in 2020 but was postponed until May 2025 due to “backlogged transactions” at Motor Vehicle Division offices across the nation because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The vast amount of paperwork, according to the department, affected agencies’ ability to make any genuine advancement regarding the Real ID rollout. However, this time, the deadline is indeed definite.

This indicates that federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, will not accept driver’s licenses and state-issued ID cards that do not conform to Real ID standards.

Here’s what you need to know about Real ID, including its definition and how to obtain one.

What exactly is a Real ID?

The Real ID Act, modified by Congress in 2005, implemented the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that the federal government “establish standards for the issuance of forms of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” as indicated by DHS.

This act established “minimum security standards” for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, barring certain federal entities from accepting licenses and IDs for official uses from states failing to meet these standards.

When is a Real ID necessary for flying?

May 7, 2025.

Individuals over the age of 18 without another TSA-approved form of identification to fly domestically must possess a Real ID compliant ID card or driver’s license by the enforcement date. If you already have another TSA-approved identification form such as a passport, then a Real ID may not be necessary.

What alternatives exist to a Real ID?

TSA-approved alternatives consist of:

• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs granted to dependents
• Border crossing card
• An acceptable photo ID released by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
• 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
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

Real ID requirements: What is necessary?

According to DHS, the best method to discover “exactly what documentation is required to secure a REAL ID” is to visit your state’s driver’s licensing agency website. However, at a minimum, you should present documentation containing your complete legal name, date of birth, social security number, proof of principal residence address and lawful status.

Individual states may impose additional conditions, so consult your state’s driver’s licensing agency online or in-person for further details or assistance.

Where can I acquire a Real ID?

Driver’s licensing offices in all states and Washington, D.C., are issuing REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and IDs. Processing requests at your local MVD office may take around two weeks, or 15 business days.

All Real IDs will display a stamp in the right-hand corner indicating they are federally compliant. The symbol stamped on your Real ID card will differ based on the state it was issued in.

This article has been updated to correct a typo.