Real ID is coming … eventually, but it’s time to get serious about making sure your identification is up to date.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Transportation published a final rule Friday in the Federal Register (the daily journal of the federal government) regarding the rollout of new security standards that driver’s licenses and state identification cards have to meet in order to be used for federal purposes — including passing through airport security checkpoints — beginning in the spring of 2025. The new requirements will be in place by Nov. 25, but there will still be wiggle room for ID verification until 2027, when full enforcement will be in place.
After multiple delays, the DHS says its latest deadline, May 7, 2025, is locked in for officially implementing the Real ID requirement for domestic air travel. The rule became official Friday after a period for public comment.
On May 7, airport travelers will have to use a Real ID-compliant card to identify themselves at security — passengers without a compliant ID may face delays at identity verification. Although the phased implementation would still allow travelers to enter secure areas under certain conditions during the rollout, the deadline for the requirements is set, a DHS spokesperson told TPG. Still, the newly implemented rules provide some cushion before the full rollout.
“[T]his proposal would give federal agencies the flexibility to enforce Real ID,” a TSA spokesperson said, and added that it would “prevent travelers (in particular) from being turned away.”
If you read the fine print signed by TSA Administrator David P. Pekoske, local authorities will have up to two years to fully implement the new requirements:
“This proposed rule recognizes these concerns and would provide flexibility by permitting agencies to, for a period of up to 2 years, implement REAL ID card-based enforcement using a phased approach tailored to their specific operations.”
That means some states may be able to give people a little more time to get the correct documentation for entry to government offices and to pass through security at airports.
The new rule will also allow states to get a waiver from the TSA to use mobile driver’s licenses.
“At TSA, digital technology is an integral part of our identity verification framework and improves security efficiency while enhancing the passenger experience,” Pekoske said in a statement. “This rule demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience through secure and privacy-enhancing identity verification, facilitating innovation and honoring the intent of the REAL ID Act. We will continue to develop innovative, secure digital identity solutions with our state and industry partners.”
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The TSA has published a map detailing where mobile driver’s licenses are currently approved for federal acceptance.
Are you Real ID-compliant?
The good news is that you may already be compliant. You can tell if your driver’s license or ID is Real ID-compliant by looking for the star in the upper right or left corner, as shown in the image below.
Here are a few examples of compliant ID symbols.
If you don’t see a star on your ID or it says something in fine print, like “Not for federal identification” or “Not for federal purposes,” then it is not Real ID-approved.
You can use this tool to figure out if you are compliant. It will ask you a series of questions to determine if you are OK to travel. Remember that a U.S. passport qualifies as a Real ID in all cases.
If you need to get a new state-issued Real ID-approved license or identification card, it may be as simple as renewing your current ID. Just be sure to make it clear that you want the Real ID-approved version(s). Some states still issue standard licenses or IDs that don’t include Real ID provisions.
Note, too, that even if you have Clear or TSA PreCheck, you still need an ID that matches the new Real ID requirements.
When the Real ID Act is fully implemented, you will not be allowed through TSA checkpoints without a Real ID-compliant identification.
Here are the alternatives to a state-issued Real ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card:
- U.S. passport or passport card
- DHS Trusted Traveler card (Global Entry, Nexus, SENTRI, FAST)
- Permanent resident card
- U.S. Department of Defense ID
- Border-crossing card
- State-issued enhanced driver’s license
- Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
- 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
Bottom line
The federal government is sticking to a May 7, 2025, deadline for instituting new ID requirements for security at airports and other government facilities after years of delays. There will be some wiggle room, however, in the new rules to give local authorities more time to fully comply with the new rules.
You should check to see if your state-issued ID is Real ID-compliant now and make a plan to fix it if it’s not. It sounds like the government is finally getting serious about implementing a law passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that happened more than 23 years ago.
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