Skip to main content

REAL ID

What you need to know: REAL ID

Beginning May 7, 2025, the federal government will require you to present a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or ID card, or another federally approved form of ID, in order to board a domestic flight or enter a secure federal facility or military base.

Why REAL ID?

Congress passed The REAL ID Act in 2005, in response to 9/11. States must now at least require proof of your legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, legal residency, and two forms verifying your address before issuing a driver’s license or ID card.

What do I need to fly within the U.S.?

To travel domestically by plane, everyone over the age of 18 will need one of the following forms of identification:

  • A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state photo identity card
  • State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
  • U.S. passport
  • U.S. passport card
  • Foreign government-issued passport
  • Permanent resident card
  • Border crossing card
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
For a full list of REAL ID-compliant forms of identification, visit the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website (https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification)

How do I know if I have a REAL ID?

Many states have been issuing REAL IDs for years, so there is a good chance you may already have one. If there is a star in a circle in the upper right corner of your ID or your ID says “Enhanced,” you have a REAL ID.

How to get a REAL ID

At minimum, all states now require that applicants provide: proof of legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, legal residency, and two forms of your address. However, there may be additional requirements, and these vary state-by-state.
Visit your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) to learn about what you need and to apply.
The Department of Homeland Security has a webpage with an interactive quiz and map where you can see if you have a form of REAL ID and find your state’s DMV website. www.dhs.gov/real-id