You may have been hearing a lot about Real ID lately. It’s true: the identification requirements to board domestic flights will be changing. The driver’s license that’s in your wallet now may or may not be acceptable ID once the new rules go in to effect. Today, we’ll break down everything you need to know about REAL ID.
What is REAL ID?
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005, and created federal standards for the issuance of official identification cards like driver’s licenses. When the law is fully implemented, you will need to have an ID that meets REAL ID standards in order to enter Federal facilities, military bases, or nuclear power plants. Most importantly for travelers, you will need a REAL ID in order to board any flight in the US, domestic or international.
When will REAL ID go into effect?
As of today – October 11, 2017 – only about half of US states and territories have complied with REAL ID standards for their driver’s licenses and non-driver identification cards. The remainder of the states and territories had been given extensions, extra time to update their process of issuing ID cards. The big news is that all those extensions expired on October 10, 2017!
Does this mean that if your license isn’t a REAL ID, you won’t be able to board your domestic flight tomorrow? No. The Department of Homeland Security is giving a grace period to the non-compliant states. Until January 22, 2018, the REAL ID requirement won’t be enforced for TSA security at the airport. You can keep using your regular license until then.
Even on January 22, you are likely to be allowed to continue to use your current license, even if it isn’t REAL ID. All of the states whose extensions expired have applied for an additional extension. As of this writing, a new extension has already been granted to the State of Virginia. Virginians can now keep using their non-REAL ID licenses at the airport until October 10, 2018.
You can check the current status of your state below, to find out if your state has already started issuing REAL ID licenses.
My state issues REAL ID licenses. I have nothing to worry about, right?
Not so fast! If your driver’s license was issued several years ago, it might not actually be a REAL ID. You can check by looking for a gold star on your license. These are usually at the top right corner of your license. If you don’t have a star, you can renew your license to get a new one that will be REAL ID.
My state doesn’t issue REAL ID licenses. Is there anything else I can use as REAL ID?
Driver’s licenses aren’t the only form of REAL ID out there. You can also use your passport book or passport card as REAL ID. Other accepted identification documents include military ID cards (including military dependent cards), Global Entry or other Trusted Traveler cards, or an Enhanced Drivers License issued by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington.
State by State Review – Is Your State ID a REAL ID?
- Alabama issues REAL IDs
- Alaska does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- American Samoa does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Arizona issues REAL IDs
- Arkansas issues REAL IDs
- California does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Colorado issues REAL IDs
- Connecticut issues REAL IDs
- Delaware issues REAL IDs
- District of Columbia issues REAL IDs
- Florida issues REAL IDs
- Georgia issues REAL IDs
- Guam does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Hawaii issues REAL IDs
- Idaho does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Illinois does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Indiana issues REAL IDs
- Iowa issues REAL IDs
- Kansas issues REAL IDs
- Kentucky does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Louisiana does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Maine does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Maryland issues REAL IDs
- Massachusetts does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Michigan does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Minnesota does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Mississippi issues REAL IDs
- Missouri does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Montana does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Nebraska issues REAL IDs
- Nevada issues REAL IDs
- New Hampshire does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- New Jersey does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- New Mexico issues REAL IDs
- New York does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- North Carolina issues REAL IDs
- North Dakota does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Northern Marianas Islands does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Ohio issues REAL IDs
- Oklahoma does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Oregon does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Pennsylvania does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Puerto Rico does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Rhode Island does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- South Carolina does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- South Dakota issues REAL IDs
- Tennessee issues REAL IDs
- Texas issues REAL IDs
- Utah issues REAL IDs
- Vermont issues REAL IDs
- Virgin Islands does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- Virginia does not issue REAL IDs, but has been granted an extension until October 10, 2018
- Washington does not issue REAL IDs, and is under review for an extension
- West Virginia issues REAL IDs
- Wisconsin issues REAL ID
- Wyoming issues REAL IDs