If you haven’t gotten your Real ID yet, don’t wait any longer. Beginning on May 7, 2025, you’ll be required to have a Real ID or other form of acceptable identification to board domestic flights throughout the US — your driver’s license will no longer be enough to get you through a TSA checkpoint.
The Real ID Act, which is all about making sure everyone’s got a secure and consistent form of identification for air travel and getting into federal buildings, has been in the works since way back in 2007. After several delays, it’s finally going to kick in May (though there’s also a proposal to extend the deadline to 2027). If you’re 18 or older and want to fly within the US, you’ll need to flash your fancy new Real ID-enhanced driver’s license or another type of ID that the TSA gives the thumbs up to, like a passport.
Here’s everything you need to know about Real ID, including where to apply, what you’ll need to bring and what happens if you don’t have one after the 2025 deadline. For more on travel regulations, find out how to renew your passport online and the steps to take if your flight is delayed or canceled.
What is a Real ID and how do I know if I have one?
Real IDs will be required at airport security starting next spring.
Real ID-approved licenses will have one of these stars in the upper-right corner.
You can tell by looking at your license: If there is a gold, black or white star in the upper-right corner, you have a Real ID. (There are some minor variations — California places a white star over the state’s bear logo, while Maine puts it in an outline of the state.)
How do I apply for a Real ID card in my state?
Whatever state agency issued your driver’s license is responsible for distributing Real IDs. The paperwork required will vary but typically it includes proof of identity and status as a US resident or citizen, proof of your Social Security number and multiple proofs of your current address.
Originals or hard copies of documentation — birth certificate, Social Security card, US passport — are required, with photocopies and screenshots not accepted. Check your state’s driver’s licensing agency website for more specifics.
After you apply, you should receive a temporary paper ID until your Real ID-compliant license arrives in the mail about three or four weeks later.
With a few exceptions, the cost of getting a Real ID-compliant license is the same as renewing your license or non-driving identification card.
What happens if I don’t get a Real ID before the deadline?
Beginning in May 2025 — unless the deadline is extended again — federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration will accept only Real ID-approved licenses and identification cards “for purposes of accessing federal facilities,” according to DHS.
That includes airport security checkpoints.
Without one, US adults will have to show a valid passport, even to fly domestically, or one of these other forms of ID:
