Starting May 7, 2025, standard driver's licenses will no longer be accepted at airport security checkpoints. Instead, travelers will need to present a driver's license with Real ID accreditation, which is an additional identity verification feature added to a standard driver's license.
The program was set to begin in May 2023, but was delayed 24 months.
Real IDs will also be required to enter certain federal buildings, such as courthouses.
According to the website, minors under age 18 will not be required to show a Real ID when traveling with a companion.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has created an interactive map to help citizens get their driver's license updated with Real ID.
To obtain a Real ID, you will need to provide two proofs of address at your principal address, and some states may require additional proof of identity such as a passport or birth certificate, according to the DHS website.
“Secure driver's licenses and identification documents are a vital component of our national security framework. DHS/TSA is committed to enforcing the Real ID Act,” the DHS shares on their site.
Various state and national government agencies are using social media to create awareness of the upcoming deadline.
Officials say enhanced driver's licenses, like ones available in certain border states, and passports will remain viable alternatives to Real IDs.
The REAL ID Act was originally signed into law by President George W. Bush in May 2005 and has since been extended several times, most recently in 2020 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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