Everything Travelers Need to Know About the REAL ID Act AIRPORT Jun 10, 2019

Everything Travelers Need to Know About the REAL ID Act

Are your days of flying domestically using only your driver’s license numbered? They could be, if you live in one of several states. As the deadline for the REAL ID Act looms, it’s vital for you to know whether you live in any of the states where current driver’s licenses don’t meet the new criteria. If you are without a REAL ID come 2020, you might not be able to fly in the U.S. with just your state-issued ID.

Here’s a quick and easy primer with everything you need to know about the REAL ID Act, about when to use a REAL ID vs. a passport, and about the Department of Homeland Security’s hard deadline on the changes.

What Is the Real ID Act?

In 2005, the Real ID Act established nationwide requirements for state IDs as a post-9/11 security measure. States have had over a decade to make the changes: The deadline is now October 2020. But some are still struggling to make the switch to issuing the new, compliant licenses. Why? Some are having trouble finding the budget, or lack other logistical means to enact the changes. For travelers in one of the few remaining states that aren’t compliant with REAL ID requirements, come 2020 this could mean that you’ll need a passport or alternate form of identification for domestic air travel.

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The original deadline to implement the new regulations passed in 2016, but all non-compliant states have so far been granted extension periods until the October 2020 deadline. The Department of Homeland Security provides an up-to-date map on its website showing which states are compliant. When a new state is under review for approval, its status may change from “extension” or “not compliant” to the nebulous “under review” until compliance or an extension is again determined. For example, as of June 2019, most states were considered compliant—but seven states or territories are “not compliant.”

October 1, 2020: According to the DHS website, by this date “every air traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant license, or another acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel” as well as to enter federal government buildings. If by this date your state license is not a REAL ID compatible one, you will need to bring another form of ID to the airport, like a passport.

How Do I Get a Real ID?

Once your state passes REAL ID approval, you’ll need to get the actual ID card. The process for getting your REAL ID is a little more difficult than the last time you renewed your license: You’ll probably have to visit a DMV and provide paperwork, like proof of residency and proof of lawful presence in the United States. Check your state’s DMV requirements online for more information.

If you’re a non-citizen or you think getting your ID might be more complicated for any other reason, check the Department of Homeland Security’s DHS REAL ID FAQ page for more information on your particular case.

Real ID vs. Passports

If your state is unable to provide REAL IDs or if you don’t acquire one yourself before October 1, 2020, you’ll need to bring a passport or another TSA-acceptable document with you to the airport in order to pass through security. The DHS reminded travelers in April of the 2020 deadline, probably because if everyone rushes to get a REAL ID at once in late 2020, then there could be long wait times in some states.

If you don’t have a passport, there’s also some urgency to get one before late 2020: the State Department has warned of longer-than-usual passport processing times in recent years. This first happened in 2017 after a large number of passports expired (10 years after the U.S. first required passports for Canada and Mexico). The REAL ID fervor could cause another spike in passport applications close to October 2020, so it’s best to renew early.

Also, keep in mind that some destinations require six-month passport validity to enter the country—so you should be thinking about renewing your passport early regardless of your ID type.

Does a Real ID Replace a Passport?

The short answer: no. You’ll need a REAL ID at minimum for domestic travel come October 2020, and your passport can work in place of a REAL ID for domestic travel—but a valid passport will still be required for international travel. So whether you have a REAL ID or not, a passport will always get you through airport security. And whether you have a REAL ID or not, a passport will always be required for international travel.