It’s actually, really, finally happening … kind of: Real ID requirements for flying domestically are set to take effect next month.
It’s been delayed and pushed back repeatedly over the last year, but it’s real this time. Starting May 7, travelers will be required to have a Real ID – or an approved alternative – in order to move through U.S. airports.
… or will they? While the TSA has insisted that Real ID enforcement is finally beginning next month, the agency has also said travelers without a Real ID can simply “expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint” under a phased enforcement of the 2005 law – full enforcement is set to begin May 7, 2027.
Even so, getting a Real ID within the next few weeks could be a serious hassle. These new IDs come with some extra hoops to jump through when applying for or renewing a driver’s license to prove your identity – and combined with a rush of anxious travelers heading to their nearest DMVs to get a compliant license before the deadline, you might struggle to get an appointment any time soon.
Luckily, there are a handful of other options you can use to keep flying smoothly this spring if you can’t – or don’t want to – get a Real ID.
Check Your ID
Before you go digging through a drawer, you might want to whip out your driver’s license and check.
As states across the country began issuing these federally compliant licenses over the, they’ve become more and more common. Some states won’t even issue a driver’s license that isn’t compliant with Real ID anymore.
To check if yours will pass muster at the airport come May 7, look for a star in the corner of your ID. These are often in a golden circle, like this example from Minnesota.
Some, though, are just inside of a plain black circle, like this example from Tennessee.
Other states have some more fun. Californians, for example, will see a star inside of a golden bear.
But some travelers simply never got around to getting one of these new IDs – or, if you’re like me, simply didn’t bother after nearly a decade of delays. In my case, my driver’s license explicitly says “NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION.”
If you see those words or you’re missing the federally approved star, move on and figure out the best alternative to bring with you.
Grab Your Passport … or a Passport Card
If you’ve already got a passport, you’re in luck. You can keep flying.
U.S. passports definitely meet the requirements for Real ID. So if you’re one of the nearly 50% of Americans with a passport, you can hold off on getting a new driver’s license for the sake of flying.
Don’t love the idea of bringing your passport on every domestic trip? I don’t either. Consider picking up a passport card instead.
These are handy ID-sized cards with all the necessary information you need to get through airport security trouble-free this spring. When you’re traveling domestically, you can leave your passport at home and bring your passport card instead.
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as requesting a card from the federal government: It requires a separate application and fee. Fortunately, those fees are quite reasonable whether you’re re-upping your passport and decide to throw in a card or already have a passport book but want to add a passport card to your wallet:
- First-time applicants can get both a passport book and card for $195
- Renewing applicants can bundle a new passport book with a card for $160
- Current passport holders can order a passport card for just $30 – though that requires mailing in your passport and processing it as a renewal
Turnaround times for these cards will typically follow the normal passport application timeline, so expect it to take four to six weeks. You can expedite your order to halve that processing time, but that’ll cost you another $60.
Traveling in the U.S. with a foreign passport? Don’t worry, those will work too.
Use Your Global Entry Card
Global Entry is one of the best tools for frequent travelers. It’ll get you through customs and immigration in a breeze when returning to the U.S. And you can whisk through airport security, too, thanks to the TSA PreCheck benefit it carries.
And come May 7, it’ll get even stronger. A Global Entry membership card meets the federal requirements for Real ID. If you’ve got Global Entry, throw your card in your wallet and forget about picking up a new ID.
It’s the one time you might need your physical Global Entry card with you: Typically, you can just head right to one of those handy kiosks pictured above while returning to the U.S. Membership cards from other federal Trusted Traveler Programs like NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST also work for Real ID.
Just beware: If you don’t already have Global Entry, it’s no slam dunk to get it anytime soon. A long-brewing backlog of applications combined with difficulty locking down an in-person appointment to finalize enrollment means it can take many months to get through the registration process.
Enhanced Driver’s License
Before Real ID started rolling out in states across the nation, there was another fancy ID card.
They’re called enhanced driver’s licenses, and they’re meant to aid in crossing the border with Canada and Mexico – but only by land or sea. And if you picked one up, you’re in luck: Enhanced driver’s licenses will also qualify for Real ID purposes.
Just a handful of northern states issue these border crossing IDs: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington. If you’ve got one, you’ll want to keep it in your wallet for your domestic flights.
A handful of other different federal ID cards will also work, including military IDs, permanent resident cards, border crossing cards, and federally recognized tribal IDs. Check out the TSA’s fact sheet for a full list of IDs that pass muster.
Bottom Line
After nearly a decade of delays, Real ID is actually coming.
These long-anticipated ID requirements will finally go live starting May 7, 2025. If you’re stressed about picking up a Real ID in time to fly next month, consider one of these alternatives. If you’ve got one, you’re already set.
