Chances are you’ve heard about the Real ID — maybe you already have one. The gist is that starting May 7, 2025, every U.S. citizen who is 18 years and older will need a Real ID or approved alternative to fly domestically. If you don’t have one, you’ll be denied entry at TSA checkpoints.
But what exactly is a Real ID and how do you know if you have one? And if you already have a passport, do you even need one? The short answer is no. But here’s the why:
The Why Behind the Real ID
The Real ID is a more secure, federally standardized driver’s license or identification card. The transition to Real ID cards started in 2005 when the 9/11 Commission suggested that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards.” The idea is to ensure that all U.S. driver’s licenses (aka ID cards) meet the same security standard and to prohibit federal agencies from accepting non-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards for things like air travel and entering federal facilities.
For this reason, if you’ve gotten a new driver’s license or identification card since 2005, chances are good you already have a Real ID. The compliant identification cards are being issued by all 50 U.S. states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
How to Tell If You Have a Real ID
You’ll know if your driver’s license or identification card is a Real ID if there is a star in the top portion of the card (or, in California’s case, a bear with a star cut out). You can see the various “star types” (and the bear with a star) on the Real ID FAQs page at dhs.gov.
Using Your Passport Instead of a Real ID
If you don’t have a Real ID, you can use your passport or passport card to travel. The FAQs section of the Real ID website states: “The Act does not … prohibit an agency from accepting other forms of identity documents (such as a U.S. passport or passport card).”
In addition, if you live in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington, you might have a state-issued Enhanced Driver’s License. These “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses” and identification cards are an acceptable alternative to a Real ID. You’ll know if you have an Enhanced Driver’s License if your card has an image of the U.S. flag and the word “Enhanced” at the top of the card. Most Enhanced Driver’s Licenses and identification cards do not have the Real ID star marking in the top right corner.
How to Get a Real ID
While we’ve established that you can still travel domestically with your passport, passport card, or Enhanced Driver’s License, chances are you’ll eventually want a Real ID. To get one, you’ll need to visit the DMV and provide the following information, at a minimum:
1) Full Legal Name; 2) Date of Birth; 3) Social Security Number; 4) Two Proofs of Address of Principal Residence; and 5) Lawful Status.
It’s worth noting that some states may have additional requirements, so check your state’s driver’s licensing agency website before visiting in person.
