To board a domestic flight in the United States, adult travelers now need a new driver’s license for travel that meets the federal REAL ID standard, or one of the other IDs the TSA accepts in its place. Enforcement began May 7, 2025, and a standard state license no longer gets you through the checkpoint.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
How to Tell If Your Current License Already Works
Look at the upper portion of the card. A REAL ID-compliant license or state ID has a star printed there, usually gold or black, though the design varies by state. No star means it’s a standard license, and it will not get you past TSA, into most federal facilities, or into a nuclear power plant.2Transportation Security Administration. About REAL ID It still works for driving, voting, and everyday identification.
Enhanced Driver’s Licenses issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont are also accepted at airport checkpoints, even without the star.
Other IDs That Let You Skip the Upgrade
You don’t have to get a new license if you already carry something else TSA accepts. The list includes:
- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including dependent IDs
- DHS trusted traveler cards: Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST
- Permanent resident card (green card)
- Photo IDs issued by federally recognized tribal nations, including Enhanced Tribal Cards
- TWIC cards, HSPD-12 PIV cards, Merchant Mariner credentials, and Veteran Health Identification Cards
The full list is maintained by TSA and can change without notice.3Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you already hold a valid passport, you can keep flying domestically without ever visiting the DMV.
Children under 18 do not need any identification to fly domestically. The REAL ID requirement applies only to passengers 18 and older.3Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
Documents to Bring to the DMV
Federal law sets minimum categories every state must verify before issuing a REAL ID: identity, date of birth, Social Security number, and residential address.4GovInfo. REAL ID Act of 2005 States can ask for more, so check your state DMV’s exact checklist before you go.
Identity and Date of Birth
An original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, an unexpired U.S. passport, or (for non-citizens) a permanent resident card will cover this.5USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel Photocopies and scanned printouts are not accepted. Hospital-issued or souvenir birth certificates don’t work either; you need the certified version from a government vital records office.
Social Security Number
Bring your original Social Security card, a W-2, or a pay stub showing all nine digits.5USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel The document has to display your current legal name. If you’ve lost your Social Security card, request a replacement through the Social Security Administration before your appointment.
Proof of Residential Address
Most states want two documents showing your name and current home address, such as utility bills, bank statements, mortgage documents, or lease agreements.5USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel Bring recent items dated within the last few months. States vary on how strict they are about freshness.
Name Change Documents
This is where applications most often stall. If your current legal name doesn’t match your birth certificate, you need certified legal documents connecting every name you’ve used. One marriage that changed your surname needs one certified marriage certificate. A marriage, divorce, and remarriage needs the paperwork for each step, building what DMVs call a clear and logical connection from the birth certificate to the name you use today. Certified marriage certificates, court-ordered name changes, adoption records, and amended birth certificates with a raised seal all work. Informal names, like a confirmation name or a nickname adopted without a court order, are not accepted.
The In-Person Application and Fees
REAL ID applications have to be submitted in person. Federal law requires a DMV agent to physically inspect your original documents.6GovInfo. REAL ID Act of 2005 Most state DMVs let you schedule an appointment online, and it’s worth doing. Walk-in waits for REAL ID processing can run significantly longer than for routine transactions.
At the appointment, the agent reviews your document package, checks that names, dates, and addresses match across everything you brought, and takes a new photograph. You pay a processing fee, generally between about $25 and $75 depending on your state and whether you’re renewing on cycle or upgrading early. Some states charge the same fee as a standard renewal; others add a REAL ID surcharge. Check your state DMV’s fee schedule before you go.
Once the agent approves everything, your permanent card is manufactured at a centralized facility and mailed to your home address. Processing and delivery times vary by state.
The Temporary Paper Will Not Get You on a Plane
The temporary paper document the DMV hands you while you wait for your card in the mail is not accepted by TSA as valid identification for boarding a flight.3Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If you have a trip in the next few weeks, don’t count on the paper to get you through security. Carry a passport, passport card, or another ID from TSA’s list until the permanent card arrives. Applying the week before a flight is asking for trouble.
If You Arrive at the Airport Without Compliant ID
Showing up without a REAL ID or an accepted alternative doesn’t automatically ground you, but the backup process is neither cheap nor guaranteed. TSA offers a service called ConfirmID that tries to verify your identity through other means. It costs $45, and there is no guarantee TSA will be able to confirm who you are.7Transportation Security Administration. TSA ConfirmID If it fails, you don’t get through security and you miss the flight. Treat it as a last resort, not a plan.
Non-U.S. Citizens
Lawful permanent residents and non-citizens with valid immigration status can get a REAL ID. Permanent residents generally use their green card as the identity document and receive a card valid for the standard license term in their state. Non-citizens on temporary visas run into an extra wrinkle: the REAL ID-compliant license typically expires when the immigration authorization does, not on the standard renewal cycle. If a visa is extended, you have to return to the DMV with updated immigration documents to get a new license reflecting the new expiration. It doesn’t update on its own.
Documents for non-citizens include a valid foreign passport along with immigration documentation such as a permanent resident card, employment authorization document, or other proof of lawful status. Because immigration paperwork can be complex and DMV staff may be less familiar with it, budget extra time and bring more documentation than the minimum.
Mobile Driver’s Licenses
A growing number of states offer mobile driver’s licenses that TSA accepts at airport checkpoints. As of 2025, around 22 states and territories participate in TSA’s digital ID program, with licenses available through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, or state-specific apps depending on where you live.8Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs Digital U.S. passports are also accepted through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, and Clear ID.
One important caveat: the mobile license has to be based on a REAL ID-compliant physical license to qualify.8Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs A digital version of a non-compliant license won’t pass. TSA also advises travelers to carry a physical acceptable ID as a backup when using a mobile one. The technology works at a growing number of airports, but relying on your phone alone is a gamble worth avoiding.