If you don’t have a REAL ID now that the May 7, 2025 enforcement date has passed, you can still fly domestically and enter federal buildings, but only if you carry a passport, a passport card, or another federally accepted document in place of a compliant driver’s license.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions Show up at a TSA checkpoint with only a standard state license that lacks the star in the upper right corner, and you’ll be routed into an alternative screening process that costs money, takes extra time, and can fail. The permanent fix is applying for a REAL ID at your state motor vehicle agency, but there are workable options in the meantime.
At the Airport Without a REAL ID
Arriving without a compliant ID or accepted alternative doesn’t automatically strand you. TSA runs a program called ConfirmID that lets travelers verify their identity through an alternative screening process. The service costs $45 and involves additional identity checks at the checkpoint.2Transportation Security Administration. About TSA ConfirmID
Treat this as a one-time fallback, not a plan. Expect longer wait times and extra scrutiny, and understand that if verification fails you may miss your flight. Get to the airport well ahead of your usual buffer if this is your only option.
Documents That Work in Place of a REAL ID
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license is one option among several. If you already have any of the following, you don’t need to rush to the motor vehicle agency to fly or enter a federal facility:
- A U.S. passport or U.S. passport card. Either satisfies the requirement. The passport card is wallet-sized and cheaper than a full passport book, which makes it a practical backup even if you rarely travel internationally.
- A DHS trusted traveler card, including Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST.
- A U.S. military ID, active-duty or dependent.
- A state-issued enhanced driver’s license. A handful of states issue these, and they satisfy REAL ID requirements while also functioning as limited border-crossing documents.
TSA publishes the full list of accepted documents, which includes several additional categories beyond what most travelers will use.3Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint If any of these are in your wallet or a drawer at home, you already have a solution.
Where a Standard License Still Works
A non-compliant license is not useless. It still works for everything outside the federal bubble: driving, voting, buying alcohol, opening a bank account, and any private-sector transaction. Many states print “Not for Federal Identification” or similar language on non-compliant cards. The REAL ID requirement kicks in only for boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, entering federal facilities such as courthouses and military bases, and accessing nuclear power plants.4Department of Homeland Security. REAL ID Act of 2005 – Full Text
How to Get a REAL ID
Initial issuance requires an in-person visit to your state’s motor vehicle agency. The clerk physically inspects each original document, scans it, and verifies your Social Security number against Social Security Administration records.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions Most states require or strongly encourage an appointment. Walk-in availability varies and can mean hours of waiting.
You need to bring originals or certified copies from three categories set by federal regulation.5eCFR. 6 CFR 37.11 – Application and Documents the Applicant Must Provide Photocopies and notarized copies are rejected.
- Proof of identity and date of birth. A certified birth certificate or a valid, unexpired U.S. passport. Permanent resident cards, certificates of naturalization, and certificates of citizenship also qualify.
- Proof of your Social Security number. Your Social Security card is the preferred document. If you can’t find it, a W-2 form, an SSA-1099 or non-SSA-1099, or a pay stub showing your full nine-digit number works.
- Two documents proving your principal residence. Utility bills, mortgage statements, bank statements, or a lease agreement, each showing your name and home address. The federal rule doesn’t set a recency window, but many states impose their own freshness requirement, so check before your visit.
The information across your documents needs to match, particularly your legal name. Small discrepancies between your birth certificate and Social Security card can stall the application.
Fees vary by state. Some charge nothing beyond the standard renewal fee; others add a REAL ID surcharge. Most states fall somewhere in the $30 to $60 range. After approval you typically receive a temporary paper document, with the physical card arriving by mail in about two weeks. Look for the star in the upper right corner to confirm compliance.6USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel
If Your Legal Name Has Changed
This is the single most common reason applications get rejected on the spot. If your current legal name doesn’t match your birth certificate, you need documents that trace the change from one name to the other. A marriage certificate links a maiden name to a married name. A court order covers a legal name change granted by a judge. A divorce decree works if it restored a prior name.
If you’ve changed your name more than once, bring the full chain. Someone born Smith who married and became Jones, then divorced and became Davis by court order, needs the marriage certificate and the court order. A missing link means the agency cannot verify your identity, and you’ll be turned away. Pull these records before you make an appointment.
Non-Citizens With Lawful Status
Non-citizens with lawful immigration status can obtain a REAL ID. The motor vehicle agency runs your immigration documents through the federal SAVE system to confirm your lawful presence.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions Acceptable documents include a valid permanent resident card, an unexpired foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and approved I-94, or an Employment Authorization Document.
If you hold a temporary or time-limited status, your REAL ID expires when your immigration authorization does, rather than following the standard multi-year renewal cycle. When your status is renewed, you’ll need to return to the agency with updated documents. For status categories without a fixed end date, such as Temporary Protected Status, most states issue cards valid for one year.
Travelers Under 18
Children and teenagers under 18 don’t need a REAL ID or any identification to fly domestically. The requirement applies only to passengers 18 and older.3Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint A minor traveling with a parent or guardian passes through the checkpoint under the adult’s verified identity. Unaccompanied minors go through the airline’s own procedures.
Mobile Driver’s Licenses
TSA accepts mobile driver’s licenses stored in a phone’s digital wallet at more than 250 checkpoints nationwide. The digital version must be based on a REAL ID-compliant physical license or an enhanced driver’s license to qualify.7Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs Participating states and supported platforms vary; some states offer their own apps, others integrate with Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, or Samsung Wallet.
TSA still recommends carrying a physical ID as backup. Not every checkpoint is equipped for digital verification, and a dead phone leaves you with nothing to show. A mobile license works best as a convenience layer on top of the physical card, not a replacement for it.