REAL ID for Flying: Alternatives, Documents, and DMV Costs

To fly domestically in the United States, every traveler 18 and older needs a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, a U.S. passport, or another federally approved document at the TSA checkpoint. Enforcement began May 7, 2025, and since February 1, 2026, anyone without an acceptable ID pays a $45 fee for an identity verification attempt that TSA does not guarantee will succeed.¹²

How to Tell if Your License Already Works

Look at the upper right corner of your driver’s license or state ID card. A star there, gold or black depending on when the card was issued, means it’s REAL ID-compliant.³ The color difference is a design change, not a compliance difference.

If there’s no star, your card almost certainly says “Federal Limits Apply,” “Not for Federal Identification,” or a similar phrase. Federal rules require states to mark non-compliant cards with one of these disclaimers.⁴ That card alone won’t get you through TSA.

Other IDs That Get You Through Security

A REAL ID license is one option, not the only one. TSA accepts a range of federal documents, and any of them lets you fly without upgrading your license.⁵

U.S. passport book or passport card. Both are valid for domestic flights; the card is wallet-sized and cheaper.
DHS trusted traveler cards: Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and FAST.
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including active-duty, retiree, and dependent cards.
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). The separate Veterans ID Card (VIC) is not accepted.
Permanent resident card (Green Card), valid and unexpired.
State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License, available in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington. These are REAL ID-compliant and also work for land and sea crossings to Canada and Mexico.⁶
Foreign government-issued passport.
Tribal Nation photo ID, TWIC card, HSPD-12 PIV card, U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential, or USCIS Employment Authorization Card.

If you already carry one of these, you can skip the DMV entirely. Many frequent travelers keep a passport card in their wallet as a permanent backup.

Digital IDs at the Checkpoint

TSA accepts certain mobile driver’s licenses at more than 250 airports through Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, and some state apps.⁷ The digital ID has to be built from a REAL ID-compliant physical license; a digital copy of a non-compliant card won’t work.⁸

There’s a catch. TSA still requires you to carry the physical card even when you use the digital version. The app supplements the wallet card, it doesn’t replace it. Not every state participates, so confirm your state is in the program before you rely on it.

What REAL ID Does Not Cover

REAL ID works for domestic flights, federal buildings, and military installations. It does not work for international air travel. Flying to another country requires a passport book, and the passport card, while fine for domestic flights, does not work for international flights either.⁹ The card only covers land and sea crossings to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses add land and sea border crossing but still don’t replace a passport in the air.

Documents You Need to Apply

Getting a REAL ID means an in-person visit to your state licensing agency with original paperwork. Digital copies and photocopies are typically rejected. You’ll need proof in four areas, and the clerk verifies everything on the spot.³

Full legal name and date of birth: certified birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or permanent resident card.
Social Security number: your Social Security card, a W-2, an SSA-1099, or a pay stub showing your SSN.
Two proofs of your home address: utility bills, bank statements, mortgage documents, or similar records with your name and physical address. Many states require these to be dated within 90 days.
Lawful status: for U.S. citizens, the birth certificate or passport you already brought covers this. Non-citizens can use a permanent resident card, certificate of naturalization, or employment authorization card.¹⁰

The name has to match across every document. If it doesn’t, you need connecting paperwork.

Name Changes and the Document Chain

This is where applications fall apart most often. If the name on your birth certificate isn’t the name you use now, you have to prove every step of the change. Took a spouse’s name? Bring the certified marriage certificate. Divorced and went back to your maiden name? Bring the marriage certificate and the divorce decree that specifically restores the earlier name. Every link in the chain needs its own certified document.

Acceptable connecting documents generally include certified marriage certificates, divorce decrees that reference the name change, and court orders for legal name changes. Church records, uncertified copies, and documents that don’t spell out the new name are usually rejected. If you’ve had several name changes, gather all of them before the appointment. Missing one document in the sequence means starting over.

The DMV Visit and What It Costs

Once your paperwork is ready, you visit your state DMV or licensing agency in person. Most offices prefer appointments, though walk-in availability varies. The clerk reviews and scans your documents and takes a new photo.

In most states, there’s no separate fee for REAL ID; the cost is bundled into the regular license or renewal fee. A few states add a surcharge of $5 to $30. You’ll usually leave with a temporary paper permit and receive the permanent card by mail in about two to four weeks.

What Happens if You Arrive Without Acceptable ID

Forgetting your ID or showing up with a non-compliant license doesn’t automatically strand you, but it costs time and money. Since February 1, 2026, travelers without acceptable ID must use TSA ConfirmID, a $45 service that lets TSA attempt to verify your identity through database checks.²

You pay the $45 online through Pay.gov before arriving at the airport, entering your legal name and travel start date. The payment covers a 10-day window. At the checkpoint, you show the payment confirmation, on paper or on your phone, to a TSA officer, who then runs identity verification. If it succeeds, you go through with additional screening that includes a pat-down and a bag inspection.⁵

TSA does not guarantee the check will succeed. If it doesn’t, you won’t get past the checkpoint. Budget an extra 30 minutes if you’re using this fallback, and treat it as an emergency option rather than a plan.

Do Kids Need a REAL ID?

Children under 18 do not need any ID to fly domestically when traveling with an adult. The adult still needs their own acceptable ID, but the child does not.¹¹

One exception: a child flying alone who has TSA PreCheck needs acceptable ID to receive PreCheck screening. Without it, they go through standard screening. Airlines may add their own documentation requirements for unaccompanied minors, so check with your carrier before booking a solo flight.¹²

1
Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
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Transportation Security Administration. TSA ConfirmID
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Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
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Federal Register. Minimum Standards for Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards Acceptable by Federal Agencies for Official Purposes
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Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint
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Department of Homeland Security. Enhanced Drivers Licenses – What Are They?
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Transportation Security Administration. Digital Identity and Facial Comparison Technology
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Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs
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U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passports and REAL ID
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USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel
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Transportation Security Administration. Do Minors Need Identification to Fly Within the U.S.?
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Transportation Security Administration. My Child Is Traveling Alone, Do They Need a REAL ID?