REAL ID is a federal security standard that every state must meet when issuing driver’s licenses and identification cards. It was created by the REAL ID Act of 2005, following the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” and it requires states to verify an applicant’s identity and legal status before issuing a card that federal agencies will accept.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions Since May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID-compliant license, a U.S. passport, or another approved form of identification to board a domestic flight or enter certain federal facilities.2Transportation Security Administration. TSA Publishes Final Rule on REAL ID Enforcement Beginning May 7, 2025
How to Tell If Your License Is Already Compliant
Look at the top of the card. A REAL ID-compliant license carries a star marking in the upper portion, most commonly a gold or black star. DHS recommends the gold star, but states can submit alternative markings for federal approval as long as the card is clearly distinguishable from a noncompliant one.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions If your license has no star, federal agencies will not accept it at security checkpoints or facility entrances.
Where a REAL ID Is Required
The law limits the requirement to a short list of “official purposes”: boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, entering federal facilities, and entering nuclear power plants. The Secretary of Homeland Security may add to that list.3Department of Homeland Security. REAL ID Act of 2005 In practice, you’ll run into it at airport TSA checkpoints and at the doors of federal courthouses, agency buildings, and military installations. All travelers 18 and older must present a compliant ID or an acceptable alternative at TSA checkpoints; showing up without one can mean additional screening, delays, or denial of access to the secure area.4Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID
Where a REAL ID Is Not Required
REAL ID applies only to those federal purposes. You do not need one to drive, register to vote, apply for Social Security benefits, or enter any state or local government building. Voting ID requirements are set by each state, and none require a REAL ID.5USAGov. Voter ID Requirements Children under 18 do not need a REAL ID when traveling with an adult companion who has acceptable identification.1Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions
Acceptable Alternatives
You don’t have to get a REAL ID if you already carry something else on TSA’s accepted list. A valid U.S. passport works at any checkpoint. A U.S. passport card, which is wallet-sized and costs less than a passport book, is a compact option for people who only fly domestically.6U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passports and REAL ID Other accepted forms include:
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST).
- Permanent resident cards (green cards).
- Enhanced driver’s licenses, currently issued by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington.7Department of Homeland Security. Enhanced Drivers Licenses – What Are They
- Foreign government-issued passports.
The full list is on the TSA website.8Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint A growing number of states also offer mobile driver’s licenses stored in a phone’s digital wallet, and TSA accepts these at more than 250 checkpoints, though the digital ID must be tied to a REAL ID-compliant physical license or an enhanced driver’s license. Accepted platforms include Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung Wallet, and several state-specific apps. TSA still recommends carrying a physical acceptable ID as a backup.9Transportation Security Administration. Participating States and Eligible Digital IDs
How to Get a REAL ID
You have to apply in person the first time. Many state motor vehicle agencies let you book an appointment online, and walk-ins are generally accepted at reduced capacity. Staff will scan your original documents, verify the information against federal databases, and take a new photograph. Most states won’t hand you the finished card that day; you’ll leave with a temporary paper document, and the permanent card arrives by mail a few weeks later. If you have a trip coming up, don’t wait until the week before your flight.
Fees vary. Some states charge the same as a standard license, others add a small surcharge, so check your state’s motor vehicle agency site for current pricing.
Documents to Bring
Federal regulations require four categories of documentation.10eCFR. 6 CFR Part 37 – Real ID Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards
- Proof of identity and legal status: a valid U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate from a state vital statistics office, a certificate of naturalization, a certificate of citizenship, a permanent resident card, or an unexpired foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and approved I-94.
- Social Security number: your Social Security card is simplest, but a W-2, SSA-1099, non-SSA-1099, or a pay stub showing all nine digits also works.
- Proof of address: two documents showing your current physical address. States decide which documents qualify; common options are utility bills, bank statements, mortgage documents, and lease agreements.
- Legal name change documentation, if applicable: every document in the chain linking the name on your identity document to your current legal name.
All documents must be originals or certified copies. Photocopies and website printouts won’t be accepted.
If Your Name Has Changed
Name changes trip up more applicants than any other documentation issue. If you’ve been married, divorced, or changed your name by court order, you need documentation for every step between the name on your identity document and your current legal name. For someone who married, divorced, and remarried, that could mean a first marriage certificate, a divorce decree, and a second marriage certificate. Miss one link and you’ll walk out without a REAL ID.
Non-Citizens and Temporary Residents
Permanent residents can apply using an unexpired green card as identity documentation, and the process and the resulting card work the same as for U.S. citizens.10eCFR. 6 CFR Part 37 – Real ID Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards People with temporary legal status, including those on student visas, employment visas, DACA, or Temporary Protected Status, can also get a REAL ID, but the state issues a “limited-term” card that expires when the holder’s authorized stay ends. If the authorized stay has no set expiration, the card is valid for no longer than one year, and the card must clearly indicate on its face that it’s limited-term.11eCFR. 6 CFR 37.21 – Temporary or Limited-Term Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards Renewal requires showing that lawful status is still in effect.
How Long a REAL ID Lasts
Federal regulations cap REAL ID validity at eight years, and a state can set a shorter period under its own laws.10eCFR. 6 CFR Part 37 – Real ID Drivers Licenses and Identification Cards Your REAL ID-compliant license generally expires on the same schedule as your regular driver’s license. When it’s time to renew, check whether your state allows renewal by mail or online, or whether another in-person visit is required. Limited-term cards follow a shorter cycle tied to the holder’s immigration status.