Is Your Driver’s License a Real ID? How to Make the Switch Before the Deadline

With the deadline to obtain a Real ID fast approaching, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) in different states are reminding citizens that if they have plans to fly domestically—or enter a secure federal facility—after a certain date, their driver’s license will need to be the kind that is federally-approved.

Starting May 7, 2025, domestic flyers will need to see to it that their ID is a Real ID to ensure that air travel is done with a federally-approved document. Furthermore, it will be required  if one wants to enter a military facility, or somewhere where agencies like Transportation Security Administration (TSA) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) need to admit entry. 

Travelers can also use a passport for this purpose, and will still need one for international travel. 

There are several types of ID available currently in the United States: standard, Real ID, and enhanced. Real ID will get you on domestic flights within the U.S. and enhanced allows you entry to Canada without a passport. Enhanced IDs are also Real ID-compliant after the May 2025 deadline.

Though this deadline has been extended in the past, DMVs across the country are starting to urge residents to take the May 2025 date seriously, including the New York DMV, which issued a public advisory. 

“Time is running out to get a REAL ID or Enhanced ID and you do not want to get stuck at airport security if you are not prepared,” said New York DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder.  “Take the time now to get this taken care of so you are not scrambling at the last minute.”

The Oregon DMV has also encouraged people to heed the deadline. Chris Crabb, spokesperson for the Oregon DMV, is urging residents to think about starting the process as they travel for the last holiday season before the Real ID deadline.

“[W]e really want to avoid this huge last-minute rush that could just cause backlogs for people to be able to fly because the last thing we want is for someone to show up at the last minute and find out they can't get on a plane and be angry,” Crabb is quoted as telling NPR-member station KLCC.

Meanwhile, the California DMV issued a similar advisory last month, urging residents to begin the process now “before it haunts you later.”

Here is all you need to know to ensure you have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license.

What is a Real ID?

The Real ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 in hopes of enacting the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses,” according to the DHS website.

Though the Real ID Act technically came into effect on May 11, 2008, there has been over a decade of delays on enforcement of the act. The most recent delay was from 2023 to the current enforcement date of May 2025. These delays can be attributed to historical state opposition, potential administrative burdens and expenses on state governments, and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID-compliant license or identification card,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro  Mayorkas in a statement released by the Department of Homeland Security in December 2022. 

“DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.” 

The ACLU opposes the Real ID Act, stating that when implemented, it will “facilitate the tracking of data on individuals and bring government into the very center of every citizen’s life.”

The Act establishes more standardized security requirements for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting, for official purposes, licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.

Real ID-compliant cards will all have a star-like shape in the upper right corner of the card, though the size/color vary state by state.

When is the deadline?

Travelers will need a Real ID by May 7, 2025 in order to use their driver’s license to pass checkpoints. After that date, federal agencies will not accept other driver’s licenses. 

How can citizens ensure they have Real ID-compliant IDs?

If people do not have Real ID-compliant cards, they can apply through their state’s driver’s license agency. Each state may have varying qualifications necessary to receive the REAL ID, but Homeland Security published an interactive map whereby people can click on their state for further information and instructions. 

At minimum, though, people will need to provide documentation showing their full legal name, date of birth, social security number, two proofs of address—which can include anything from a utility bill to a bank statement—and lawful status. In some states, an applicant will need to visit their state’s DMV to complete the process.

TSA still does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the U.S., though their companion will need a federally-approved document.