State Department Reminds Public of May 7 Real ID Deadline

All states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories are required to comply with Real ID requirements.

Passengers check in for Southwest Airlines flights at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Ill., on Feb. 18, 2025. Scott Olson/Getty Images

The federal government has issued a reminder to Americans that a Real ID will be required for air travel beginning May 7.

The State Department announced on April 7 that travelers will have to present the new identification requirements at security checkpoints to board domestic flights.

“Are you REAL ID ready? Beginning May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers will need to present a REAL ID compliant license/ID for air travel within the United States,” the State Department said in a post on social media platform X. “A U.S. passport meets this requirement. Passport processing times are 4–6 weeks—Apply now so you’re ready for summer travel.”

Travelers 18 years of age and older need the updated cards for domestic air travel. Real IDs will also be required to access certain federal facilities, military installations, and nuclear sites.

The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and ID cards following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission. The act prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet federal security standards. The new cards ensure the highest certainty that the traveler with the ID is who they say they are, according to the State Department.

All states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories are required to comply with Real ID requirements. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont are considered acceptable alternatives to Real ID cards, according to Homeland Security.

The final deadline for the updated cards follows years of delays. At one point, the deadline was set for Oct. 1, 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for states to enforce it. In 2022, the deadline was extended by 24 months, from May 3, 2023, to May 7 this year, to give states even more time to prepare their residents for the change.

Americans should make an appointment or visit their state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a Real ID. The minimum requirements to get the updated cards include documentation that shows a person’s full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and two documents providing proof of address and lawful status.

Courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security

The updated ID cards will have special symbols embedded in the upper right-hand corner of the card. These emblems include a gold star, a black star, a gold or black star in a circle, or a bear.

Travelers can also use military IDs or passports to access flights and federal facilities.

Americans can continue to use older ID cards to drive, buy liquor or other age-regulated products, and gamble at casinos.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

From NTD News