A Real ID is all that’s needed to avoid a potential travel delay come this time next month.
The Transportation Security Administration confirmed to USA TODAY that the agency still had plans to enforce the identification requirement for every adult traveler starting Wednesday, May 7.
“Every air traveler 18 years of age and older must have a REAL ID-compliant ID, which is a state-issued driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or another acceptable form of ID, such as a U.S. passport” by May 7, 2025, the TSA said in a statement last month. “If you do not have a REAL ID by May 7, your air travel may be delayed.”
All Real ID documents, including driver’s licenses, have a stamp on the right-hand corner to indicate that it is federally compliant. Without the stamp, the identification document fails to adhere to the “minimum security standards” set by The Real ID Act of 2005, which prevents travelers from flying domestically and from entering certain federal facilities without meeting the new identification requirements.
An airplane seen flying near the moon from the south end of Lovers Key between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs on Dec. 23, 2023.
The travel requirement was originally slated to take effect in 2020 but was pushed back until May 2025 over “backlogged transactions” at Motor Vehicle Division offices nationwide throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mountains of paperwork, according to the department, impacted agencies’ ability to make any real progress on the Real ID rollout.
But this time, the deadline is really real, which means federal agencies, including the TSA, will not accept driver’s licenses and state-issued identification cards that are not Real ID-compliant.
Here’s what to know about Real ID, including what it is and how to get one.
What is a Real ID?
The federal government was able to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” following a recommendation made to Congress in 2005 by the 9/11 Commission.
The Real ID Act established “minimum security standards” for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, prohibiting certain federal agencies from accepting official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.
When do you need a Real ID to fly?
Any U.S. Citizen, or permanent resident over the age of 18, needs a Real ID to fly by May 7, 2025.
Any person who fails to procure a Real ID by the enforcement deadline may experience delays or be barred from flying domestically. If you already have another form of TSA-approved identification like an up-to-date passport, you probably do not need a Real ID.
What are some Real ID alternatives?
TSA-approved alternatives include:
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DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
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U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
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An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
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Foreign government-issued passport
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Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
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Transportation worker identification credential
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
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U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
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Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Travelers “check in” with TSA at Springfield-Branson National Airport in Springfield, Missouri on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
Real ID requirements
The best way to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a Real ID is by visiting your local DMV or MVD website.
But at a minimum, you will need to provide documentation with your full legal name, date of birth, social security number, proof of address of principal residence and lawful status.
Individual states may pose additional requirements, so contact your state’s driver’s licensing agency online, or in-person for additional information or assistance.
How to get a Real ID
Driver’s licensing agencies in all states and Washington, D.C., are issuing Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and IDs. It can take about two weeks, or 15 business days, to process the request at your local DMV office.
A stamp on the right-hand corner of the driver’s license or identification card shows that it is federally compliant. The symbol stamped on your Real ID compliant-document will vary, depending on the state where it was issued.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, if your driver’s license has a gold bear and star in the upper right corner, it means you have a Real ID.
A sample image of a Real ID-compliant California driver’s license
Non-compliant cards, per TSA, have no star and include language such as “Not for Real ID purposes” or “Not for Federal ID.”
“Legacy cards,” issued before a state began to issue Real ID-compliant cards, have neither a star nor noncompliant language.
Additional information about Real ID can be found online or through your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website.
How do I get a Real ID in California?
You can get a Real ID by visiting a California Department of Motor Vehicles office. Appointments can be made on the DMV website.
Paris Barraza and Carly Sauvageau of the USA Today Network contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Real ID deadline coming in weeks: How to get one in California
