Queue: The final countdown. No, but seriously, there are just two months left before the country’s actual ID rules are set to take effect on May 7, 2025. We contacted Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to get the latest updates on the rollout of requirements.
Before we get into what the TSA had to say about the actual ID deadline, let’s remind everyone what the actual ID is. A REAL ID is a new generation of driver’s licenses or identification that meets the enhanced security standards established by the Real ID Act in 2005. This is a response to recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission following the September 11 terrorist attacks.
You can check if you have an actual ID card by looking for a star (gold or black) at the top of your driver’s license or ID (they vary from state to state). For example, your actual California ID has a star in the bear image.
“All air travelers over the age of 18 must have an actual ID and integrated ID that is the state-issued driver’s license. State-issued identification card. Or another acceptable ID format, such as a US passport,” a TSA spokesman confirmed far this week.
If you have a passport, you can use it as a substitute until you get your actual ID. International travelers can still use their passports.
Actual ID deadlines have been pushed back several times during the Covid-19 pandemic. But now, the TSA appears to hold it firmly at its May 7th deadline, but it’s couching a bit.
A TSA spokesman when asked if people could fly without a real ID or a valid passport, “If you don’t have an actual ID by May 7, air travel will be delay. “It’s not too important to spend more time on security while being late, but it doesn’t mean you’re completely away from the flight.
According to TSA’s actual ID landing page, what happens if you’re flying as of May 7th and don’t have an actual ID? TSA officers may ask you to complete the identity verification process. This includes collecting information such as your name and current address, and verifying your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter a screening checkpoint that may be subject to additional screenings. If you choose not to provide an acceptable identification, refuse to cooperate with the ID verification process, or if you are unable to verify your identity, you will not be permitted to enter a security checkpoint. ”
In particular, the agency advises travelers heading to the airport without an ID or passport that complies with their actual ID to arrive at least three hours before the flight time, allowing for an additional verification process.
In January, the TSA issued its final rules in the government’s federal register. This allowed for a step-by-step approach to enforcement of actual identity regulations. The rules allow individual agencies in each state to determine what operational feasibility is and how it will be enforced based on the impact on travelers.
The regulations also require state agencies to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security to publish a phased execution plan and achieve full execution by May 5, 2027.
For more information about Real ID guidelines, TSA has a handy interactive online map that lets you click on the departure status for how to obtain your actual ID and how to obtain related travel requirements.
Each state independently handles the issuance of driver’s licenses and identification cards, and each state has its own actual ID requirements. Therefore, requirements vary slightly from state to state. However, the main difference between applying and obtaining a non-compliant license is usually in the required documentation. For example, to get your actual ID in California, you must book at the California Department of Automobile (DMV) office (you cannot get your actual ID online) and provide an identification document, such as your passport or birth certificate. Proof of Social Security Numbers such as Social Security Cards and W-2 Forms. Evidence of California residency as outlined in the Real ID description portal on the California DMV website.
All 50 US nations, the District of Columbia, and all five US districts currently issue licenses and identification cards integrated into their actual IDs.
