What To Know About Real ID Ahead of May 2025 Deadline

Domestic travelers must brace for significant changes to identification checks at airports as the Real ID deadline looms closer.

Quick Takes

The Real ID deadline is May 7, 2025, after which compliant licenses, passports, or other suitable documents are required for domestic air travel.
Standard driver’s licenses won’t be accepted for flights or federal building access from this date forward.
Real IDs have a distinctive star marking and need specific documentation for issuance.
Alternatives include US passports, DHS-trusted traveler cards, border crossing cards, permanent resident cards, and foreign government-issued passports.

Understanding Real ID

The Real ID Act, born out of a drive to bolster national security post-9/11, mandates stricter identification protocols. On May 7, 2025, all travelers must have a Real ID compliant license or another form of federally recognized identification to board domestic flights or enter federal facilities.

The main identifying feature of a Real ID is a star marking, which may be black, yellow, or white inside a black or yellow circle. The star may also appear within a bear outline.

Those who haven’t yet applied for a Real ID can still do so after the deadline, but they won’t be able to travel by air without it or other compliant documents.

You have one month left to get your Real ID before the May 2025 deadline: It's 'crunch time,' expert says https://t.co/HjdKnVoDhV

— Gigabyte Magazine (@gigabytemag) April 7, 2025

What You Need to Obtain a Real ID

To acquire a Real ID, applicants must present their social security number along with one document showing proof of identity and two documents showing proof of residency. In most states, acceptable documents include a birth certificate, passport, utility bills, and tax returns. However, requirements vary; potential applicants should verify specifics through their Department of Motor Vehicles.

Applicants are urged to make early appointments due to high demand at DMV offices. The Department of Homeland Security provides a useful tool online for appointment scheduling.

Plan B: Alternatives in Case of Delays

Those unable to obtain a Real ID before the deadline can use a current US passport or other TSA-approved ID for domestic travel. The Transportation Security Administration permits expired passports if expired for less than a year, offering a cushion for potential delays. Other acceptable documents include DHS-trusted traveler cards, border crossing cards, permanent resident cards, and foreign government-issued passports.

The Real ID initiative indeed alters domestic travel plans, requiring preparedness. Early action and correct documentation will help prevent travel complications as we enter an era of increased air travel security.