When Do You Need a Real ID to Fly? Deadline, Rules Explained

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is postponing its official Real ID rollout again, giving Americans more time to obtain an enhanced form of identification for domestic travel.

The 2005 Real ID Act requires U.S. travelers flying within the country to show Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents an enhanced form of ID in order to board a plane, but more than 15 years of delays have left an estimated 83 million Americans without the necessary IDs.

On Monday, the DHS pushed the deadline for enforcement yet again by an additional 24 months, giving travelers until May 7, 2025, to update their documents. It was previously set to begin May 3, 2023.

Once the policy goes into effect, travelers will need to show a security-enhanced driver's license, or another approved form of identification such as a passport, U.S. military ID or DHS trusted traveler card. TSA agents will no longer accept "driver's licenses and identification cards that do not meet these federal standards."

According to the Real ID website, "Enhanced Driver's Licenses issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont are considered acceptable alternatives to REAL ID-compliant cards and will also be accepted for official REAL ID purposes."

Minors do not need to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. Real IDs cannot be used for border crossings into Canada or Mexico and cannot be used for other intentional travel, including sea cruise travel.

The requirements not only affect boarding for federally regulated commercial aircraft, but also for access to certain federal facilities and entrance into nuclear power plants.

You can check if your documents are Real ID compliant at this DHS website.

If your identification is not updated, you will need to provide at least your full legal name, date of birth, social security number, two proofs of address and lawful status to state officials. Some states impose additional requirements. You can check exactly what you need to bring to obtain a Real ID on your state's driver's licensing agency website.

The Real ID Act was passed by Congress post-9/11 after it was concluded that nearly all of the hijackers who boarded commercial planes that day were carrying U.S. driver's licenses and state IDs that had been obtained fraudulently. The act was supposed to take effect in 2008 but was extended multiple times.

In a statement, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Monday's extension "will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card."

As of last year, 55 states and territories are already fully compliant with the Real ID requirements, and the DHS said all states are on track to issue compliant IDs by the new 2025 deadline.