After many delays over the years, the Transportation Security Administration officially marked May 7 as the effective date in requiring airline passengers to present a state-issued driver’s license or identification card. Aptly named REAL ID, this act will apply to travel across all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Guam; American Samoa; Northern Mariana Islands; and U.S. Virgin Islands.

The act was initially passed by Congress in 2005 in pursuant to a 9/11 Commission recommendation, and Real ID will cover access to certain federal facilities, access aboard federally regulated commercial aircraft and access to nuclear power plants.

What identification cards are allowed under the new act?

License or identification cards must be issued by a REAL ID compliant state in accordance with the REAL ID security standards. This means the license or card must include the REAL ID-compliant star marking. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) 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. Most EDLS do not contain the star marking and this is acceptable.

“Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to enhance security standards for identification, directly in response to the security vulnerabilities highlighted by the 9/11 attacks. Identity verification is foundational to security,” said David Pekoske, TSA Administrator, in a statement. “I urge those who use a driver’s license or state-issued identity card as their primary form of identification to access federal facilities or board commercial passenger aircraft, to ensure these credentials are REAL ID-compliant. We are committed to engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025, which this rule supports.”

The Department of Homeland Security website features a specific page on REAL ID, providing answers to frequently asked questions, as well as an interactive map of the United States for travelers to better see what their home state requires.

REAL ID will be applicable to anyone 18 years and older who plan to fly domestically. The act’s prohibitions will not affect other uses of driver’s licenses or identification cards unrelated to official purposes as defined in the act.

What are your thoughts on the REAL ID act? Do you think regulations should be looser or stricter for air travel? Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.