Real-ID enforcement begins: What travelers need to know

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — As of May 7, travelers flying domestically in the U.S. must present a REAL ID-compliant form of identification at airport security checkpoints or expect to go through additional security measures.
If you've renewed your driver's license in recent years, you may have noticed a small star in the upper corner. That star indicates that your license is REAL ID compliant, meeting the federal requirements established by the REAL ID Act.
'I've not had the chance or the time to go get it,' said Osa Okoh, a traveler at Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Wednesday morning. 'But it's something that's required, so I'm eventually going to get it.'
REAL ID: What is it, how to get one in DC, Maryland, Virginia
Okoh, like many others, did not have a star on his ID as of May 7, but he was able to use an alternative form of identification to get through security.
'I always travel with my passport. I just put it in and I hop on the plane and I go,' he said.
The REAL ID Act was passed in 2005 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, requiring states to enhance the security of state-issued IDs and licenses. It was expected to go into effect in 2008 but faced multiple delays due to state implementation challenges.
Now, as of Wednesday, it is being fully enforced for domestic flights nationwide.
'The critical point is we want to know who's boarding the flights, we want to know that you are who you say you are,' said Lisa Farbstein, spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
TSA officers will inform travelers without a valid ID that they are non-compliant. Those individuals may be pulled aside for additional screening, including physical screening.
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If you don't have a REAL-ID, according to the TSA website, travelers are able to use the following acceptable forms of ID:
A valid passport or passport card
A Department of Defense military ID
A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
A foreign government-issued passport
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Travelers from Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington may have enhanced driver's licenses marked with a U.S. flag.
These are primarily for car or foot travel between the U.S. and neighboring countries, like Canada and Mexico, but they are not valid for air travel unless they also include the REAL ID star.
You can check your local DMV website to learn what documents are required to obtain a REAL-ID and make an appointment.
'There's still plenty of time for you to get that REAL ID or search your house for a possible acceptable alternative. We do not expect this to impact wait times at checkpoints nationwide,' said Farbstein.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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