What is REAL ID Texas? Can you still fly if you miss the May 7 deadline? What to know

If you haven't updated your driver's license at the Texas Department of Public Safety office, you might want to consider getting it done soon.
The deadline for REAL ID enforcement is May 7, and there could be consequences for not meeting the deadline.
You might be asking what a REAL ID is. Is it just renewing your driver's license?
Here's what you need to know before the May deadline.
When is the REAL ID deadline?
Beginning on May 7, the Transportation Security Administration will require REAL IDs for adult travelers flying domestically within the United States.
Can you get a REAL ID after May 7?
According to TSA, obtaining a REAL ID is possible after the May 7 deadline. While the deadline marks the requirement for a REAL ID for certain activities, such as domestic air travel, you can still apply for one and receive it at a later date.
If you do not have a REAL ID by the enforcement date, you will need an alternative form of acceptable identification for air travel purposes.
What does a REAL ID look like in Texas?
If you look at your current Texas driver's license, it should have a gold star at the top-right corner of the ID. Your current Texas driver's license or ID is REAL ID-compliant if it has a gold star in the top right corner. If it doesn't have a gold star, you'll get the gold star on your next renewal or request a replacement card.
Texas REAL ID. By May 7, 2025, all states must comply by REAL ID standards.
How to get a REAL ID in Texas
According to Texas.Gov, you can apply for a new REAL ID-compliant Texas driver's license or ID in person at a Texas DPS office. You may be eligible to renew your existing Texas driver's license or ID online. You can still use your current, unexpired Texas driver's license or ID to drive and for non-federal ID purposes. When it's time to renew your driver's license or ID, you'll get a REAL ID-compliant one.
Will I be able to fly if I don't have a REAL ID?
If you show up at the airport without a REAL ID driver's license, a passport, or another acceptable document to present at the TSA checkpoint, you may experience delays, undergo additional screening, and risk being denied entry to the security checkpoint.
According to the TSA, there is an alternative compliance mechanism if you show up at the airport without a REAL ID.
"The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process, which includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identity," the agency's website says. "If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening."
Does a REAL ID replace a passport?
REAL IDs work for domestic travel, but can't replace a passport for international flights. Passports are still required for venturing beyond U.S. borders.
Do children need a REAL ID to travel domestically?
According to the Department of Homeland Security, children under 18 will not need a REAL ID to travel within the U.S. However, adults will need to have a REAL ID in hand.
What are the alternatives to a REAL ID?
TSA-approved alternatives include:
U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Border crossing card
An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation worker identification credential
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: REAL ID Texas deadline is here. How to check if you have one

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