It may seem like I’ve been harping on this for months, but the REAL ID deadline is just a week away! I have a bad feeling that many Americans will show up at the airport on May 7 only to discover that their regular driver’s license isn’t enough to get through security. RELATED: Can I Use My Driver’s License as a Real ID?
If you travel with a passport or passport card, you’re in the clear, though occasionally, an uninformed TSA agent might not realize it’s an acceptable form of ID. If that happens (like it did to the traveler below), stay calm and politely ask to speak with a supervisor.
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Here Are Other Acceptable Forms of Identification
If you don’t have a REAL ID (look for the star in the upper right corner of your license), here are other forms of ID that will be accepted at airport security starting May 7, 2025 according to the TSA:
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- 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
- 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
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Just know, a temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification. KEEP READING: Real ID Deadline Looms: Here’s What You Need to Know
Even Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who recently had her bag stolen (here’s the story), posted a video on X urging travelers to get their REAL ID: “Starting May 7, you will need a Real ID to fly. Real IDs make identification harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists. If you plan to fly, make sure you get a Real ID so you won’t be denied from your flight or face travel delays!”
Starting May 7, you will need a Real ID to fly. Real IDs make identification harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists. If you plan to fly, make sure you get a Real ID so you won’t be denied from your flight or face travel delays! pic.twitter.com/r2ZGPsNR5u
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 12, 2025
If you show up without a REAL ID or any of the accepted alternatives, you might still be allowed to fly if you have your regular driver’s license and another photo ID. But expect delays and get to the airport at least an hour earlier. That said, you’re taking a risk. There’s always a chance TSA won’t let you board.
How to Obtain a REAL ID
It’s a much safer bet to stand in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to get a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. Just visit your state’s DMV in person and provide the following documents:
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Proof of identity (e.g., valid passport, birth certificate)
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Proof of Social Security number (e.g., Social Security card, W-2 form)
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Two proofs of residency (e.g., utility bill, lease agreement)
Due to high demand as the deadline nears, it’s smart to book your appointment ASAP. Some DMVs are offering extended hours or special events to accommodate the rush. So, as the Real ID deadline approaches, make sure you’ve got your documents in order before you travel.
KEEP READING:
–12 passport tips that will save you time, money and headaches
–The most important thing I do when I travel internationally is …
–Rick Steves got pickpocketed in Paris: Here’s what he wants you to know
–The most important thing for travelers to do according to a safety expert
–What you need to know about renewing or getting an emergency passport in the U.S.
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