In the coming weeks, Americans can expect some degree of fearmongering about getting a REAL ID. It’s essentially the same warning we’ve been hearing for the last 20 years. That’s right. In 2005, Congress enacted the REAL ID Act to address the security vulnerabilities exposed by the 9/11 attacks, aiming to strengthen identification standards and improve security.
The problem is that the government keeps postponing the enforcement at the last minute and there’s no reason to think they won’t do it again this year. According to veteran travel writer and expert Joe Brancatelli, he advises his readers to “ignore that May deadline for REAL ID because, well, it’s probably not real.”
I agree with Joe. But the problem is Joe’s third-to-last word … “probably.” Neither he nor anyone else knows for sure if the government will follow through, especially with a new administration about to take office.
So, if you plan on traveling on a commercial plane or entering a federal building later this year, you’re going to need either a REAL ID or your passport. If you want to play it safe and are due to get a new driver’s license, you might as well do the extra paperwork to get a REAL ID, since it’s eventually coming. According to a January 13, 2025, announcement by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the agency has published a final rule providing a framework for federal agency phased enforcement of REAL ID requirements. The rule states: “Starting on May 7, 2025, only state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the security requirements established by the REAL ID Act will be allowed for official purposes, including boarding commercial aircraft.”
How to get a REAL ID
Here’s how to get a REAL ID, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): “Visit your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a REAL ID. At a minimum, you must provide documentation showing:
- Full Legal Name
- Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Two Proofs of Address of Principal Residence
- Lawful Status.
States may impose additional requirements, so check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency website before visiting them in person for additional guidance and assistance.”
Why I’m not getting a REAL ID (yet)
I’m not bothering to get a REAL ID (yet) because I think this date will be delayed by at least another year, and I always travel with my passport, so I don’t need one. I even carry my passport when traveling domestically, because I never know when I might need to make an emergency trip, most likely to Canada, where my in-laws live.
It’s also why I have a passport card, which I leave at home. If I ever lose my passport, the card would suffice for driving over the Canada or Mexico border if necessary.
How about you?
Do you have a REAL ID? Do you plan on getting one?
Just remember, if you do decide to get one, be sure to bring the right documents. I learned this the hard way: I once went to get my REAL ID and was denied because I’d forgotten my W-2 form.
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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