REAL ID Guide: What You Need to Fly in 2026 and How to Get One

Since May 7, 2025, adults 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID, or another acceptable document like a US passport, passport card or Global Entry card, to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. A compliant card usually has a star in the top corner. If you don’t have one, bring your passport. Travelers who show up with neither face extra identity checks and, under a newer TSA program, a fee. To get a REAL ID, book a DMV appointment and bring proof of identity, Social Security number and two proofs of address.

The REAL ID Act passed in 2005, after the 9/11 Commission recommended stronger standards for identification documents. It set minimum security standards for state-issued licenses and IDs used for federal purposes, like boarding commercial flights. Then enforcement was delayed again and again, for nearly 20 years. Many people assumed it would never happen. It did. Since May 2025, the rule is in force at airport checkpoints across the country. Most travelers already had a compliant card or a passport when the deadline arrived. Millions didn’t, and many still don’t. This guide explains what you need, what counts and how to get a compliant card with a single trip to the DMV.

May 7, 2025REAL ID enforcement began
18+Age when ID is required for flights
StarThe mark on most compliant cards
PassportAlways works instead

Why it took 20 years

The original law set deadlines that states struggled to meet. Many states objected to the cost, and some passed laws refusing to comply, citing privacy concerns about national ID standards. The Department of Homeland Security granted extensions, then phased in enforcement for federal buildings and military bases first. Airport enforcement was set for October 2020, then pushed back because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which closed DMV offices nationwide. New deadlines in 2021 and 2023 were also delayed. In 2024, DHS confirmed May 7, 2025, and this time it held. By then, all 50 states, Washington, DC and the US territories were issuing compliant cards.

The lesson for travelers: the long history of delays made many people complacent. If you haven’t checked your license, do it now.

How to tell if your license is a REAL ID

Look at the top corner of your driver’s license or state ID. A REAL ID-compliant card usually has a star marking, often a gold or black star, sometimes inside a circle or a shape like a bear or state outline, depending on the state. If your card says “Not for Federal Identification,” “Federal Limits Apply” or something similar, it is not compliant.

Enhanced driver’s licenses, issued by a few states including Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington, are also acceptable, even without a star. They can also be used to cross land and sea borders with Canada and Mexico.

Not sure? Check your state DMV’s website, which usually shows sample images of compliant and non-compliant cards.

Other IDs TSA accepts

You don’t need a REAL ID license if you have another acceptable ID. TSA’s list includes:

US passport or US passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards: Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST
US 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
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
US Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card
US Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card

The official list is on the TSA website and is updated occasionally. Check it before you fly.

What happens if you don’t have a REAL ID

If you arrive at airport security without a REAL ID or another acceptable ID, you may still be able to fly, but expect extra steps. TSA can attempt to verify your identity through other means, which can take time, and you may face additional screening. TSA has introduced a program for travelers without acceptable ID, which charges a fee for the identity verification process. Rules for this have changed since enforcement began, so check the TSA website for the current process and fee before you go. If TSA can’t confirm your identity, you won’t be allowed through.

The simple fix: if your license isn’t compliant, bring your passport or passport card. Don’t risk missing a flight over a document you already own.

Do kids need a REAL ID?

No. TSA does not require children under 18 to show identification when traveling with an adult companion within the United States. The adult needs acceptable ID. Airlines may have their own rules for unaccompanied minors or for proof of age for infants on laps, so check with your airline.

Where else you need REAL ID

REAL ID rules apply to boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, entering certain federal facilities, like some federal office buildings, and entering nuclear power plants and military bases. You do not need a REAL ID to drive, vote, apply for or receive federal benefits, visit a hospital, enter a post office or open a bank account. A standard license still works for driving.

How to get a REAL ID

Each state issues its own REAL ID, and requirements are similar everywhere because of federal rules. You must apply in person at least once, because the DMV needs to see original documents.

Document type	Common examples	How many	Tip
Proof of identity	US passport, certified birth certificate, permanent resident card	1	Must be original or certified copy
Proof of Social Security number	Social Security card, W-2, pay stub with full SSN	1	Check which your state accepts
Proof of residency	Utility bill, bank statement, lease, mortgage statement	2	Recent, with your current address
Name change documents	Marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order	As needed	If your name differs from your birth certificate

The most common reason people get turned away: a name mismatch. DMV staff must follow federal document rules exactly, so even a missing middle name or a hyphen can cause problems. If your current name is different from the one on your birth certificate, because of marriage or divorce, you need certified documents showing every name change. Bring them all.

Steps to follow:

Visit your state DMV website and use its REAL ID document checklist.
Gather original documents, not photocopies.
Book an appointment if your state offers them. Walk-in waits can be long.
Pay the fee, which varies by state and is often the same as a regular renewal.
Receive a temporary paper document. Many states mail the REAL ID card within a few weeks. Temporary paper licenses are generally not accepted by TSA as REAL ID.

Plan ahead. If you have a trip coming up within a month, use your passport instead of waiting for a new card. Renewal season and holiday travel bring the longest DMV lines of the year.

Tips for a smooth DMV visit

Use your state’s online REAL ID checklist or document wizard before you go. Many states have one.
Bring originals or certified copies, never photocopies or phone photos.
Make sure the address on your two residency documents matches exactly and is recent.
Bring every name change document if your name has changed, in order.
Book the first appointment of the day if possible; waits grow as the day goes on.
Bring a backup proof of residency in case one is rejected.
Check whether your state lets you upload documents online in advance to speed things up.

Non-citizens and REAL ID

Lawful permanent residents and people with certain temporary lawful status can get REAL ID-compliant cards. You must show proof of lawful status, like a permanent resident card or a valid visa with supporting documents. For temporary residents, the REAL ID usually expires when your authorized stay ends. International visitors don’t need a REAL ID at all; a foreign passport is accepted at TSA checkpoints.

Forgot your ID at home?

It happens. If you arrive at the airport without any ID, go to the checkpoint anyway, early, and explain. TSA may be able to verify your identity by asking questions and checking databases, with additional screening and, under current rules, a possible fee. It may take extra time, so get there well before your flight. If verification fails, you won’t be allowed to fly. Some travelers keep a passport card in their wallet or travel bag as a permanent backup.

Digital and mobile IDs

A growing number of states offer mobile driver’s licenses that you can store in a phone wallet or state app, and TSA accepts them at participating airports and checkpoints. They must be from a participating state and REAL ID-compliant. Acceptance isn’t universal yet, so always carry your physical ID as backup. Phones die, and some checkpoints still can’t read digital IDs.

Expired IDs

TSA has a limited policy for accepting some expired IDs for a period after expiration, but the rules have changed over time. Don’t rely on an expired card. If your license has expired, renew it, and bring your passport in the meantime.

International travel

A REAL ID is not a passport. You still need a passport book to fly internationally. The passport card works for land and sea crossings to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean, but not for international flights. If you fly abroad rarely, getting a passport book covers both international travel and domestic flights.

Common misconceptions

“REAL ID enforcement keeps getting delayed.” Not anymore. It began on May 7, 2025.

“I need a REAL ID to drive.” No. A standard license is still valid for driving.

“A REAL ID lets me fly internationally.” No. You need a passport book.

“Kids need REAL ID.” Not for domestic flights with an adult.

“Without REAL ID, I can’t fly.” You can, with a passport or other accepted ID.

Passport card vs REAL ID vs passport book

If you are deciding which document to get, here is the short version. A REAL ID license is the most convenient for everyday domestic flights, because you carry it anyway. A passport card, about the size of a credit card, works for domestic flights and land and sea travel to Canada, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean, and it’s a handy backup ID that costs less than a passport book. A passport book is required for international flights and works at every TSA checkpoint. Many frequent travelers carry a REAL ID license and keep a passport card in their travel bag, so a lost wallet never strands them. Passport applications take several weeks; check current processing times on the State Department’s website before you rely on a new one.

Who to contact with questions

For questions about getting a REAL ID card, contact your state’s DMV or motor vehicle agency; each state runs its own process. For questions about which IDs are accepted at airports, check the TSA website or use AskTSA. For federal facility access, contact the facility you plan to visit. And for passports, use the US State Department’s official passport website. Avoid third-party sites that charge extra fees to “help” with applications.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a REAL ID to fly in 2026?

You need a REAL ID-compliant license or another acceptable ID, like a passport, to fly domestically.

How do I know if my license is REAL ID?

Look for a star in the top corner. Cards marked “Not for Federal Identification” are not compliant.

Can I use my passport instead of a REAL ID?

Yes. A valid US passport or passport card is accepted at TSA checkpoints.

What documents do I need for a REAL ID?

Proof of identity, proof of Social Security number, two proofs of address and any name change documents.

What to do now

Check your license for a star.
If it’s missing, use your passport for upcoming flights.
Gather documents using your state DMV checklist and book an appointment.
Read our TSA carry-on rules before your next trip.