After years of deadline extensions and bureaucratic delays, the federal Real ID mandate is finally about to kick in. Whether you’re hopping on a quick Southwest shuttle or positioning for a long-haul to Europe, you’ll need the right credentials—or risk missing your flight entirely. Here’s everything travelers need to know as we approach the May 7, 2025, enforcement date.
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What Is Real ID and Why Is It Required Now?
Let’s rewind the clock a bit. The Real ID Act was passed all the way back in 2005, a direct response to the security shortcomings exposed by the 9/11 attacks. The goal was straightforward: tighten standards for issuing state driver’s licenses and ID cards to make them more secure and harder to forge.
Under the law, any state-issued ID that doesn’t meet federal Real ID criteria can no longer be used to board commercial aircraft or enter certain federal facilities. What makes an ID Real ID–compliant? Typically, you’ll spot a small star in the top right corner of the card—a symbol that your ID meets the higher verification thresholds required by DHS.
While the reasoning is grounded in security, the implementation has been—well, let’s call it what it is—a bureaucratic mess. The rollout involved every state issuing new IDs, retraining DMV staff (driver’s licenses are the most common ID used at US airports), and in some cases, rewriting software systems. Add to that the occasional political resistance over federal overreach and you get nearly two decades of foot-dragging.
So why is the enforcement happening now? Homeland Security has finally said enough is enough: as of May 7, 2025, TSA agents will turn away travelers at airport security checkpoints if they don’t have a Real ID-compliant form of identification—or an alternative.
Years of Delays and Missed Deadlines
If this all sounds familiar, it’s probably because this isn’t the first—or second—time you’ve been warned about it. The original deadline was October 1, 2020, but COVID-19 threw a wrench into everything. With DMVs closed and in-person appointments off the table, pushing the deadline made sense.
Subsequent extensions moved the date to 2021, then 2023, and finally to 2025. Each time, Homeland Security insisted the delay was final… until it wasn’t. In the meantime, a large percentage of Americans have continued traveling domestically with older driver’s licenses without a hiccup. Failing to get one now means you’ll have to bring a passport or other federally approved ID just to fly between New York and L.A. Those without a qualifying ID can’t fly nor enter federal buildings at all.
Alternatives to Real ID: What You Can Use Instead
Not everyone needs or wants to make a DMV appointment, and the good news is that Real ID isn’t the only way to fly.
If you’re holding a valid U.S. passport, you’re already set. The passport book (or card) remains the gold standard of federal identification and is accepted at every TSA checkpoint nationwide regardless of destination.
Other acceptable alternatives include:
- Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI cards
- U.S. military ID (for active duty, retirees, and dependents)
- Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
- DHS–trusted traveler cards
For frequent international travelers, opting for Global Entry or NEXUS might be the better play anyway—it gives you both expedited border entry and a Real ID–compliant document, plus TSA PreCheck benefits.
That said, if you don’t want to juggle multiple IDs or passports for domestic flights, Real ID might still be worth the minimal hassle.
Conclusion
The Real ID Act has been a long time coming—nearly two decades, in fact—and now the grace period is over. Whether you’re a casual flyer or a million-miler, if you’re flying within the U.S. starting May 7, 2025, and plan to use a driver’s license to clear TSA, it better be Real ID–compliant. The real question is when the rubber meets the road. If thousands of travelers are being turned away every day and the airlines (and checkpoints) are in chaos, it’s possible a further extension will be granted but as of right now, it looks like there won’t be a stay of execution.
What do you think? Do you have a Real ID? What do you think will happen if travelers simply don’t comply?
I think a lot of people are going to get caught offguard by this at the airport and TSA is going to be dealing with a lot of confused and angry people “what do you mean my ID is not real, I have been using it to fly for years” etc etc. I hope they don’t extend it yet again but if the outburst is loud enough it just might be.
@ John Robert Stone, those people who get confused and angry either never read or never fly. The signs warning about Real ID requirements have been up at airport security checkpoints now for a decade, but of course the deadline was always extended.
There should be no excuse, but while there have long been signs in airports people often don’t read or comprehend what it is saying or think it doesen’t apply to them. People in public service jobs that deal face to face with people will tell you that all the time, a sign can be right in their face and they still think it does not apply to them,.
Funny story: About 8 years ago I went to get a REAL ID at the DMV so I read the list of documents and thought I was set. Got up to the window and showed mail with our family (last) name on it and she said “It has to be your full name” which it didn’t require on the list. This reminds me of the TSA one time saying I couldn’t bring an “opened” tube of 100ml toothpaste onto the plane.
So I drove back home, printed out my rental agreement, and she took that. I could have written up my own rental agreement but she didn’t care because that’s what she was instructed.
Security theater isn’t only for the airport.
That said, other forms of ID, from what I understand, include Federal Employee PIV cards.
I’m thinking that passport cards should simply be issued for free. It would resolve a lot of issues with voterID and could double to help eliminate identity theft. I’d love to buy a reader to authenticate me for applying or managing my credit cards and bank statements.
Announced 20 years ago. No excuses at this point. I got mine 4 years ago (about 1 year after my state implemented the standard). It took a whole 15 minute in-person appointment. No one should be angry or confused at this point.
Some interesting facts I just looked up, as of Sept. 2024 just 56% of drivers licenses are Real ID compliant, in 22 states the average is less than 40%. This is not good. I feel sorry for the TSA people who will have to deal with this.
How many illegal aliens are there with a drivers license? I assume they can’t get a Real ID.
The Real ID seems stupid. Nothing has happened in 20 years when people didn’t have a Real ID.
I go my Real ID when it became available in my state. I like paper, so I brought a copy of the guidelines as per the state website and a stack of documents. I ended up walking the clerk thru the process. Poor woman was clueless. At the time, it was easier to get a passport as opposed to a Real ID.
A buddy of mine went just a year ago. All he had was his insurance card, voter registration card, a credit card bill, and passport. He was finished in 7 minutes.
I don’t know why they say they’ll “turn you away,” because they won’t. You can fly without an ID today. You have to inform the airline at check-in and the TSA will ask you challenge questions to verify your identity. That won’t be going away.