The Real ID Act was enacted by Congress in 2005 for domestic travel and admission to federal facilities requiring an ID. Original US citizens had until May 11, 2008 to acquire the required Real ID for travel through their respective driver’s license bureaus. That date has been extended to May 7, 2025.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and various other issues, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has changed the date several times giving states and citizens additional time to obtain a REAL-ID compliant license. For more information on Real ID, check out the Real ID/Homeland Security website. The most recent update was announced by the DHS on December 22, 2022 moving the REAL ID full enforcement date to May 7, 2025.
Bottom line remains the same, if you plan to travel by air or enter a federal facility requiring ID, you will need a Real ID unless you have other proper identification; for travel, that would be a passport. If you do not anticipate either scenario, a Real ID is not needed.
Blog updated 4/2024, mg.
Thanks for the information. It is helpful.
Thank you for the positive feedback.
We are use our online application to apply for a new DL/ID card with your updated gender category. If it’s time to renew your driver license or ID, you can upgrade to a REAL ID-compliant card for no additional fee.
Due to COVID-19, the deadline to get your REAL ID (gold star) has been extended to May 3, 2023.
Hello!
I recently read your post on the REAL ID update, and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for providing such helpful information. As someone who has been trying to navigate the process of obtaining a REAL ID, I found your post to be incredibly informative and easy to understand.
I appreciate how you provided a step-by-step breakdown of the process, as well as links to additional resources for more information. This is so helpful for individuals who may be feeling overwhelmed or unsure of how to proceed.
I also appreciated how you addressed some of the common misconceptions surrounding REAL ID, such as the idea that a REAL ID is required for domestic travel. Your clarification on this topic is important for ensuring that individuals understand the facts and can make informed decisions about whether or not to obtain a REAL ID.
Overall, I thought that your post was well-written and provided a great overview of the REAL ID update. Thank you for taking the time to provide this information and for all of the work that you do in helping individuals navigate important processes like this one!
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Thank you for the positive feedback. Your comments prompted an update to the blog incorporating the new Real ID compliant date of May 7, 2025 issued by the Department of Homeland Security.