May 7 is already next week, and if you did not know, it is the first day you will not be able to travel on a commercial flight within U.S. territory without a Real ID.
Without this document, you will also not be able to access federal buildings, so you are going to need it. There is no way around it. It is not a new measure; it has been talked about for years. Only now has Congress decided to impose it and not wait any longer. It has been twenty years since the Real ID Act was signed, but now it is starting to be applied.
What if you still do not have your Real ID?
Do not worry. Not all is lost. There are other ways to identify yourself, but you will have to be prepared to avoid problems at the airport. We explain everything so you do not get a last-minute scare!
How to know if your license is a Real ID
It is easy: look at your license or ID card. If you see a little gold or black star in the top right corner, you are good. That means it is a Real ID.
If you do not see any stars?
Then, even though your license is still valid for driving, it will not be valid for flying. You will have to go to your nearest Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office to request your license.
What happens if you do not have a Real ID?
If you do not have a Real ID, you are going to need another document that the TSA accepts. These are some that are valid:
- U.S. passport or passport card.
- Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST card.
- Military identification (also for dependents).
- Green Card.
- Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) in states like Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington.
- TWIC credential for transportation workers.
- Federally recognized tribal identification.
- Valid foreign passport.
But our advice is that you request your Real ID now. Keep in mind that this change is here to stay, and who knows, maybe in a short time, these documents shown above will no longer be valid. As it is better to be prepared, request it, and you will have that done ahead of time.
What if you do not carry any valid document?
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That is where the problem starts. To access the interior of an airport, it is mandatory to be identified with some official document (regardless of the country you belong to).
If you arrive at the security checkpoint without identification, they will make you go through an extra process to verify who you are. You will have to give personal data, answer questions, go through additional checks… and, if they cannot confirm your identity, you will not pass. Just as we told you… Even those who have TSA PreCheck will have to comply with the new rules, so no one is spared.
Options if you do not want to get a Real ID
If you live in a state that offers Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL), that is a very good alternative. They are good for:
- Flying within the United States.
- Crossing the borders by car with Canada or Mexico.
- Although they do not carry the famous star, EDLs are recognized by the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative program, so they are perfectly valid.
Another option, perhaps the safest, is to carry your U.S. passport. With that you will not have any problems for either domestic flights or international trips.
What about minors?
Luckily and for now, minors under 18 years old will not have to show identification to fly within the country if they are accompanied by an adult with valid documents. Even so, it does not hurt to carry some paper that confirms who they are, like a birth certificate, just in case they ask for it at some point.
Tips if you have to travel soon
- Take your ID out of your pocket right now and check if it has the gold star.
- If it does not have it, process a Real ID as soon as possible.
- If you see that you do not have enough time, at least make sure you carry your passport.
- And remember that, without valid documents, you risk delays… or not flying at all.
The date is final. Forget about waiting for another extension. The government has been very clear: starting May 7, 2025, if you do not have a Real ID or an accepted document, you will be grounded.
This change will affect millions of travelers, but national security demands it. The important thing is that you arrive at the airport with everything in order.
