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2w ago

REAL ID Deadline Nears as States Scramble to Address Backlogs

With the May 7, 2025 enforcement date approaching, many residents face long waits for compliant IDs, while some states request further extensions.

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FILE - In this photo taken April 6, 2016, a sign at the federal courthouse in Tacoma, Wash., is shown to inform visitors of the federal government's REAL ID act. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)
In this May 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. passports lie on a table in Dallas. (AP Photo/Benny Snyder, File)
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Overview

  • Beginning May 7, 2025, travelers flying domestically in the U.S. must present a REAL ID–compliant license or an alternative TSA-approved document, such as a passport.
  • All 50 states and U.S. territories are officially REAL ID–compliant, but resident adoption remains uneven, with some states reporting compliance rates below 50%.
  • New Jersey has launched emergency 'life-or-death' expedited REAL ID appointments for urgent travel, while other states expand DMV hours and offer mobile units to handle demand.
  • Approximately 81% of air travelers already carry compliant identification, but DMV backlogs and limited appointment availability persist in many regions.
  • Kentucky senators have formally requested another extension of the enforcement deadline, citing logistical challenges and insufficient appointment availability for residents.