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3d ago

REAL ID Enforcement Begins Nationwide for Domestic Flights

As of May 7, travelers without a REAL ID or alternative compliant ID face additional airport screening but are still allowed to fly.

A Homeland Security poster at Miami International Airport reminds travelers they will need a Real ID to fly after May 7, 2025. 
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at the Border Security Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. April 8, 2025. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble/Pool/File Photo

Overview

  • The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, is now enforced at TSA checkpoints, requiring compliant IDs for domestic flights and access to federal facilities.
  • Approximately 19% of travelers remain without a REAL ID, creating potential delays and additional screening at airports.
  • Travelers without a REAL ID can still board flights after undergoing identity verification, though longer wait times are expected.
  • More than a dozen alternative forms of identification, such as passports and military IDs, are accepted by the TSA as compliant IDs.
  • DMVs across the country report heavy demand as applicants rush to meet the requirements, with some states experiencing significant backlogs.