Overview

• Starting May 7, 2025, travelers must present a REAL ID-compliant license or an acceptable alternative, such as a passport, to board domestic flights or access federal facilities.
• TSA reports that 19% of travelers still lack compliant identification, potentially affecting up to 500,000 passengers daily during the initial enforcement period.
• DMVs across the U.S., including in Illinois and New Jersey, are experiencing severe appointment backlogs as residents rush to obtain REAL ID cards.
• Travelers without compliant IDs should expect additional screenings, delays, and the possibility of being denied entry at TSA checkpoints, even for TSA PreCheck members.
• Critics of the REAL ID Act continue to raise concerns over privacy and civil liberties, while TSA and DHS emphasize its role in enhancing document security.