If you have a star in the top right hand corner, you have a REAL ID
May 7th is the deadline for REAL ID, a form of identification needed to fly domestically in the U.S. A REAL ID is an optional, upgraded version of your driver’s license or ID card with a star in the right corner. Alternatively, if passengers have a passport, that will suffice. Passengers who do not have either of these forms of identification may not be allowed to board planes starting on May 7th. This form of ID is also needed to visit a secure federal facility by this deadline.
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (i.e., a passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening, and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint.
You were given one if you received a new driver’s license in the last four years, requested a REAL ID, and paid the $10 additional fee. Some states began issuing them earlier. In my home state of Virginia, these were issued beginning in 1918. Real IDs have a star in the top right-hand corner.
Many people have REAL IDs and don’t realize it. Before heading to your local Department of Motor Vehicles facility, check for the star! As of April 11, 81% of flyers were already presenting compliant IDs, the Transportation Security Administration said.
Many state DMVs encourage customers to schedule an appointment one to two months before their next flight. Also, be sure to check the expiration date on your current credential. You can renew your license or ID up to a year before it expires. If it’s time to renew, make your appointment early—again one to two months in advance.
Long DMV lines have been reported in some large cities around the country, but they may shorten after the deadline passes.
In addition to passports and REAL IDs, other forms of identification can be used. The Transportation Security Administration indicates that it will accept the following identification documents:
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
The process for getting a REAL ID is similar to the process for getting a driver’s license. All applicants must apply in-person and pay the one-time $10 REAL ID surcharge. You must also provide the DMV with physical documentation of:
- Identity (e.g. Unexpired U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate)
- Legal Presence (e.g. Unexpired U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate)
- Social Security Number (e.g. Social Security card or W-2 form)
- Residency (two proofs required). (e.g. utility bills, mortgage statements, Virginia driver’s license displaying current Virginia residential street address)
- Proof of any name change (e.g. marriage certificates or divorce decrees)
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration does not require children under age 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. The companion will need acceptable identification. Airlines may have individual policies on minor children and require identification.
If identification is an issue and you cannot board the plane, your airline ticket may offer free changes.
