Real Id Deadline 2 Months Away: 'your Air Travel May Be Delayed' If You're Not In Compliance

With so many changes across the government in recent weeks, including thousands of federal workforce layoffs, some Americans are wondering if they will have to get a Real ID in two months.

"Do i still need to get a Real ID or did we get rid of that part of the government," asked one X user in late February.

The answer to that question is yes, TSA confirmed in a Thursday statement to USA TODAY.

"On May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older must have a REAL ID-compliant ID, which is a state-issued driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or another acceptable form of ID, such as a U.S. passport," a TSA spokesperson said in a statement. "If you do not have a REAL ID by May 7, your air travel may be delayed."

Real ID compliant cards are generally identified by a star on the front of the card. Without the seal, the identification document fails to adhere to the "minimum security standards" set by The Real ID Act of 2005, which prevents travelers from flying domestically and from entering certain federal facilities.

The travel requirement was originally set to take effect in 2020 but was pushed back until May 2025 over "backlogged transactions" at Motor Vehicle Division offices nationwide amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mountains of paperwork, according to the department, impacted agencies' ability to make any real progress on the Real ID rollout. But this time, the deadline is really real, which means federal agencies, including TSA will not accept driver’s licenses and state-issued identification cards that are not Real ID-compliant.

Here's what to know about Real ID, including what it is and where to get one.

The Real ID Act gave the federal government the authority to "set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses" following a recommendation made to Congress in 2005 by The 9/11 Commission.

The Real ID Act established "minimum security standards" for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards, prohibiting certain federal agencies from accepting official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.

Any U.S. Citizen, or permanent resident over the age of 18 needs a Real ID by May 7, 2025.

Any person who fails to procure a Real ID by the enforcement deadline may experience delays or be barred from flying domestically. If you already have another form of TSA-approved identification like an up-to-date passport, you probably do not need a Real ID.

TSA-approved alternatives include:

• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Border crossing card
• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
• 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
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

The best way to find out "exactly what documentation is required to obtain a Real ID " is to visit your state's driver's licensing agency website, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

But at a minimum, you will need to provide documentation with your full legal name, date of birth, social security number, proof of address of principal residence and lawful status.

Individual states may pose additional requirements, so contact your state's driver's licensing agency online, or in-person for additional information or assistance.

Driver's licensing agencies in all states and Washington, D.C., are issuing Real ID compliant driver’s licenses and IDs. It can take about two weeks, or 15 business days, to process the request at your local MVD office.

All Real IDs will feature a stamp on the right-hand corner to show that it is federally compliant. The symbol stamped on your Real ID card will vary, depending on the state it was issued in.

Non-compliant cards, per TSA, have no star and include language such as "Not for Real ID purposes" or "Not for Federal ID." And "legacy cards," issued before a state began to issue Real ID compliant cards have neither a star nor noncompliant language.

Additional information about Real ID can be found online or through your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles website.