The federal government says it will finally begin enforcing the national Real ID law starting on May 7 — for real this time, after nearly two decades of delays.
For many people, this matters most for boarding domestic flights. Non-Real ID driver’s licenses and identification cards won’t get you through security at U.S. airports when the law is fully enforced.
But are the millions of daily U.S. airline passengers — as well as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials who screen them — ready for the changeover?
In recent years, the federal government has set and delayed other deadlines for Real ID enforcement after realizing that not enough Americans would be ready with compliant documents, says Kyle Potter, executive editor of the travel website Thrifty Traveler.
“So they extend [the deadline] again and they push it out another two or three years, but then there’s no more urgency,” he said. “So this problem just keeps happening and happening and happening.”
As the latest Real ID deadline approaches in less than a month, here’s what you need to know.
What’s happening on May 7?
On that date, federal agencies including the TSA say they will accept only state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs that meet Real ID requirements, which include having applicants provide certain identifying information such as Social Security numbers.
This doesn’t mean that you need a Real ID to board a domestic flight. You can still use a passport or passport card, an enhanced driver’s license issued by some states, a permanent resident card or one of many other forms of ID allowed by the TSA. (Children under 18 don’t need any identification to fly within the United States.)
But it does mean that state-issued driver’s licenses that aren’t Real ID-compliant will no longer be accepted.
According to TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein, 81% of current U.S. travelers already use a Real ID license or an approved alternative form of identification, such as a passport.
Will I get turned away at the airport if I don’t have a Real ID?
It’s still unclear whether travelers carrying a non-Real ID license will be sent packing — or just face additional scrutiny by law enforcement.
In an FAQ on its website, the Department of Homeland Security says travelers without “a REAL ID-compliant license or acceptable alternative beginning May 7, 2025, will not be permitted through the security checkpoint.”
