Your Real ID Questions Answered

We’re answering your questions about this new security screening requirement

A traveler shows a document she received at Dallas Love Field Airport on May 7, 2025, the first day of Real ID enforcement.

LM Otero/AP Photo

Bobbi Dempsey,

Updated May 19, 2025

AARP

En español

Published May 14, 2025

/ Updated May 19, 2025

Summer travel season is on the horizon. According to AARP research, more travelers 50-plus plan to travel by plane this year. So, being prepared and ensuring you have the right type of identification can help you avoid hassles at the airport. Real ID is now in effect, and it’s now important to know whether you need a Real ID – and find out how to get one if you don’t already have it.

Why do I need a Real ID?

As of May 7, 2025, you need a Real ID (meaning, a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or photo ID card) or acceptable alternative identification document (such as a passport) to board domestic flights and to access certain federal buildings, military installations, and other federal facilities. Real ID was conceived in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks to require security-enhanced IDs to pass through airport security checkpoints or enter certain federal facilities. (As always, you will need a passport for international travel.)

How do I get a Real ID?

The specific process varies by state, but you get a Real ID through your state’s motor vehicle department. You can do this when you are applying for or renewing your state-issued driver’s license or photo ID. If your current ID doesn’t expire for a while, you may not want to wait, especially if you don’t have any other acceptable forms of identification and plan to travel or visit a federal building in the near future.

Do I have to apply for a Real ID in person at the motor vehicle department?

This varies by state. In Pennsylvania, for example, some people – mainly those who got their first Pennsylvania driver’s license, permit, or photo ID after September 2003 – are eligible to apply for Real ID online and will not need to go to the DMV in person. Other states, like California, do require an in-person trip to the DMV to complete the Real ID process. However, you can download documents online in advance, which can help you save time at the DMV. Look up your state’s DMV website to find out the process in your state.

What documents will I need to get a Real ID?

You will typically need to bring documents from several categories:

Proof of identity, such as a birth certificate or passport
Proof of your Social Security number, which could be a Social Security card or a pay stub (if it shows your Social Security number)
Proof of residency, such as a deed, mortgage statement or utility bill.

People who have changed their name at some point, for example, because of marriage or divorce, may have to show additional documentation such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree.

How long does it take to get a Real ID?

This varies by state. Some states offer the opportunity to receive the Real ID immediately at the DMV. For example, Pennsylvania has 15 same-day Real ID centers where people can get their Real ID at the time of service (those who don’t go to a same-day center will be mailed their Real ID within 15 business days). New York gives customers a paper, temporary ID after they successfully complete a Real ID application in a DMV office; the photo ID should arrive by mail within two weeks. In California, it currently takes about two weeks to receive the permanent Real ID card in the mail after completing all the requirements at a DMV office.

What can I use instead of Real ID?

In addition to Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards, the Transportation Security Administration notes other forms of acceptable ID include:

State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced ID
A U.S. passport or passport card
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, Nexus, SENTRI, FAST, all of which allow for expedited processing at various border crossings)
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Foreign government-issued passport
An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).

See the full list of acceptable IDs on the TSA website.

What’s the difference between Real ID and an Enhanced Driver’s License?

An Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced ID is a state-issued identification card that is considered an acceptable Real ID alternative and provides proof of identity and proof of U.S. citizenship. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses are currently available in five states (Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington). Real ID is optional in most states. For example, Virginia doesn’t require residents to get a Real ID. Standard licenses are still valid.

What happens at the airport if I don’t have a Real ID or a passport?

According to a TSA spokesperson, passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not Real ID compliant at TSA checkpoints and who do not have another acceptable alternative form of ID will be notified of their non-compliance and may be directed to a separate area for an additional screening. The spokesperson notes 81 percent of passengers already use Real ID or other acceptable forms of identification, and the agency doesn’t expect there to be any inconveniences or wait times.

Will the state motor vehicle department text or call me about Real ID?

No. Beware of scammers taking advantage of the confusion over the new rule. They are sending out phishing emails, texts, and calls that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as your state DMV or the federal DHS, about the new requirement. The messages will entice you to click on links so criminals can obtain your personal information or download malware onto your computer. Know that DMVs will never ask you to provide personal information by text or email.

Where else besides the airport do I need to use Real ID?

A Real ID, or other acceptable alternative, is required to access federal facilities, such as driving onto the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, and to enter military bases or nuclear power plants.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published May 14, 2025. It was updated to reflect new information.

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Bobbi Dempsey is a freelance writer who has written about a variety of topics, including health and entertainment, for aarp.org and AARP The Magazine. Her work has also appeared in Parade, The New York Times, Harper’s and other outlets.