If you have travel plans that involve flying, make sure your ID is the real deal. After years of delay, the Real ID Act will be enforced.
Starting May 7, only state-issued driver’s licenses and state-issued ID cards that comply with the REAL ID requirements will be accepted at TSA checkpoints and for official federal government purposes. Here is everything you need to know about the requirements.
What is a Real ID?
Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 in response to the terrorist attacks on 9/11, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The act establishes minimum security standards for driver’s license and state ID distribution and production. It prohibits federal agencies from accepting licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet those requirements.
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The new identification incorporates fraud prevention technology to ensure people are who they claim to be.
The new ID requirements were initially slated to be implemented in 2008. The date was repeatedly pushed back because of the logistics of hundreds of millions of people flying every year, as well as the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
What happens when the REAL ID Act enforcement starts?
Federal Agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and TSA may only accept cards that comply with the new enforcement of the REAL ID Act, including TSA at airport security checkpoints.
What happens if I decide NOT to obtain a REAL ID?
Those without the upgraded ID can still use their old ID cards as long as they are not expired. But access to federal facilities might be denied, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Domestic airline passengers must bring a secondary form of identification, such as a passport, to pass through airport security checkpoints.
International travelers will still need a valid passport, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
What about REAL ID cards in Texas?
Texas started issuing driver’s licenses and state IDs that meet the REAL ID requirements on October 10, 2016, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The Texas REAL ID card is marked with a star inside a gold circle located in the upper right corner of the card.
If your driver’s license or state ID has that emblem, you are good to go, and no further action is required.
If your card expires after May 7, 2025, and you want a REAL ID card, you can request a duplicate driver’s license or Texas ID in person or online at texas.gov.
