Here’s when you’ll actually need real ID to fly in 2025

The time has come. If you’re planning to board a plane for a domestic flight in the US, you better make sure you have Real ID with you May 7, 2025. That’s right, your good old driver’s license won’t do you any good anymore. You will need a real ID or another form of acceptable identification to go through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint.

The Real ID Actwhose goal is to ensure that everyone has a secure and consistent form of identification for air travel and entry into federal buildings, has been in the works since 2007. After a few delaysit will finally go in May. So if you’re 18 or older and want to fly within the US, you’ll need to flash your fancy new driver’s license with Real ID or some other form of ID that the TSA issues, like a passport.

Here’s everything you need to know about Real ID, including where to apply, what you’ll need to bring and what will happen if you don’t have one after the 2025 deadline. For more information on travel policies, learn how renew your passport online and on the steps to take if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

What is Real ID and how do I know if I have one?

Essentially, Real ID is an enhanced version of your standard government driver’s license or ID card, designed to help authorities deal with terrorism and identity fraud.

Today, all 50 states and the District of Columbia follow true identification standards, the Department of Homeland Security said. If you recently renewed your driver’s license, it probably already meets the requirements. If it’s been a few years, you probably need to update it.

You can tell by looking at your license: If there is a gold, black or white star in the upper right corner, you have a real ID. (There are some minor variations—California puts a white star over the state’s bear logo, while Maine puts it in an outline of the state.)

How do I apply for a Real ID card in my state?

Whichever government agency issued your driver’s license is responsible for distributing genuine identification documents. Required documents will vary, but typically include proof of identity and U.S. resident or citizen status, proof of your Social Security number, and multiple proofs of your current address.

Original or hard copies of documents are required – birth certificate, social security card, US passport, photocopies and screenshots are not accepted. Check yours State Driver Licensing Agency website for more details.

After you apply, you should receive a temporary paper ID until your Real ID-compatible license arrives in the mail about three or four weeks later.

With a few exceptions, the cost of obtaining a Real ID-compliant license is the same as renewing your non-driver’s license or identification card.

What happens if I do not receive a Real ID before the deadline?

Starting May 2025 — unless the deadline is extended again — federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration will only accept Real ID-approved licenses and identification cards “for the purpose of accessing federal facilities,” according to DHS.

This includes airport security checkpoints.

Without one, US adults will need to show a valid passport even to fly into the country, or one of these other forms of identification:

Lack of a Real ID-compliant license will not affect other uses of a driver’s license, including verifying a person’s ability to drive a vehicle or purchase alcohol, firearms, or tobacco.

For more tips on flying, see how you can track canceled flights on your iPhone and why they exist better travel card options than the Chase Sapphire Reserve.