How to make sure you can fly after the REAL ID deadline arrives

6 days ago 3

As of today, May 7, 2025, the long-awaited REAL ID request is officially successful effect crossed the United States.

After years of delays and mounting anticipation, travelers indispensable present amusement a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, a valid passport oregon different federally approved signifier of recognition to committee home flights oregon participate definite national facilities.

The unreserved to comply has led to packed DMVs, agelong lines and plentifulness of disorder astir what's really required, particularly among retired subject members.

Join the FREE "CyberGuy Report": Get my adept tech tips, captious information alerts and exclusive deals, positive instant entree to my free "Ultimate Scam Survival Guide" when you motion up!

Fred from Oklahoma summed up the concerns galore are feeling successful a caller email to us.

"With the May 7th deadline for everyone to person a REAL ID approaching, it whitethorn beryllium clip to bash a communicative connected the imaginable interaction connected retired military. Back successful April 2024, a communicative made galore of america tense oregon angry. Apparently determination was immoderate glitch successful TSA bundle speechmaking an 'indefinite' expiration date. Those of america implicit 65 person a retired ID that ne'er expires.

"It was suggested that TSA's solution was to nary longer judge our ID arsenic an alternate signifier of REAL ID. It angers america due to the fact that our ID allows entree to subject installations, but we're not allowed to fly? At immoderate rate, determination has been nary follow-up nonfiction that either says the glitch was fixed oregon dismisses the TSA extremist solution.... Maybe you tin shed immoderate airy connected this."

Let's interruption down what's changed, reply Fred's question and locomotion you done precisely however to get a REAL ID if you inactive request one.

What is the REAL ID and wherefore is it required now?

The REAL ID Act was passed successful 2005 to fortify information standards for state-issued IDs, pursuing recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. Starting today, anyone 18 oregon older indispensable amusement a REAL ID-compliant driver's licence oregon authorities ID (look for a prima successful the precocious corner), a valid passport oregon different TSA-approved signifier of recognition to committee home flights oregon entree definite national buildings. If you don't person 1 of these, you whitethorn beryllium turned distant astatine airdrome security, adjacent if you've utilized your existent ID for years.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

5 GREAT TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR NEXT TRAVEL GETAWAY

Will retired subject IDs inactive enactment astatine TSA checkpoints?

Good quality for Fred and different retired subject members: Defense Department-issued IDs, including Common Access Cards, Uniformed Services ID cards and older retiree and household subordinate cards, are inactive accepted by TSA for home airline travel. This includes cards with "INDEF" (indefinite) expiration dates, contempt past disorder and bundle glitches.

However, travelers person reported occasional issues astatine immoderate airports, wherever TSA's strategy whitethorn misread the "INDEF" day arsenic expired. In those cases, TSA officers whitethorn inquire for different acceptable signifier of ID, specified arsenic a REAL ID-compliant driver's licence oregon a passport. If you person nary different ID, a supervisor whitethorn reappraisal your papers and let you to proceed, but expect imaginable delays.

The bottommost enactment is that subject retiree and babelike ID cards stay valid for flying domestically arsenic of today. If you person experienced problems successful the past, it's omniscient to bring a backup signifier of ID if possible.

HOW TO MINIMIZE YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT WHEN YOU TRAVEL

What happens if you don't person a REAL ID yet?

If you amusement up astatine the airdrome contiguous with a modular driver's licence that isn't REAL ID compliant, and you don't person a passport oregon different approved ID, you could look delays, other screening oregon adjacent beryllium denied introduction astatine the information checkpoint. TSA is urging travelers to cheque their IDs earlier heading to the airport.

However, if you person a valid Global Entry card, you bash not request to get a REAL ID-compliant driver's licence to alert domestically aft May 7, 2025. The Global Entry paper is simply a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Traveler paper that meets national recognition standards and is explicitly accepted by TSA arsenic an alternate to a REAL ID. This means you tin usage your Global Entry paper astatine TSA checkpoints to verify your individuality erstwhile flying wrong the United States. Other DHS Trusted Traveler cards, similar NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST, are besides accepted arsenic alternatives.

Important: Although the Global Entry paper is officially accepted, immoderate travelers person reported occasional disorder among TSA agents. To debar delays, see carrying an further signifier of ID, specified arsenic a U.S. passport oregon passport card.

By utilizing your Global Entry card, you tin bypass the request to sojourn the DMV for a REAL ID and inactive comply with TSA recognition requirements for home aerial travel.

7 SIMPLE WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR CREDIT CARDS WHILE TRAVELING

How to get a REAL ID

If you inactive request a REAL ID, here's however to get started. Even aft the deadline, you tin inactive use and usage your existent licence for driving and non-federal purposes.

1. Check your existent ID

Look for a prima (gold, black, oregon successful immoderate states, a carnivore with a star) astatine the apical of your licence oregon authorities ID.
If you spot it, you're already REAL ID compliant.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

2. Gather your documents

Requirements alteration by state, but you'll typically need:

Proof of identity (valid, unexpired U.S. passport oregon commencement certificate)
Proof of Social Security number (Social Security card, W-2 oregon paystub with afloat SSN)
Two proofs of address (utility bills, slope statements, lease/mortgage, etc.)
Proof of lawful status (if not a U.S. citizen)

Pro tip: If your sanction has changed (due to marriage, divorce, etc.), bring ineligible impervious (marriage certificate, divorcement decree oregon tribunal order).

3. Make an appointment

Visit your authorities DMV's website to docket a REAL ID appointment.
Appointments whitethorn beryllium scarce owed to precocious demand, but support checking arsenic galore states adhd caller slots regular and are opening offices earlier oregon connected other days to help.

4. Go to the DMV

Bring each required documents
Fill retired the exertion (some states fto you commencement this online)
Get your photograph taken and wage the interest (varies by state, usually $20-$60).

5. Receive your REAL ID

Some states contented the paper connected the spot, others message it to you.
Make definite you get your caller paper earlier your adjacent flight.

BEST PREPAID SIM & ESIM CARDS FOR TRAVELERS

What if you person a passport?

A valid U.S. passport oregon passport paper is ever accepted for home flights. If you person one, you bash not request a REAL ID to fly, but you volition request it for national facilities that necessitate a REAL ID for entry. If you're traveling soon, double-check your recognition and springiness yourself plentifulness of clip astatine the airport. For the latest updates and a afloat database of acceptable IDs, sojourn the TSA website.

A antheral carrying his passport (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

TOP TRANSLATION APPS FOR TRAVELERS

What if you miss the deadline?

You tin inactive get a REAL ID aft May 7, but you won't beryllium capable to usage your aged licence for aerial question until you do. In the meantime, you'll request a valid passport oregon different approved ID to fly.

HOW TO STAY CONNECTED NO MATTER WHERE YOU TRAVEL IN THE WORLD

Kurt's cardinal takeaways

The REAL ID deadline has yet arrived, and it's understandable if you're feeling a small overwhelmed by each the changes. Whether you're a predominant flyer oregon conscionable privation to beryllium acceptable for an unexpected trip, making definite you person the close ID is present much important than ever. If you're a retired subject member, it's reassuring to cognize your subject ID is inactive accepted, but bringing a backup is ever a astute determination conscionable successful case.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

How are you feeling astir the caller REAL ID rules present that they're officially successful effect? Let america cognize by penning america at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For much of my tech tips and information alerts, subscribe to my escaped CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question oregon fto america cognize what stories you'd similar america to cover.

Follow Kurt connected his societal channels:

Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:

New from Kurt:

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech writer who has a heavy emotion of technology, cogwheel and gadgets that marque beingness amended with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business opening mornings connected "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s escaped CyberGuy Newsletter, stock your voice, a communicative thought oregon remark astatine CyberGuy.com.

Read Entire Article