REAL ID is here: 5 things to know before flying

After 20 years of delays, the REAL ID deadline to alert commercialized successful the United States has landed. Here are 5 things to cognize earlier flying. 

1. What is REAL ID?

On May 11, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the REAL ID Act into instrumentality to heighten nationalist information successful the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, violent attacks. Passed by the U.S. Congress, the enactment acceptable national standards for issuing recognition cards, similar driver's licenses. 

In summation to the compliance request to committee a federally regulated commercialized aircraft, opening May 7, 2025, American adults volition request a compliant ID to entree definite national facilities and participate atomic powerfulness plants, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

After the REAL ID deadline, state-issued driver's licenses oregon IDs that are not REAL ID-compliant volition nary longer beryllium accepted arsenic a valid signifier of recognition astatine airports. 

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2. What different IDs are accepted?

Starting May 7, travelers tin lone usage their state-issued ID oregon licence to alert wrong the United States if it is REAL ID-complaint. However, determination are respective different forms of recognition that volition inactive beryllium accepted for home travel, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Travelers unsure if their ID is accepted tin cheque with their section Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and cheque for a prima connected the precocious apical information of their card, signaling REAL ID compliance. 

• State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) oregon Enhanced ID (EID)
• U.S. passport oregon passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Permanent nonmigratory card
• Border crossing card
• An acceptable photograph ID issued by federally recognized Tribal Nation oregon Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver's licence oregon Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Transportation idiosyncratic recognition credential
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

The REAL ID deadline is May 7. (Fox News Digital)

3. What if I don't person a REAL ID? 

Don't panic! Be definite to question with a passport oregon different accepted recognition card, if you person one. 

The TSA advises that passengers, including those with TSA Precheck, who contiguous recognition astatine a TSA checkpoint that is not REAL ID compliant and who bash not person an alternate ID signifier volition beryllium informed they are noncompliant and could beryllium directed to a abstracted country astatine the airdrome for imaginable further screening.

Those without 1 of respective compliant IDs volition person to spell done further screening to question starting May 7. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

4. What happens during the screening?

A TSA serviceman tin inquire noncompliant passengers to implicit an individuality verification process, which includes sanction and existent code confirmation. Once your individuality is confirmed, passengers tin participate the screening checkpoint but mightiness beryllium taxable to further screening. 

TSA volition not let passengers to participate the information checkpoint if they bash not supply the acceptable identification, diminution to cooperate with the further individuality verification oregon if a passenger's individuality cannot beryllium confirmed. 

(Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

5. How bash I get a REAL ID?

While REAL IDs are not required to question if a rider has alternate accepted identification, they are recommended nether the REAL ID Act. 

To get a REAL ID, travelers tin sojourn their state's DMV with documentation proving their afloat ineligible name, day of birth, Social Security number, 2 proofs of residency and lawful status. 

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TSA does not necessitate children nether 18 to supply recognition erstwhile traveling with a companion wrong the country, truthful minors volition not request a REAL ID to fly.