What will happen after the May 7 deadline if you try to fly without Real ID?
The Real ID deadline is Wednesday, May 7, and some folks with trips planned are hitting the panic button.
"I am extremely concerned there will be long lines and a lot of confusion," Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told TPG.
There are some work-arounds, though, if you don't yet have a Real ID. Here's how you can still fly even if you aren't Real ID-compliant.
What is Real ID?
Real ID is a new government-approved identity document, with new security standards for driver's licenses and state identification cards. It officially goes into effect Wednesday, May 7.
Travelers' identification cards will have to meet new, beefed-up standards in order to be used for federal purposes, including passing through airport security checkpoints.
There have been long lines at DMV offices across the country as the deadline approaches and people struggle to find last-minute appointments.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, "81 percent of travelers at TSA checkpoints nationwide present an acceptable identification including a state-issued REAL ID." That means there are still a lot of folks who still don't have compliant IDs — which could bring long lines at security screenings.
"To obtain a state-issued Real ID, individuals must provide documentation showing their full legal name, date of birth, social security number, two proofs of address for their principal residence and proof of their lawful status," the TSA told me. "States may impose additional requirements, so check with your state's driver's licensing agency website, before visiting them in person, for additional guidance and assistance."
But the good news is that there will still be wiggle room for ID verification until full enforcement takes effect in 2027.
Will there be long security lines as Real ID gets enforced?
The big question right now: How long will the lines be as the Real ID requirement gets rolled out Wednesday and in the days afterward?
Harteveldt said to expect confusion and potential chaos, even if you have a Real ID. "TSA estimates nearly one in five passengers currently does not have a compliant form of identification," he said. "This will inevitably cause delays as TSA takes the necessary steps to vet the passenger."
Harteveldt told me that passengers should allow plenty of extra time to clear airport security, even if they have TSA PreCheck or Clear. I suspect the TSA will still allow passengers without a Real ID to pass through security, but they will all need additional screenings. That will slow everything down.
"If you have any flexibility and don't have to travel during the first few days after Real ID becomes mandatory, don't," Harteveldt said.
If I have a passport, do I still need a Real ID to go through security within the US?
If you have a valid passport for international travel, that should be all you need to go through security.
Bring your passport or passport card if you have one
As referenced above, if you have a passport, you can travel through security without a problem. That's true of a passport card, too.
You can order a passport card when you get or renew a standard passport. They can be a great alternative if you are worried about carrying your passport around. The passport card costs an additional $30, but you can use it as a Real ID alternative. You can also use it to cross land and sea borders at select countries like Canada, Mexico and Bermuda.
Note that if you travel by air, you'll still need a passport for any international travel.
Related: What is the difference between a passport book and a passport card?
"The last minute rush to obtain a Real ID ... is leading to long delays at the DMV and causing unnecessary stress amongst travelers," David Alwadish, founder and CEO of ItsEasy.com passport and visa services, told TPG. "A U.S. passport card is a convenient, secure and affordable alternative. For me, getting a passport card at the same time as getting the passport book was a $30 no-brainer."
Enhanced driver's license instead of a Real ID?
Some states issue "enhanced driver's licenses," which will also allow you to pass through airport security.
"Enhanced Drivers Licenses (EDLs) are state-issued enhanced drivers licenses that provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship when crossing the U.S. border in a vehicle," according to the Department of Homeland Security. "They are issued in a secure process, and include technology that makes travel easier. EDLs are a low-cost, convenient option for entering the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean through a land or sea port of entry, in addition to serving as a permit to drive."
EDLs are available in the following states:
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- Vermont
- Washington
EDLs are considered acceptable alternatives to the standard Real ID-compliant driver's license.
What other forms of ID are acceptable for airport security?
As mentioned, you can use a U.S. passport or passport card; however, there is a wide range of acceptable alternatives beyond those. Some other options include:
- DHS Trusted Traveler card (Global Entry, Nexus, SENTRI and FAST)
- Permanent resident card
- U.S. Department of Defense ID
- Border-crossing card
- State-issued enhanced driver's license
- Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
- HSPD-12 personal identity verification card (federal employees and contractors)
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employment authorization card (I-766)
- U.S. merchant mariner credential
What if I have Clear?
If you have a membership in the expedited security program Clear Plus, you can now upload your passport to use the Clear lanes, even after the Real ID deadline goes into effect.
This could offer an alternative in case the regular TSA lines or the expedited PreCheck lanes are backed up.
Clear uses member data, including fingerprint and iris scans, to automate most users' identity verification for TSA screenings.
"Clear's feature to upload your passport to the app gives travelers an easy way to get Real ID ready," Clear told TPG.
TPG Tip: If you want to try Clear and sign up using TPG's special offer, you can save $50 on the first year's membership.
You can use the Clear mobile app to scan and upload your passport data from home. In the app, use your phone to upload a photo of your passport and scan the chip inside the passport to verify. The whole process takes just a few minutes.
Related: Why you should get TSA PreCheck and Clear — and how you can save on both
What will happen after May 7 if you try to fly without Real ID?
From what we understand, you will still be able to travel May 7 and beyond even if you don't have a Real ID-compliant document. You will likely be subject to additional screening, though, and you may be questioned at length about your identity.
I strongly encourage those who are traveling without a Real ID-compliant document to bring additional identity documents to potentially help prove their identity. Such documents include:
- Bank statements
- Noncompliant identification documents, like a driver's license or state ID
- Birth certificate
- Social Security card
- Utility statements
- Other bills that include your home address
Note that even with this additional proof, you can technically be denied boarding at TSA checkpoints if you don't have a Real ID — so come as prepared as possible and have a backup plan "just in case."
How can I tell if I'm Real ID-compliant?
You may already be compliant. You can tell if your driver's license or ID is Real ID-compliant by looking for the star in the upper right or left corner, as shown in the image below.
If you don't see a star on your ID or it says something like "Not for federal identification" or "Not for federal purposes" in fine print, then it is not Real ID-approved.
You can use this tool to figure out if you are compliant. It will ask you a series of questions to determine if it's fine to travel with your ID. Remember that a U.S. passport qualifies as a Real ID in all cases.
Bottom line
After years of delay, the Real ID requirement goes into effect Wednesday. There are many alternate ways to get through security, but you should bring as many documents and proofs of identity as possible.
You should also be prepared for long lines and delays, even if you have a Real ID-approved document; there could be long lines due to those who don't. Build in extra time and try to be patient with workers at TSA who are likely to be overwhelmed as the new ID requirements go into effect.
Related reading:
- Real ID vs. driver's license: Everything you need to know
- Best credit cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
- Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Which is more beneficial?
- Travelers can now enroll in TSA PreCheck via Clear at 13 US airports
- 8 ways to get free or discounted TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and Clear
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