What REAL ID is and when you need it
The REAL ID Act set minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and ID cards. Since enforcement began on May 7, 2025, a compliant card or another accepted document is needed for three official purposes:
- Boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, for anyone 18 and older.
- Accessing certain federal facilities.
- Entering nuclear power plants.
The law does not affect other uses of a license or ID card unrelated to these purposes, and it does not require ID at federal facilities where none was required before.
How to tell if your card is compliant
A REAL ID-compliant card carries one of the official markings, pictured on TSA's REAL ID page, on the upper top portion. No marking means it is not compliant. Enhanced Driver's Licenses and Enhanced ID cards, issued by some states, show a US flag and the word Enhanced at the top; they are also accepted for flying. Temporary paper licenses are not accepted at the checkpoint.
What TSA accepts instead
A passport is not required, but it is one of several alternatives. TSA's list for adults includes:
| Accepted at the checkpoint |
|---|
| REAL ID-compliant state driver's license or ID card |
| State Enhanced Driver's Licenses and Enhanced ID cards |
| Mobile driver's licenses from approved states, if based on a REAL ID, EDL or EID |
| US passport or passport card |
| DHS trusted traveler cards: Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST |
| US Department of Defense IDs, including for dependents |
| Permanent resident card, border crossing card |
| Photo IDs from federally recognized Tribal Nations, including Enhanced Tribal Cards |
| HSPD-12 PIV card, TWIC |
| Foreign government-issued passport |
| Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card |
| Employment Authorization Card (I-766), US Merchant Mariner Credential, Veteran Health Identification Card |
TSA accepts these documents up to two years after they expire and says the list can change, so check it before you travel. Children under 18 need no ID on domestic flights. The packing list generator puts the ID on the list.
If you arrive without acceptable ID
Since February 1, 2026, travelers without an acceptable ID can pay a $45 fee to use TSA ConfirmID, and TSA will try to verify their identity; the fee can be paid in advance online. If TSA cannot verify it, the traveler cannot enter the screening checkpoint.
Getting a REAL ID
You apply at your state's driver licensing agency. TSA lists the minimum documentation every state must see:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Social Security number; states may ask for a document showing it, and replacing a lost card is covered in how to replace a Social Security card
- Two proofs of address of your principal residence
- Lawful status
If your name has changed, bring documents that connect the name on your source document to your current name. Each state publishes the exact documents it accepts. Passport photo rules, if you go the passport route, are in passport photo size by country.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a REAL ID to fly?
For domestic flights, adults 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card or another TSA-accepted ID, such as a passport, since enforcement began May 7, 2025. State licenses that are not REAL ID-compliant are no longer accepted at airports.
How can I tell if my license is a REAL ID?
A compliant card has one of the official REAL ID markings, shown on the TSA website, on the upper top portion. If it has none, it is not compliant, according to TSA. Enhanced licenses show a US flag and the word Enhanced at the top and are accepted too.
What if I get to the airport without a REAL ID?
Since February 1, 2026, travelers without acceptable ID can pay a $45 fee for TSA ConfirmID, and TSA will try to verify their identity. If it cannot, the traveler cannot enter the checkpoint. The fee can be paid in advance.
Do children need a REAL ID to fly?
No. TSA does not require children under 18 to show identification on domestic flights, though airlines may have their own rules.
What do I need to bring to get a REAL ID?
At minimum, documents showing your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of address of your principal residence and lawful status, per TSA. If your name has changed, bring documents connecting the names. Your state lists the exact documents it accepts.
Sources
- TSA: About REAL ID (enforcement from May 7, 2025 for travelers 18 and older; the three official purposes; other uses of licenses unaffected)
- TSA: REAL ID frequently asked questions (minimum documents for a REAL ID, name traceability, Enhanced Driver's Licenses, children under 18, the compliance marking, non-compliant licenses no longer accepted at airports)
- TSA: Identification at the checkpoint (acceptable IDs, expired IDs up to two years, temporary licenses not accepted, children under 18, TSA ConfirmID and its $45 fee from February 1, 2026)