Airport officials have announced new airport rules, as they will start requiring a valid ID or passport for domestic travel in May. Thus, if you want to avoid any problems on your next vacation, be ready. Beginning May 7, 2025, all passengers flying within the United States will be required to display a Real ID or passport while boarding domestic aircraft. This policy, introduced following the Real ID Act of 2005, is meant to strengthen airport security following the September 11 terrorist attacks. To tell if your driver’s license is a Real ID, look for a small gold star in the upper right corner of the card. This symbol guarantees that the document complies with government security standards designed to make identification at airport checkpoints more efficient.
New airport rules will become effective in the coming months, so Americans should be prepared to avoid problems while traveling
Travelers must receive their Real ID by May 2025 or risk being unable to board domestic flights at the airport. Make sure you get it on time to avoid hassles throughout your trip. If you do not already have a Real ID, you must finish the procedure by May 7, 2025, when new laws for domestic flights in the United States will take effect. Here are the steps to get it:
- Visit your local DMV: The application must be submitted in person to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Currently, you cannot apply online.
- Gather the necessary documents: You will be required to produce many documents, including a passport or birth certificate, your Social Security number, and proof of state residency.
- Complete the application and payment: The cost of the Real ID varies by state, although it is often reasonable.
- Receive your Real ID: Once completed, you will receive your new license with the gold star, allowing you to fly domestically.
Once you have your Real ID, could you return to the traditional ID?
With the deadline for obtaining a REAL ID just one week away, some are afraid of making the transition or those who have already done so and now regret their decision to claim their digital ID. However, the simple response for a large number of people nationwide is yes. When it comes time for someone to renew their ID, many states will still accept non-REAL ID forms of identification. But there is a big catch: as of May 7, only REAL ID-compliant types of identification will be allowed to be used for government activities like entering federal buildings or boarding domestic aircraft at the airport.
Twenty years ago, Congress approved the REAL ID Act, which mandated that states set minimum security measures for issuing. A REAL ID is a state-issued ID that complies with specific federal requirements; it is not a national identification card. Following several delays in enforcing the legislation, the Trump administration established a deadline of May 7 for all adults who want to travel by air or enter federal buildings to obtain a REAL ID-compliant identification card. The Trump administration claimed that the deadline had already been extended sufficiently, giving travelers enough time to collect the required paperwork for the more stringently validated form of identification.
While some on the left have argued that the extra paperwork required to get the card causes excessive hardship for particular groups, such as minorities or the poor, others have said that REAL ID poses a threat to citizens’ privacy. It is important to note, though, that if someone with a REAL ID has second thoughts, they just need to choose a different form of identification the next time their ID is up for renewal, albeit this will differ from state to state. According to Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, the difference between the REAL ID version and noncompliant variants is negligible, as all that is required is additional documentation beyond the regular identification card.
