REAL ID, Identified by Gold Star, Required for Domestic Flights by May 7, 2025; U.S. Passport or Military ID Also Accepted

Dec 30, 2024, 06:30 PM

The REAL ID Act, set to take effect on May 7, 2025, will require travelers to present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or identification card, identifiable by a gold star in the upper right corner, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification such as a U.S. passport or military ID, to board domestic flights within the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that this deadline will not be extended further, following several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, aims to establish minimum security standards for state-issued identification documents, including incorporating anti-counterfeiting technology, preventing insider fraud, and using documentary evidence and record checks to ensure a person's identity. The DHS is working with states to ensure residents can obtain the necessary identification, and is implementing innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible.