Starting Wednesday, Americans will have a REAL ID or another officially accepted form of identification to table private flights or enter selected national buildings. The REAL ID program has affected millions of visitors. According to the DHS website,” Beginning May 7, 2025 every state and territory resident will need to present a REAL ID-compliant license/ID, or another acceptable form of identification, for accessing federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and boarding commercial aircraft” .With long queues at motor vehicle departments and ongoing public confusion, here’s a simple breakdown of what REAL ID is and why it matters. What is REAL ID? REAL ID is a federally approved, security-enhanced edition of the state-issued permission or ID cards. There’s a star—usually metal or black—on the top right corner of the cards. If a man doesn’t have a REAL ID or an accepted alternative—like a card or an Enhanced Driver’s Licence—they may not be allowed to board a private flight or provide specific government properties. The shift applied to Americans above age 18. Adolescents under 18 do not need a REAL ID for private planes if they’re travelling with an adult who has proper ID. Why was REAL ID introduced? This new condition comes from a law passed in 2005 after the 9/11 committee recommended stronger ID requirements for national facilities and air travel. The application planned before was delayed because of Covid 19. ” The whole concept here is to better evaluate those individuals who were encountering a convoy to ensure they are who specifically they say they are”, news company Associated Press quoted Thomas Carter, TSA’s national security producer in New Jersey as saying.
How to get a REAL ID To get a REAL ID, you’ll need to visit your state’s motor vehicle agency in person. Be prepared to show documents proving your full legal name, date of birth, social security number, two forms of proof of address, and legal presence in the US. Requirements may vary slightly by state.
