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On May 7, the federal government will start enforcing Real ID requirements at
U.S. airports and some federal facilities.
From this date forward, travelers will need a Real ID compliant license or
other accepted form of identification like a passport to pass security checks
before boarding a domestic flight.
However, just over 55% of Californians (18 million people) have updated their
driver’s licenses or ID cards to be Real ID compliant, according to the
California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
If you are among those who have not, here is what you need to do to complete
the process. Schedule your appointment through a California DMV office and
obtain your Real ID application code (issued when you schedule your
appointment online). Be prepared to pay a $35 fee.
“Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 to enhance security standards for
identification, directly in response to the security vulnerabilities highlighted by
the 9/11 attacks,” said former Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Administrator David Pekoske in a release.
“Identity verification is foundational to security. I urge those who use a driver’s
license or state-issued identity card as their primary form of identification to
access federal facilities or board commercial passenger aircraft, to ensure
these credentials are REAL ID-compliant,” Pekoske added. “We are committed
to engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions and states to facilitate a
smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025, which this
rule supports.”
The national Real ID policy was originally supposed to go into effect in 2008,
but has been repeatedly postponed, including during the pandemic.
Updated California licenses will be marked by a golden bear in the upper right-
hand corner of the card.
Travelers 18 or over need the ID for U.S domestic flights. The ID cannot be
used to travel internationally, with an exception for land or water border
crossings into Mexico and Canada.
To apply for a REAL ID, you must present several documents, including ONE
proof of identity document. This document must include your date of birth and
your full name. Examples of acceptable documentation include:
Valid U.S. passport or passport card
Original or certified copy of U.S birth certificate issued by a city, county
or state office. (Abbreviated or abstract certificates are not accepted.
Valid Permanent Resident Card
Foreign passport with valid U.S. Visa and approved I-94 form
Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
Certified copy of birth certificate from a U.S. Territory
Valid Employment Authorization Document Card or valid/expired EAD
card with Notice of Action
Valid U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad or Consular Report of Birth Abroad
of U.S. Citizen
Valid foreign passport stamped ‘Processed for I-551
Documents reflecting TPS benefit eligibility
Additionally, applicants will need to provide TWO different proofs of California
residency. Both documents must show your first and last name with the same
mailing address that is listed on your application. Utility or cell phone bills are
preferred document types. Medical, employment or insurance documents are
also acceptable.
If you use a P.O. Box, one document must show both your P.O. Box address
and physical address. The second document must only bear the P.O. Box
address.
The TSA says the May 7 deadline will be enforced, and that travelers without a
Real ID or other accepted document could experience delays when going
through security because it will take longer to verify their identity.
They could face “additional screening and the possibility of not being
permitted into the security checkpoint,” the TSA said in a news release.
The agency recommends travelers arrive at least three hours before domestic
flights if they don’t have Real ID or an alternative.
