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For thousands of Americans, May 7, 2025 will be an absolute disaster. Expect screaming, crying, abused staff, and probably a couple of arrests. That’s because this day marks the moment that “Real ID” becomes mandatory to take a domestic flight. And, despite a massive advertising campaign, data shows a shockingly low awareness and uptake of what Real ID even is.
Real ID is an enhanced form of ID that you may already have if you’ve been issued a new driver’s license over the last few years. You can check if your driver’s license or other ID is compliant with Real ID by looking for a black or gold star in the upper right corner. Here’s a compliant sample ID:
As per new Department of Homeland Security regulations, you must have a Real ID (or passport) to take a domestic flight as of tomorrow. If you turn up at the airport and try and get through security without one, you may be turned away at the gate.
The silver lining is that Real ID has been coming for a long time. The scheme was devised by Congress in 2005 as a response to 9/11 to boost security aboard airplanes, and some states have been issuing new driver’s licenses that meet the Real ID standard since 2009. The date it would become mandatory has been pushed back a few times, but it’s now here.
Despite the government’s best efforts, compliance with the new standard is worryingly low. A study conducted last month indicates that 30 states remain less than 70% compliant, with New Jersey having just 17% of its residents with Real ID cards. If you’re reading this and you realize you need to update your ID, you can find information and fees on how to do that on the DHS website.
If you have a domestic flight tomorrow, don’t have Real ID, and are suddenly worried you won’t make it, you may still have options. As per the TSA website, the following forms of ID will be acceptable for boarding domestic flights:
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Even if you don’t have any of those, the TSA advises that you should still travel to the airport, but be sure to arrive “three hours early” so you can explain your situation to airport staff so they can assist you. Any later than that, and you’re in with a good chance of being turned away at the gate and prevented from flying.
Despite all that, thousands of people will likely be prevented from flying tomorrow. Around 3 million people fly domestically in the United States each day, and if just 1% of them don’t know about the new rules and aren’t compliant, that’s 30,000 extremely unhappy travelers. Don’t be one of them!