Need a Real ID for Your Next Flight? Here Are Essential Alternatives.

If you typically leave your passport behind when traveling domestically via air and haven’t obtained one yet, you will now need to carry it.
REAL ID
or you might skip your flight.

The REAL ID compliance deadline is set for May 7, 2025. After this date, you will require either a compliant ID or an acceptable alternative to get past TSA security points.

Although a passport is the most typical accepted substitute, several alternatives exist. Here’s what you should be aware of.

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What is the cutoff date for obtaining a REAL ID?

All travelers who wish to fly domestically across the country must obtain a state-issued identification card or driver’s license featuring a REAL ID seal by May 7, 2025, as mandated by the Department of Homeland Security. (This requirement does not apply if you possess a passport.)

The initial deadline for this requirement was scheduled for 2020 but was delayed until May 2025 due to an accumulation of pending transactions at Motor Vehicle Division offices across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by USA TODAY.
reported
.

The mountains of paperwork,
according to the department,
affected agencies’ capability to achieve significant advancements in the REAL ID implementation.

This indicates that federal agencies, such as the Transportation Security Administration, will be unable to accept driver’s licenses and state-issued IDs that do not meet REAL ID requirements.

What occurs if you do not possess a REAL ID?

Starting from May 7, 2025, travelers who do not have a REAL ID-compliant license or an accepted alternative document will be prohibited from passing through TSA security checkpoints.

What are all the genuine ID alternatives?

If you’re unable to obtain a REAL ID before your upcoming flight, here are some TSA-approved alternative options:

Government-provided Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced Identification (EID)
U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
Department of Homeland Security approved travel documents (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense identification cards, which include those provided to family members
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
A valid photograph identification provided by a federally acknowledged Tribal Nation or Indian Tribe, which includes 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)

Do I need a REAL ID if I have a passport?

No. Any travelers who have an up-to-date passport, or any other
TSA-approved
identification document; you do not require a Real ID for domestic travel.

What do you need to obtain a REAL ID?

As per the Real ID webpage of Kentucky
, individuals must submit the following paperwork at your nearest motor vehicle office:

Proof of identity:

Birth certificate, passport, or citizenship papers.
Evidence of Social Security Number
Proof of Residency:

Two are needed for the Real ID. The site specifies, “Forwarded mail cannot be used as evidence of residence.”
Evidence of Any Lawful Identification Modifications

It takes about
two weeks
, or
15 business days
, for processing the IDs.

How does a genuine ID appear?

Every REAL ID will feature a mark in the top-right corner indicating federal compliance. This emblem can differ based on which state issued your REAL ID.

Enhanced identification documents, which are provided solely by a few states such as Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont, are deemed valid substitutes for REAL ID-compliant cards according to the department.

Vision testing needed for renewal of Kentucky driving permits

This year, Kentucky residents have an additional new requirement: they must undergo vision screenings. Other states such as Indiana and Ohio also require vision screenings for individuals looking to renew their driver’s licenses.
based on the information provided by the Kentucky Driver’s website

“This newly adopted regulation, approved by the
Kentucky General Assembly
In 2021, the initiative aims to improve roadway safety by guaranteeing that all motorists preserve optimal visual acuity over the course of their driving years,” as stated on the site. “Frequent eye examinations assist in detecting any issues that might impede a driver’s capability to operate a vehicle securely, thus safeguarding both the motorist and other individuals sharing the roads.”

For more information about the new vision screening requirement, read the article below.

How early can I renew my license in Kentucky?

Drivers can renew their license approximately six months before the current one expires.

Where can I renew my license in Kentucky?

The license may be renewed.
online
, by
mailing a form
or
in person at one of the regional driver licensing offices
.

“Those who wish to renew their license by mail must include the completed and signed Driver Licensing Certification form from their vision or qualifying medical specialist along with the mail-in renewal form,” the website states.

Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez
,
Amaris Encina
s
,
Jenny Porter Tilley
,
Bradley Hohulin
and
Kathleen Wong
contributed to this report.

The article initially appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal.
If you don’t possess a REAL ID for your upcoming flight, consider obtaining one of these alternative options.