Need a REAL ID? Here’s How You Can Still Travel With Alternative IDs.

As Americans rush to their nearby DMV offices to secure their
REAL ID
Before the deadline, many might be curious about which additional types of personal ID will be acceptable at airports.

On May 7, every air traveler
over the age of 18
Will require compliant identification to clear U.S. airport security checkpoints. Lacking this, their domestic travel might face delays.

The requirement stems from the 2005 REAL ID Act, which established “minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards,” according to
the Department of Homeland Security
.

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Although this encompasses REAL IDs — which are state-issued driver’s licenses or identification cards featuring a star emblem at the top — there are additional valid forms of ID that individuals who have not upgraded their licenses can show at the airport.

This is what tourists ought to be aware of.

REAL ID compared to Enhanced ID

Certain Americans might already possess an Enhanced ID, described as a “state-provided document that serves as both an enhanced driver’s license and verifies identity and U.S. citizenship for crossing the American border via car.” According to
DHS
Currently, they are distributed by five states—Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Vermont, and Washington—as an easy method for entering Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean.

While not all Enhanced IDs have the star marking, they are considered a compliant form of identification, so they can be used as an alternative to a REAL ID at airports. They’re distinguished by an image of the U.S. flag and the word “enhanced” at the top.

According to the
Transportation Security Administration
, these are the acceptable forms of REAL ID:

Government-provided Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced Identification (EID)

U.S. passport

U.S. passport card

U.S. Department of Homeland Security approved travel documents (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

U.S. Department of Defense identification cards, which include those given to family members

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 Work Permit Card (Form I-766)

U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC)

Is it possible for me to travel using a passport?

Certainly. Both a passport book or card serve as acceptable alternatives to a REAL ID for domestic trips, as stated by the TSA.
website
And when journeying across international borders, passports remain a must-have.

The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
Don’t possess a REAL ID yet? You can still travel using one of these alternative IDs.