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
older than 18 years old
must possess compliant identification to clear U.S. airport security checkpoints. Lacking this, their domestic travel might face delays.

The mandate originates from the 2005 REAL ID Act, which set forth “Minimum Security Standards for State-Issued Driver’s Licenses and Identification Cards,” as stated.
the Department of Homeland Security
.

Begin your day with more knowledge. Receive all the essential news directly in your mailbox every morning.

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 accepted forms of ID for those Americans who have not yet upgraded their licenses to meet these requirements when traveling through airports.

This is the information travelers need to be aware of.

REAL ID compared to Enhanced ID

Certain Americans might already possess an Enhanced ID, described as a “‘state-issued enhanced driver’s license’ that serves as evidence of both identity and U.S. citizenship for those entering the country via car at the border,” as stated.
DHS
Currently, they are issued by five states—Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Vermont, and Washington—as an easy method for entering Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean.

Although not every Enhanced ID features the star symbol, these documents are recognized as a valid form of identification and can serve as an alternative to a REAL ID when traveling via air. This type of ID is easily identifiable thanks to the U.S. flag emblem and the term “enhanced” displayed at the top.

According to the
Transportation Security Administration
Here are the accepted formats for the REAL ID:

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

U.S. passport

U.S. passport card

DHS approved traveler 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 photo identification document 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)

Can I still travel with 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 traveling abroad, passports remain essential.

The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
Don’t possess a REAL ID yet? You can still travel using one of the following types of identification.