The Real ID deadline is Wednesday, May 7
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A REAL ID is a state-provided driving permit or identity card that adheres to the basic requirements established by the federal guidelines.
REAL ID Act
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The final date for U.S. adults to be able to travel across the country without carrying a REAL ID or an alternative approved form of identification is Wednesday, May 7.
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Five states are exempt from this new requirement: Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington
The REAL ID deadline is approaching on Wednesday, May 7. As of that date, all U.S. adults will be required to have this form of ID or another accepted form of identification on hand to access federal facilities, when entering nuclear power plants and when boarding commercial aircraft, per
the Department of Homeland Security
.
The initial REAL ID deadline was in 2020
, but was eventually pushed back due to the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the updated deadline, these five states—Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington—will still not mandate REAL IDs.
Inhabitants of these regions have multiple choices when they apply for an ID, including a regular driver’s license/identification card or Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs) and Enhanced Identification Cards (EICs). Both EDLs and EICs serve double duty; they function not only as official forms of identification but also as evidence of citizenship for traveling to places like Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean via air or sea transportation.
A REAL ID is a state-issued driver’s license or identification card that meets the minimum standards set by the
REAL ID Act
, which was implemented in 2005. The legislation was adopted by Congress following the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission suggesting that the federal government should “establish criteria for issuing forms of identification, like driver’s licenses.”
Related:
The Department of Homeland Security Has Postponed REAL ID Enforcement for an Additional 19 Months Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic
For an applicant to get a REAL ID, they must provide evidence confirming their complete name and birthdate (like a birth certificate), their Social Security number, along with at least two pieces of mail that act as proof of residence.
REAL ID cards display a star in the upper right corner. In certain states, this star can appear in gold, whereas others opt for black stars on their identification documents. Occasionally, these stars might be enclosed within a circle. Specifically, a California REAL ID features a star positioned inside a golden grizzly bear emblem. Meanwhile, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) and Enhanced Identification Cards (EID) showcase the image of the American flag along with the term “enhanced” at the top of the card.
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Apart from a REAL ID, travelers can also utilize a U.S. passport, permanent resident card, Enhanced Tribal Card, foreign government-issued passport, as well as various other forms of identification approved by the Transportation Security Administration.
the TSA
.
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Children who are younger than 18 years old do not have to comply with the REAL ID requirements when traveling.
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