You’ll Quickly Want a Actual ID to Fly — however Can You Use Your Passport As a substitute?

Likelihood is you’ve heard concerning the Actual ID — possibly you have already got one. The gist is that beginning Might 7, 2025, each U.S. citizen who is eighteen years and older will want a Actual ID or authorized various to fly domestically. If you do not have one, you’ll be denied entry at TSA checkpoints.

However what precisely is a Actual ID and the way have you learnt you probably have one? And if you have already got a passport, do you even want one? The quick reply isn’t any. However right here’s the why:

The Why Behind the Actual ID

The Actual ID is a safer, federally standardized driver’s license or identification card. The transition to Actual ID playing cards began in 2005 when the 9/11 Fee instructed that the federal authorities “set requirements for the issuance of sources of identification, comparable to driver’s licenses and identification playing cards.” The thought is to make sure that all U.S. driver’s licenses (aka ID playing cards) meet the identical safety commonplace and to ban federal businesses from accepting non-compliant driver’s licenses and identification playing cards for issues like air journey and coming into federal services.  

For that reason, when you’ve gotten a brand new driver’s license or identification card since 2005, chances are high good you have already got a Actual ID. The compliant identification playing cards are being issued by all 50 U.S. states, in addition to Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The way to Inform If You Have a Actual ID

You’ll know in case your driver’s license or identification card is a Actual ID if there’s a star within the high portion of the cardboard (or, in California’s case, a bear with a star minimize out). You may see the assorted “star varieties” (and the bear with a star) on the Actual ID FAQs web page at dhs.gov.

Utilizing Your Passport As a substitute of a Actual ID

If you happen to don’t have a Actual ID, you need to use your passport or passport card to journey. The FAQs part of the Actual ID web site states: “The Act doesn’t … prohibit an company from accepting different types of id paperwork (comparable to a U.S. passport or passport card).”

As well as, when you reside in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, or Washington, you might need a state-issued Enhanced Driver’s License. These “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses” and identification playing cards are a suitable various to a Actual ID. You’ll know you probably have an Enhanced Driver’s License in case your card has a picture of the U.S. flag and the phrase “Enhanced” on the high of the cardboard. Most Enhanced Driver’s Licenses and identification playing cards should not have the Actual ID star marking within the high proper nook.

The way to Get a Actual ID

Whereas we’ve established which you could nonetheless journey domestically along with your passport, passport card, or Enhanced Driver’s License, chances are high you’ll finally desire a Actual ID. To get one, you’ll want to go to the DMV and supply the next data, at a minimal:

1) Full Authorized Identify; 2) Date of Start; 3) Social Safety Quantity; 4) Two Proofs of Handle of Principal Residence; and 5) Lawful Standing.

It’s price noting that some states might have further necessities, so verify your state’s driver’s licensing company web site earlier than visiting in particular person.