By Callum Keown

U.S. air travelers will soon need to have a new form of ID to fly domestically.

From May 7, American adults must have a Real ID-compliant driver's license or state-issued ID to board a federally regulated commercial aircraft unless they have an acceptable alternative such as a passport. Without one Americans also won't be able to access government facilities including military installations, and nuclear power plants.

It's been a long time coming. The Real ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 following recommendations by the 9/11 Commission that the federal government "set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses and identification cards."

There have been numerous delays and extensions since, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic which created a backlog for many state's driver's licensing agencies.

The Department of Homeland Security pushed back a 2021 deadline by two years to May 2023 and the deadline was again delayed by two years to May 2025 to give states more time to ensure their residents could obtain Real ID-compliant licenses.

DHS says all states, the District of Columbia and the five territories now issue compliant driver's licenses and IDs. The agency urged Americans to visit their state's driver's licensing agency website to find out how to obtain one.

Many Americans will already have one, particularly if they've renewed their license in recent years. The DHS has an interactive tool to find out if you have one or not.

A Real ID license is marked with a star at the top of the card, typically in yellow or black. On a California driver's license it's a bear with a star in the top right corner.

"If you do not have a REAL ID, you can use a federally approved document like a valid passport or permanent resident card to get through airport security," said California Department of Motor Vehicles Director Steve Gordon, said last month.

There's still time to sort it before the deadline, but the Transportation Security Administration warned that travelers who don't have one could face delays.

Write to Callum Keown at callum.keown@dowjones.com

This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

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March 28, 2025 08:51 ET (12:51 GMT)

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