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

Likelihood is you’ve heard concerning the Actual ID — possibly you have already got one. The gist is that beginning Could 7, 2025, each U.S. citizen who is eighteen years and older will want a Actual ID or accredited different 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 steered 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 companies from accepting non-compliant driver’s licenses and identification playing cards for issues like air journey and getting into federal services.  

For that reason, when you’ve gotten a brand new driver’s license or identification card since 2005, likelihood is 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.

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 prime portion of the cardboard (or, in California’s case, a bear with a star lower out). You possibly can 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 an alternative of a Actual ID

In the event you don’t have a Actual ID, you should utilize 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 identification 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 may need a state-issued Enhanced Driver’s License. These “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses” and identification playing cards are a suitable different 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 prime of the cardboard. Most Enhanced Driver’s Licenses and identification playing cards do not need the Actual ID star marking within the prime proper nook.

Get a Actual ID

Whereas we’ve established that you could nonetheless journey domestically together with your passport, passport card, or Enhanced Driver’s License, likelihood is you’ll ultimately need a Actual ID. To get one, you’ll want to go to the DMV and supply the next info, at a minimal:

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

It’s price noting that some states could have extra necessities, so verify your state’s driver’s licensing company web site earlier than visiting in individual.