How to get a REAL ID

REAL ID is a federal standard for how states verify identity before issuing a driver's licence or state ID card. It does not create a national identity card, and it does not change what your licence permits you to do. Your state still issues the card, still sets the fee, and still runs the process.

What changed is what federal agencies will accept. A card issued to the REAL ID standard is accepted as identification by federal agencies. One issued to the old standard is not.

It is required for three things: boarding a domestic commercial flight, entering a federal facility that requires identification, and entering a military installation or nuclear power plant. That is the complete list.

It is not required to drive, to vote, to receive federal benefits, to apply for or receive Social Security, to access hospitals or emergency services, or to participate in law enforcement proceedings. Campaigns implying otherwise have been persistent enough that the Department of Homeland Security addresses them directly in its own guidance.

Non-compliant cards are still issued in most states and are still perfectly legal. Many states now print 'FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY' or 'NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION' on them so the distinction is visible at a glance.

Look at the upper portion of your licence, usually the top right corner. A REAL ID-compliant card carries a star. It is commonly a gold or black star inside a circle, though several states use a state symbol instead — California uses a bear with a star cut into it, and a few others have their own variations.

If there is a star, you are done. Nothing further is required and you do not need to renew early.

If instead the card says 'FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY', 'NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES' or 'NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION', it is not compliant.

If there is no star and no marking either way — common on older cards — assume it is not compliant and check with your state motor vehicle agency. Enhanced Driver's Licences, issued by a handful of border states including Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington, are federally accepted even though they carry a different marking.

Proof of identity and lawful status. One original or certified document: a certified US birth certificate, a valid US passport or passport card, a Permanent Resident Card, a Certificate of Naturalisation, or an employment authorisation document. Hospital-issued birth certificates are not accepted — it must be the certified copy from the vital records office of the state where you were born.

Proof of your Social Security number. Your Social Security card, or a W-2, a 1099, or a pay stub showing the full number. The card does not need to be signed and a laminated card is usually fine, but a photocopy is not.

Two proofs of residency in the state. A utility bill, a lease or mortgage statement, a bank statement, a vehicle registration, or an official government letter. Most states require these to be recent — often within 60 or 90 days — and they must show your name and current street address. A PO box will not do.

Proof of any name change, if your current name differs from the name on your identity document. A marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order, and you need the complete chain. If you married twice, you need both certificates. This is the single most common reason people are turned away.

Requirements vary between states, and a handful demand more than the federal minimum. Check your own state's list before you go rather than relying on a general one, including this one.

Book online, and book early. Appointment availability at motor vehicle agencies has been the practical bottleneck since enforcement began — in busy states waits of several weeks are routine and, ahead of summer travel, longer.

Many states now let you upload documents in advance for pre-verification. Where this is offered, use it: it converts a potential second trip into a single visit, because staff have already confirmed your paperwork is acceptable.

Bring originals or certified copies. Photocopies, phone photographs and scans are refused at the counter. This is a legal verification requirement, not a formality staff can waive.

Expect to pay the standard licence or renewal fee. Most states charge nothing extra for REAL ID compliance itself, though a few do, and fees vary widely by state.

You will usually leave with a temporary paper document and receive the card by post within one to three weeks. The paper interim document is generally not accepted at a TSA checkpoint, so do not book a flight for the following week and assume it will cover you.

You have alternatives, and they are the reason a REAL ID is not strictly compulsory for travel. A valid US passport or passport card is accepted, as is a DHS Trusted Traveler card — Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI — a US military ID, a permanent resident card, or a foreign government-issued passport. The full list TSA accepts is longer than most people assume.

If you arrive at a checkpoint with none of these, you are not automatically turned away. TSA operates an identity verification process, ConfirmID, for travellers aged 18 and over who cannot present acceptable identification. It carries a $45 fee and the verification is valid for ten days.

Expect it to cost you time as well as money. Identity verification at the checkpoint is slower than a normal screening, and TSA advises arriving substantially earlier than usual.

Children under 18 are not required to show identification for domestic flights when travelling with a companion, so a family does not need cards for the children.

For international travel none of this is relevant — you need a passport regardless, and a REAL ID does not substitute for one.

You cannot find your birth certificate. Order a certified copy from the vital records office of the state where you were born, not the state where you live. Allow several weeks, and longer if you order by post rather than through an approved online service.

Your Social Security card is lost. You do not necessarily need it — a W-2, 1099 or pay stub showing the full number is generally accepted. If you do need a replacement, it is free and many people can now apply online.

You have no bills in your own name, common for people living with family or in shared housing. Most states accept a signed affidavit of residency from the person you live with, accompanied by their proof of address. Ask your state agency what form they require before you go.

You are not a US citizen. Lawful permanent residents and many temporary visa holders can obtain a REAL ID, using immigration documents as proof of lawful status. For temporary status the card is typically issued to expire alongside your authorised stay.

Your name chain has a gap. Certified copies of marriage certificates come from the vital records office of the state where the marriage was registered; divorce decrees come from the court that issued them. Start this early — it is the slowest document to obtain.

You genuinely cannot get there in time. Use a passport or passport card for the flight and deal with the licence afterwards. A passport card is considerably cheaper than a passport book and is valid for domestic air travel and land border crossings, though not for international flights.