The May 7 Real ID deadline is just 31 days away. You’ll still likely be able to fly without a Real ID — for now — but you will suffer some pain, including airport security checkpoint delays.
The Real ID deadline is thirty-one days away. The deadline will not be delayed again. If you’re a U.S. national arriving at a U.S. airport to fly domestically on or after May 7, without a Real ID, it’s possible that you may not be able to fly. Real ID compliant identification for domestic flights includes: state issued Real ID compliant driver’s and non-driver’s licenses, U.S. Passports, U.S. Passport Cards, Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler membership cards, U.S. Department of Defense IDs, permanent resident cards, and a few others.
According to TSA (Transportation Security Administration), at least for the time being, if you don’t have a Real ID compliant ID, if a TSA TSO (Transportation Security Officer) can successfully collect your identity information (for now bring your non-Real ID drivers license, as that will help their process) and you are willing to answer a series of questions about your identity, assuming that the TSO can verify your identity within the TSA traveler identification system at their airport security checkpoint, it’s likely that you may be permitted to continue through the TSA security checkpoint. TSA has said that you may be subject to additional screening, such as hand checking your carry-on luggage.
If you don’t have a Real ID at TSA security and you don’t fully cooperate with TSA and answer their questions fully, you won’t be able to fly domestically as of May 7. Eventually, even a willingness to answer questions and provide ID information won’t suffice.
At this time, we don’t know how long TSA will abide by that procedure and permit those without Real IDs to fly. We do know that in two years, on May 5, 2027, the final “hard” deadline will prevent anyone from flying domestically in the U.S. without a Real ID thereafter.
If you don’t have a Real ID as of May 7, this year, if you don’t fully cooperate with TSOs’ questioning and if you don’t fully disclose complete answers to their questions, you won’t be permitted to fly. Moreover, if a TSO can’t confirm your identity within their system, you won’t be permitted to fly.
TSA is going to use a Real ID phase-in approach for now, allowing air travelers to fly without a Real ID after extra scrutiny and delay. The phase-in won’t last forever.
In their September 12, 2024 report, TSA announced that they will use a phase-in approach for Real ID enforcement, because as of January, 2024, only 56 percent of the nation’s state issued driver’s licenses and other state issued IDs were Real ID compliant. TSA doesn’t want large numbers of Americans to be unable to fly as of the upcoming May 7 deadline. So, they’re going to be flexible — for a while.
TSA has clearly stated while they will be flexible about permitting U.S. nationals to fly domestically without a Real ID, they’re going to add some pain and delay at TSA airport checkpoints to those without them as an inducement to obtain one.
“After May 7, 2025, when agencies begin full enforcement or implement a phased enforcement plan, as appropriate, the public will be further incentivized to obtain a REAL ID as they anticipate consequences for presenting a non-compliant DL/ID.”
That’s why starting on May 7, TSA
“recommends individuals without acceptable identification [Real IDs] arrive at least three hours in advance of their flight time.”
In my opinion, the lack of compliance with the Real ID law has been DHS’ fault. They “cried wolf” so many times by delaying implementation of the Real ID law that the air traveling public stopped believing that the law would ever be enforced. DHS now believes that the phase-in approach will awaken the public, forcing them to realize that there will be no more deadline extensions and that on May 5, 2027 and beyond, if they don’t have a Real ID, they supposedly will absolutely, positively not be able to fly, no matter what they say or do.
TSA security checkpoint delays could be substantial on May 7 for a while going forward, according to how many air travelers without Real IDs want to continue flying.
On May 7, 2025, I expect delays at TSA airport checkpoints for everyone and for at least a while thereafter, with extra delays for those air travelers without Real IDs.
While TSA may not start issuing warning notices to air travelers who don’t have Real IDs, based on their September 12, 2024 report, I expect that they soon will. Moreover, once TSA begins issuing warnings based on their proposals, it appears as though they will track the warnings. TSA will use the tracking system to take more severe action. It may conduct lengthy interviews at the airport with air travelers to discuss their lack of compliance with the Real ID law. This will cause further delays for those without them.
To obtain a Real ID, Americans will have to prove their identity and lawful status. For some Americans, that may not be easy.
To obtain a Real ID, Americans must prove their identity and lawful status. Documents that prove that include: a U.S. birth certificate with a raised seal, issued by an authorized governmental agency (not a hospital or midwife). A valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card, a Certificate of Naturalization WORKS. A valid unexpired permanent resident card (Green Card). also works>
Some Americans might have difficulty obtaining a U.S. birth certificate from the state or territory where they were born. At this time, it’s taking as long as six months to get a birth certificate from some states and territories. Some citizens born in the U.S. never had their birth registered with a state government. Providing enough proof to prove one’s U.S. birth can take years. If you don’t already have a document to prove your identity and lawful status, obtaining it is long overdue if you want to fly domestically in the U.S.
You’ll need an original Social Security card to obtain a Real ID. If you don’t have one, due to recent layoffs at the Social Security Administration, getting a duplicate could take time.
You’ll also need to provide an original Social Security card with your Real ID application. A photocopy won’t be accepted. If you can’t find yours, apply for a duplicate. If you have an online Social Security Administration account, getting a duplicate card will likely take just two weeks. It could take much longer with so many recent Social Security Administration layoffs.
You’ll also need two proofs of residency, but this is generally easy. Tax forms, your current driver’s license, vehicle registration card, or a computer-generated utility bill are all acceptable proofs of residency.
Unless you’re absolutely sure you’ll never fly domestically you need a Real ID. If you have a U.S. Passport, using it for domestic travel isn’t advisable as if it’s lost, damaged or stolen, it’s expensive and time consuming to replace it compared to a Real ID driver’s license.
Many people ask me if they really need to have Real ID-compliant identification. I tell them that unless they can absolutely say that they will never fly domestically, then they need REAL ID identification. Others who have a passport ask me why I bother about a Real ID driver’s license since a passport is a Real ID identification. My answer is simply that if your passport is lost, stolen, or damaged, you’re out of luck. It’s time-consuming and expensive to get a replacement. Compared to replacing a state-issued Real ID identification, it takes much longer.
Yes, my wife and I have a Real ID driver’s license. When flying domestically, we leave our passports at home.
Start the process immediately if you still need to obtain REAL ID-compliant identification. Could you find the documents you need? It can take significant time to amass all your documents. Don’t be foolish and wait any longer. Get it as soon as you can. In just two years, you definitely won’t be able to fly without one.
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After many years working in corporate America as a chemical engineer, executive and eventually CFO of a multinational manufacturer, Ned founded a tech consulting company and later restarted NSL Photography, his photography business. Before entering the corporate world, Ned worked as a Public Health Engineer for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. As a well known corporate, travel and wildlife photographer, Ned travels the world writing about travel and photography, as well as running photography workshops, seminars and photowalks. Visit Ned’s Photography Blog and Galleries.
