In less than a month, you need a REAL ID for all flights in the U.S. State and federal officials are encouraging people to apply as soon as possible.
All states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories are REAL ID compliant and issuing REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and IDs. However, Jessia Maylee from the TSA says not everyone needs to get a REAL ID.
"So, if you are a person who does not fly a lot, if you're a person who says, 'hey, I don't mind using my passport to fly', that's fine," explains Maylee. "That will work for you, May 7th and beyond. And there are people who, you know, have different circumstances. So we definitely appreciate that and just have something that's gonna work for you at the checkpoint based on your personal circumstances."
TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. The companion will need acceptable identification however.
Records show as of January, 2025, approximately 56% of driver's licenses and IDs in circulation across the country are REAL ID-compliant. It's less in Minnesota where about 41% have already received their REAL ID.
That also means demand is increasing ahead of the May 7th deadline. Also increasing is the turn-around time between applying and receiving a REAL ID.
You can start the application process online, or go to any licensing center.
In Minnesota, you can even use the Driver and Vehicle Services REAL ID kiosk inside MSP Airport's Terminal One parking facility.
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"Fair warning though, it's the application and so you won't walk away with the REAL ID," says Pong Xiong who is with Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services. "But we do offer the service right here at this airport and we're very proud to partner with the Airport Commission on that."
REAL ID looks like a regular drivers license, only with a gold star in the upper right hand corner.
If you're wondering if you can use REAL ID to cross the border into Canada or Mexico, or use it for a cruise ship vacation, the answer is no. You'll still need a passport - or in some states an enhanced ID - for that.
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