You're not going to need REAL ID for a while.
The Department of Homeland Security Monday pushed back the deadline for the enhanced identification card two full years to May 7th, 2025.
In a statement, DHS officials say the extension is necessary to address the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the abilities to obtain a REAL ID driver's license or identification card.
In Minnesota, Pong Xiong, director of Driver and Vehicle Services with the Department of Public Safety, said already about 1.5 million eligible Minnesotans have either Real ID driver's licenses or enhanced ID.
“We are starting to see the compliance rate start to slow down a bit, which is an indicator that folks who want to have a Real ID have them now," said Xiong.
Xiong said state workers are standing by to help anyone who has any questions about the process, including which documents they'll need to present to get a new ID or driver's license.
“We have a pre-verification option that allows for Minnesotans to submit images of those documents for someone here at DPS to confirm those documents would indeed make application possible," he said.
Anyone with questions can check out more information at drive.mn.gov.
The plan is also for Homeland Security to implement innovations to make the REAL ID process more efficient and accessible.
The REAL ID act was passed in 2005 following a 9-11 Commission recommendation to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards.