The Real ID Deadline Is Here. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Real ID is now reality. A standard driver’s license or state ID will no longer pass muster at airport security checkpoints. Passengers instead need to present a security-enhanced, star- or flag-emblazoned Real ID or another approved form of identification like a passport.

The change, nearly 20 years in the making, is meant to enhance security by setting a more consistent standard for state-issued documentation, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Here’s are answers to some common questions about Real ID.

What are Real IDs, and why are they required?

A Real ID is a federally compliant state-issued driver’s license, learner’s permit or nondriver ID. Real IDs are marked with a star — generally gold or black — or an American flag, and vary in appearance by state or territory.

Any resident of a U.S. state or territory who wishes to use a driver’s license or nondriver ID at a T.S.A. checkpoint must make sure that it is Real ID-compliant. Driver’s licenses that do not have the star or a flag are not Real IDs. Some noncompliant IDs will also have the words “Federal limits apply.”

The hijackers responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were carrying U.S. driver’s licenses and state IDs. In the aftermath, the government pushed to tighten national standards for state-issued documentation, and in 2005, Congress passed the Real ID Act.

The act sets minimum standards for licenses and other types of identification cards. Enforcement of the Real ID Act was initially set to begin in 2008, but was repeatedly delayed for numerous reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic and opposition from states concerned about privacy, before taking effect on May 7.

Do Real IDs take the place of passports?

No. Regular Real IDs will get you on domestic flights, but they will not let you cross international borders, including those with Canada and Mexico. They can’t be used for international cruises, either. You will still almost always need a passport for such trips.

However, a passport will get you on a plane, whether it’s a domestic or an international flight. About half of Americans have passports, according to the U.S. State Department.

A handful of states — Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Washington and Vermont — offer enhanced driver’s licenses. These licenses, which comply with Real ID requirements to board domestic flights, also allow travelers to cross land and sea borders to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean without a passport.

Enhanced licenses display an American flag instead of a star. The flag’s location on the card varies by state.

Enhanced licenses can’t be used in lieu of a passport if you’re traveling internationally by air, and only U.S. citizens can get them. The cost varies by state.

Are there other IDs you can use at the airport?

The T.S.A. also accepts certain other forms of identification at airport security checkpoints. These include valid passports, passport cards, permanent resident cards (also known as green cards) and cards for trusted traveler programs like Global Entry and NEXUS, which allows prescreened travelers to transit quickly across the United States-Canada border.

Can you still get a Real ID?

Yes. To apply for one, you’ll generally need to provide a Social Security number or proof of ineligibility, corroborate your address through documents like utility bills or bank statements, and verify your identity and lawful status through a handful of additional documents, including a birth certificate or a passport.

Check your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out how to apply and learn more about the specific documentation you’ll need. In many states, including South Carolina and New York, there is no additional cost to receive a Real ID if you’re already renewing your license. But some states charge extra.

Getting a Real ID most likely involves making an in-person appointment, which might take a while as people continue to upgrade. In the run-up to the deadline, there were reports of long lines at licensing offices in states like Pennsylvania and Kentucky. New York extended service hours at select offices and boosted the number of appointments to meet demand.

Do children and teenagers need Real IDs?

The T.S.A. doesn’t require those under 18 to show identification for domestic travel. Individual airlines have their own policies about what types of ID minors are required to carry.

For international travel, children of all ages are required to carry passports.

Can you still fly without a Real ID?

For now, it seems. But be prepared for extra questions.

Travelers without Real ID-compliant documents could face additional screening, which, according to the T.S.A. website, “includes collecting information such as your name and current address.” This process could be time-consuming.

Some traveling without compliant IDs on the first day of enforcement received extra screening and notices warning, “You will need a Real ID or other acceptable form of identification for your flight or you may expect delays.”

Thomas Carter, the T.S.A.’s federal security director for New Jersey, said on May 7 that there was no firm timeline for when the T.S.A. would strictly enforce the Real ID rules, adding that the rollout was in “Phase 1.” The agency, he said, would analyze data to determine how much enhanced screening it is doing for travelers without Real IDs before deciding how to move forward.

Michael Levenson contributed reporting from Newark, N.J.