As of May 7, 2025, TSA will begin enforcement of its REAL ID policy and will no longer accept state-issued IDs that are not REAL ID compliant at TSA security checkpoints. All adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel.
A driver’s license or state issued identification is REAL ID compliant if it has a star in the upper right-hand corner.
If you do not have a REAL ID, you may travel with an alternative form of identification, such as:
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
*TSA currently accepts expired ID up to two years after expiration, for the above listed forms of identification.
What documents are required to get a REAL ID?
Specific document requirements vary from state to state, but most states require:
- Proof of identity: a US birth certificate, US passport or Permanent Resident Card (Green Card);
- Proof of a Social Security Number: Social Security Card, Form W-2, a paystub or paycheck; and
- Proof of Residency: deed, mortgage statement, lease agreement, utility bill, or bank statement.
What happens if I don’t have an acceptable ID?
The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening.
You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if you choose not to provide acceptable identification, you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process, or your identity cannot be confirmed.
Please note that children under 18 are not required to provide identification when traveling within the US. You should contact your airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18.
