REAL IDs are required for domestic air travel after May 7, though the Department of Homeland Security is making a temporary exemption amid pressures on states.
WASHINGTON—As of May 7, the REAL ID Act of 2005 will come into full effect. Everyone in the United States will require new forms of government-issued photo identification to board a domestic flight or enter a federal facility, and many Americans will need to change their IDs to comply.
Below, we list five key details about the REAL ID program.
1. May 7 Deadline Remains, but Non-REAL ID Holders May Still Fly
Ordinarily, under the REAL ID Act, anyone seeking to board a domestic flight must present a REAL ID or a compliant document at airports. The deadline when that would come into effect is May 7, 2025.