Deadline for REAL ID Approaches in May: What You Need to Know
The deadline to obtain a REAL ID is rapidly approaching—New Yorkers must add a REAL ID seal to their state-issued ID or driver’s license by May 7, 2025, to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.
Originally set to take effect in 2020, the requirement was postponed until May 2025 due to “backlogged transactions” at Motor Vehicle Division offices across the country, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, USA TODAY reported.
If you haven’t yet obtained your REAL ID, or you’re unsure how to get one, here’s everything you need to know.
What is REAL ID?
The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, established security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. It also prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting IDs from states that don’t meet these standards, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
When does REAL ID go into effect?
By May 7, 2025, travelers over 18 will need a REAL ID to board domestic flights or access specific federal facilities unless they have another TSA-approved form of identification. Other TSA-approved alternatives include:
Do you need a REAL ID if you have a passport?
No, if you have a current U.S. passport or another TSA-approved ID, you don’t need a REAL ID to travel domestically.
Do you need a REAL ID if you have an enhanced license?
No, if you have an Enhanced driver’s license, permit, or non-driver ID, you don’t need a REAL ID. In fact, an Enhanced license can also be used to cross U.S. borders by land or sea into Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean countries.
What happens if you don’t have a REAL ID after May 7, 2025?
Without a REAL ID, passport, Enhanced license, or other TSA-approved identification, you won’t be able to fly domestically or access certain federal facilities.
How to apply for a REAL ID in New York
To apply for a REAL ID in New York, visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). After submitting the required documents, expect to receive your REAL ID by mail within about two weeks.
What documents are needed?
To apply for a REAL ID, you must bring specific documentation, including:
For more details on acceptable documents, visit the New York State DMV website at dmv.ny.gov. Note that documents issued more than one year before your office visit will not be accepted.
How much does REAL ID cost?
The REAL ID doesn’t have an additional cost beyond standard DMV transaction fees.
What does the REAL ID seal look like?
The REAL ID seal appears as a black circle with a white star in the top right corner of your ID. Enhanced licenses have an American flag emblem in the same location.
For more information, including application details and necessary documents, visit the New York State DMV website at dmv.ny.gov.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: REAL ID deadline fast approaching: What happens if you don’t have one?
Reporting by Emily Barnes, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
