After years of postponements, the deadline to get a Real ID in Wisconsin has come and gone.
If you still haven’t gotten yours, you’ll need another approved form of ID to fly domestically, or you may have to complete additional security screenings at the airport. Regular driver’s licenses are no longer valid forms of ID to fly domestically or visit federal buildings following the May 7, 2025 Real ID deadline.
Here’s what to expect and how to prepare if you’re flying without a Real ID.
Can you fly domestically without a Real ID?
If you don’t have a Real ID, you can still fly domestically and visit certain federal facilities if you have another form of ID approved by the Transportation Security Administration.
If you don’t have another TSA-approved form of ID, you may be asked to complete “an identity verification process” at the airport, according to the TSA. TSA officers will collect information including your name and current address, and if they can confirm your identity, you will be allowed to enter the security checkpoint. There, you may face additional screening.
If you do not cooperate with the verification process or if officers cannot verify your identity, then you will not be allowed into the security checkpoint.
What are TSA-approved alternative IDs to the Real ID?
Other TSA-approved alternatives include:
Do children need a Real ID to fly?
The TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling domestically.
What is a Real ID?
A Real ID is a more secure version of your driver’s license, marked by a star in the upper right corner for a Wisconsin ID.
The switch is part of the Real ID act, passed by Congress in 2005, which required the federal government to create standards for identification, such as driver’s licenses, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Under the law, ID cards have to meet certain standards for purposes like flying domestically or visiting federal buildings and military bases.
How to get a Real ID in Wisconsin
To obtain a Real ID in Wisconsin, you’ll need to go to your local DMV. You can visit the DMV’s website at dlguides.wi.gov to start filling the necessary forms.
The price to get a Real ID in Wisconsin is the same as getting or renewing a regular driver’s license — $34. A regular photo ID costs $28.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Planning to fly without a Real ID in Wisconsin? Here’s what to bring to the airport
Reporting by Maia Pandey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
