Starting on October 1, 2020, US adults will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license has a gold star like in the picture above. Without one, your driver’s license will not be a valid form of ID to fly after October 1, 2020.
This change is due to the Real ID Act of 2005, enacted May 11, 2005, which was an Act of Congress that modified U.S. federal law pertaining to security, authentication, and issuance procedures standards for state driver’s licenses and identity documents, as well as various immigration issues pertaining to terrorism.
If you don’t update your ID, you can also use other forms of identification that are approved by TSA:
- Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
- 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
- DHS-designated enhanced driver’s license
- Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Get more details on the TSA Real ID page.