What to Know
- The head of Homeland Security says travelers who aren’t REAL ID compliant by the upcoming deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny.
- Kristi Noem told a Congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements.
- Noem says security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
- She says those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step." But they'll still be allowed to fly.
Travelers who aren’t REAL ID compliant by the May 7, 2025, deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny, the head of Homeland Security said Tuesday.
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WATCH HEREKristi Noem told a Congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday.
Those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,” Noem said.
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SIGN UP “But people will be allowed to fly,” she said. “We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.”
REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005.
The commission recommended the government set security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008 but implementation has been repeatedly delayed.
Transportation and Transit
Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, people will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities.
In recent weeks, Noem has been warning the American public about the upcoming deadline. In a television ad put out by Homeland Security, she warned that these IDs were needed for air travel and for entering public buildings, adding: “These IDs keep our country safe.”
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license has a symbol (in most states, a star) in the top corner of the card.
Have you gotten your REAL ID yet?
— John F. Kennedy Airport (@JFKairport) April 29, 2025
Starting May 7, 2025, all U.S. travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly domestically.
Learn more: https://t.co/4bWXzfKHGn pic.twitter.com/IpFCzsyQju
