TRAVEL NEWS
As Americans scramble to their local DMV to secure their REAL ID before the deadline, some may be wondering what other forms of personal identification will be accepted at airports.
On May 7, every air traveler over the age of 18 will need to have compliant identification to pass through U.S. airport security checkpoints. Without one, their domestic travel plans may be delayed.
The requirement stems from the 2005 REAL ID Act, which established “minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards,” according to the Department of Homeland Security.
While this includes REAL IDs – or state-issued driver’s licenses or identification cards with a star marking at the top – there are also other acceptable forms of ID that Americans who haven’t updated their licenses yet can present at the airport.
Here’s what travelers should know.
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REAL ID vs Enhanced ID
Some Americans may already have an Enhanced ID, which is a “state-issued enhanced drivers licenses that provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship when crossing the U.S. border in a vehicle,” according to DHS. They’re currently issued by five states: Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Vermont and Washington as a convenient way to enter Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.
While not all Enhanced IDs have the star marking, they are considered a compliant form of identification, so they can be used as an alternative to a REAL ID at airports. They’re distinguished by an image of the U.S. flag and the word “enhanced” at the top.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, these are the acceptable forms of REAL ID:
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
- 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
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
Can I still travel with a passport?
Yes. A passport book or card is a valid alternative to a REAL ID for domestic travel, according to the TSA website. And if you’re traveling internationally, passports are still necessary.
