Real ID deadline approaching. Here’s what documents you need to get one
Monday is the last PennDOT Real ID Day before enforcement takes place, which could interrupt you travel plans.
Updated: 8:29 AM EDT May 5, 2025
FROM THE ENFORCEMENT OF REAL ID, AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE ONE BY THEN, YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL. SO THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY AND NEWS EIGHT’S JAKE REYES IS JOINING US LIVE AT PENNDOT DRIVER’S LICENSE CENTER IN EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP IN LANCASTER COUNTY, WITH WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO TRY TO AVOID ANY ISSUES AT THE AIRPORT. JAKE, MATT AND CAITLIN, GOOD MORNING. YOU CAN CERTAINLY RUN INTO MANY ISSUES. AND TODAY SOME PENNDOT DRIVER’S LICENSE CENTERS ARE OPEN JUST FOR REAL. ID LIKE THE ONE BEHIND ME AT THIS LOCATION. YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET THE CARD THE SAME DAY, UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WHERE THEY WILL MAIL YOU THE REAL ID, BUT THIS IS THE LAST ID DAY BEFORE THE DEADLINE. SO WHAT IS A REAL ID? WELL, IT’S A STATE ISSUED DRIVER’S LICENSE OR CARD THAT MEETS SPECIFIC FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR IDENTIFICATION. NOW, IF YOU SEE A GOLD STAR ON THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF YOUR ID, THEN YOU ARE GOOD TO GO. BUT IF NOT, YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO BOARD A PLANE OR ENTER FEDERAL BUILDINGS WITHOUT ONE. IF YOU WANT TO FLY, YOU DON’T HAVE A REAL ID, YOU’LL NEED A PASSPORT OR MILITARY ID, BUT IF NOT, YOU COULD BE TURNED AWAY FROM YOUR FLIGHT. HARRISBURG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS GEARING UP FOR A BUSY SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON, BUT AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY REAL ID ENFORCEMENTS ARE A DIFFERENT FACTOR THIS YEAR, AND THEY COULD SEE ISSUES FOR FIRST TIME FLIERS. THERE’S A SEGMENT OF THE TRAVEL POPULATION THAT DOESN’T THINK THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL, SO I DON’T NEED A REAL ID OR A PASSPORT, BUT YET THEY DON’T REALIZE IT. AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, AFTER MAY 7TH, I NEED TO GO SOMEWHERE. AND FLYING IS NOT AN OPTION. SO WE DON’T KNOW IS THAT 2% OF THE PEOPLE? IS THAT 20% OF THE PEOPLE WE DON’T KNOW? THAT’S THE BIG VARIABLE. STARTING ON WEDNESDAY. TO GET A REAL ID, YOU’LL NEED ONE DOCUMENT PROVING YOUR IDENTITY LIKE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE, ONE DOCUMENT PROVING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER LIKE A W-2 FORM, AND TWO DOCUMENTS PROVING PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENCY LIKE UTILITY BILL OR A DRIVER’S LICENSE. IF YOU DON’T NEED TO TRAVEL SOON, IT MIGHT BE WORTH WAITING UNTIL THE SUMMER TO GET A REAL ID WHEN LINES ARE NOT AS BUSY. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT YOU DON’T NEED A REAL ID TO ENTER THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN HARRISBURG, SINCE COURT PROCEEDINGS ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED. BUT IF YOU’RE GOING TO GO OUT AND GET A REAL ID TODAY, SOME PENNDOT LOCATIONS JUST REMEMBER THAT THEY DO OPEN AT 830 THIS MORNING. AND YOU CAN CHECK PENNDOT WEBSITE TO FIND THE CLOSEST ONE NEAR YOU. REPORTING LIVE IN EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP. JAKE REYES, WGAL NEWS EIGHT. WE’LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THEY’LL BE
Real ID deadline approaching. Here’s what documents you need to get one
Monday is the last PennDOT Real ID Day before enforcement takes place, which could interrupt you travel plans.
Updated: 8:29 AM EDT May 5, 2025
The deadline for when Real ID will be enforced is Wednesday, May 7. If you don’t have a Real ID and are traveling soon, you may run into issues at the airport.PennDOT is hosting its last Real ID day before the deadline on Monday. This means some PennDOT Driver’s License Centers will be open just for Real ID on Monday.A Real ID is a state-issued driver’s license or card that meets specific federal standards for identification.If you have a gold star on the top right corner of your ID, then you are good to go. If not, you won’t be able to board a plane or enter federal buildings unless you have a passport or military ID. Harrisburg International Airport is gearing up for a busy summer travel season, but airport officials say Real ID enforcement is a different factor this year, and they could see issues for infrequent flyers.”We don’t know if that is 2% of the people coming in, or is that 20% of the people? That’s the big variable starting on Wednesday,” Scott Miller, spokesperson of HIA, said. “We don’t expect mass chaos, but we know there are going to be people who are not prepared.”To get a Real ID, you will need:One document proving your identity, like a birth certificateOne document proving your Social Security number, like a W-2 formTwo documents proving Pennsylvania residency, like a utility bill and a driver’s licenseIf you don’t need to travel soon, it might be worth waiting until the summer to get a Real ID when lines are not as busy.If you are flying soon, Miller said you should arrive at your flight an extra 30 minutes earlier because of the unknown impacts of Real ID enforcement at TSA lines.You do not need a Real ID to enter the federal courthouse in Harrisburg, since court proceedings are protected by the Constitution.PennDOT locations participating in Real ID days are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.You can find one near you on PennDOT’s website.
EAST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP, Pa. —The deadline for when Real ID will be enforced is Wednesday, May 7. If you don’t have a Real ID and are traveling soon, you may run into issues at the airport.
PennDOT is hosting its last Real ID day before the deadline on Monday. This means some PennDOT Driver’s License Centers will be open just for Real ID on Monday.
A Real ID is a state-issued driver’s license or card that meets specific federal standards for identification.
If you have a gold star on the top right corner of your ID, then you are good to go. If not, you won’t be able to board a plane or enter federal buildings unless you have a passport or military ID.
Harrisburg International Airport is gearing up for a busy summer travel season, but airport officials say Real ID enforcement is a different factor this year, and they could see issues for infrequent flyers.
“We don’t know if that is 2% of the people coming in, or is that 20% of the people? That’s the big variable starting on Wednesday,” Scott Miller, spokesperson of HIA, said. “We don’t expect mass chaos, but we know there are going to be people who are not prepared.”
To get a Real ID, you will need:
- One document proving your identity, like a birth certificate
- One document proving your Social Security number, like a W-2 form
- Two documents proving Pennsylvania residency, like a utility bill and a driver’s license
If you don’t need to travel soon, it might be worth waiting until the summer to get a Real ID when lines are not as busy.
If you are flying soon, Miller said you should arrive at your flight an extra 30 minutes earlier because of the unknown impacts of Real ID enforcement at TSA lines.
You do not need a Real ID to enter the federal courthouse in Harrisburg, since court proceedings are protected by the Constitution.
PennDOT locations participating in Real ID days are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
You can find one near you on PennDOT’s website.
