REAL ID

What REAL ID is, where it is required and how to get one in your state.

Guides

• REAL ID explained: what changed and which ID you need to fly
  What REAL ID is, where it is enforced since May 7, 2025, which other IDs TSA accepts at the checkpoint, and how to tell whether your license is compliant.
  All states · checked Oct 29, 2026
• REAL ID in California: online application, documents and your DMV visit
  How to get a REAL ID driver's license or ID card from the California DMV, from deciding whether you need one to the online application, the documents to bring and the office visit.
  California · checked Oct 29, 2026
• REAL ID in New York: REAL ID vs Enhanced vs Standard, documents and how to apply
  New York issues three kinds of license and non-driver ID. This guide compares REAL ID, Enhanced and Standard, lists the proofs the NY DMV asks for, and explains how to apply.
  New York · checked Oct 29, 2026
• REAL ID in Pennsylvania: pre-verification, documents and where to get it
  How to get a REAL ID in Pennsylvania, from checking whether PennDOT already has your documents on file to choosing between a REAL ID Center, a Driver License Center or ordering online.
  Pennsylvania · checked Oct 29, 2026
• REAL ID in Virginia: documents, cost and booking a DMV visit
  How to get a REAL ID-compliant Virginia driver's license or ID card: whether you need one, which original documents to bring, what it costs, and how to book or walk in at a DMV customer service center.
  Virginia · checked Oct 29, 2026

Questions

• Can I use a REAL ID to cross the border into Canada or Mexico?
• Can I use my passport instead of a REAL ID to fly within the US?
• Do children need a REAL ID or other ID to fly within the US?
• Does TSA accept an expired or temporary driver's license?
• Do I need a REAL ID to drive, vote, or enter a federal building?
• How can I tell if my driver's license is REAL ID compliant?
• What happens at the airport if I don't have a REAL ID or other accepted ID?