What Happens If You Don’t Have Real ID by May 7?

The final countdown has begun for an important change that will affect every U.S. air traveler. 

In less than two days, the TSA will require a Real ID to get through airport security or to visit federal buildings. This means that travelers who want to use a driver’s license or state identification card to board a domestic flight will need to use one that has been successfully upgraded to comply with the new identification requirement. 

If a traveler shows up at the airport without a Real ID compliant identification card, they may be unable to fly unless they have a United States passport, or other approved identification cards such as a Global Entry Card or Military ID. 

When acquiring a Real ID driver's license, applicants are asked to bring additional identification documentation such as a birth certificate, valid U.S. passport, or other citizenship eligibility. The Real ID licenses also have additional security features that make it more difficult to create fake copies. “These IDs help keep our country safe, because they prevent fraud and they enhance security,” United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a social media video. 

With the looming deadline, many state license bureaus are at maximum capacity and unable to accept additional appointments to get a Real ID driver's license. For those in need of a last-minute appointment, it may be helpful for travelers in other communities to search outside of their neighborhood or metropolitan area to select a nearby community for an appointment. (Those in the New York City area, for instance, could drive to the Albany District Office in Albany, New York, where there are available appointments as early as May 20, and throughout June 2025.)

“We are actively encouraging passengers who do not have either a state-issued REAL ID or another acceptable form of ID to give themselves plenty of time for additional screening at TSA checkpoints,” a TSA spokesperson shared in a statement to Travel + Leisure. “Those over 18 years old without a REAL ID-compliant credential may face delays and, in very rare instances, when a passenger’s identity cannot be verified, they may be denied entry into the secure area of the airport.”

With the upcoming change, T+L also has answers to popular questions about the Real ID process: 

Do you need a Real ID to fly within the United States?

Yes, if a traveler wants to get through a TSA Security checkpoint on or after May 7, 2025, their ID card must be upgraded with the Real ID status. 

What if I have a flight and I don’t have a Real ID?

The traveler can use a United States passport, U.S. passport card, Global Entry card, or foreign-issued passport instead of a Real ID, even for domestic flights. (There are a total of 18 types of federally issued identification that are considered Real ID-compliant. See the full list of accepted IDs on the TSA website.)

For travelers who don't have any Real ID-compliant forms of identification, the TSA also says officers may provide alternate on-site identity verification, however it is not confirmed that this will be available to all passengers.

“The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identity,” the TSA shares on its website. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening.”

The TSA shares that passengers will not be permitted to enter the checkpoint without identification or if the identity isn't confirmed through that process.

If they do not have a passport, cannot obtain a Real ID driver's license, or complete any on-site identity verification with the TSA, they will need to cancel their flight until they have the proper identification. 

How do I know if I have a Real ID? 

Each state has a different marking on the driver’s license or identification card for Real ID, so check with the issuing organization to see what the correct marking is. Most Real ID licenses have one of the following symbols in the upper right corner: a black star, a gold star, a star cutout in a gold circle, a star cutout in a black circle, or a star cutout in a gold bear.

If a traveler has a valid passport, they can use that instead of a Real ID driver's license, even on domestic flights.