REAL ID Starts May 7: What It Is, How Much It Costs, and How to Get One to Travel in the U.S?

REAL ID US: Starting Wednesday, May 7, 2025, people in the United States will need a new kind of ID to fly inside the country. This is the day when the REAL ID law finally goes into action after being delayed many times before. From that day, anyone who wants to board a domestic flight in the U.S. will need to show a special kind of driver’s license or state ID that follows the new federal rules. If someone doesn’t have that, they must use a valid passport to travel.

This new rule is part of a law that Congress passed back in 2005. It came after the 9/11 attacks, and the idea was to make the country safer and to stop people from using fake IDs.

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The REAL ID law helps make sure that all driver’s licenses and ID cards meet the same safety standards across every state. One of the people working at the State Department, Laura Hruby, explained that this law is really just about making sure people and communities in the U.S. are protected.

Why REAL ID Matters

REAL ID cards are just like a regular driver’s license or state ID, but they meet stricter rules to prove a person’s identity. People will need this new kind of ID if they want to fly on a commercial airplane within the country.

It’s also needed if someone wants to enter federal buildings that require ID, or even a nuclear plant. If someone still carries the older kind of ID that doesn’t meet these standards, they won’t be able to use it anymore for these things after May 7.

But don’t worry if you don’t get your REAL ID in time. You can still use your passport. A passport will continue to be accepted both for flying and for getting into government buildings. You can use either a passport book or a passport card. These are still okay to use even after the new rule begins.

How to get the REAL ID?

To obtain a compliant ID, you must go to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with the following documentation:

• Proof of identity (such as birth certificate or passport)
• Social Security Documentation
• Two proofs of address
• Documentation of legal immigration status in the U.S.

With the looming deadline, DMV offices across the country have reported long lines of applicants seeking to upgrade their driver’s licenses.

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Passport Is Still an Option

If you don’t have a REAL ID by the time the deadline comes, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck. The U.S. State Department says that people can still travel with a valid passport. In fact, they say that right now the wait time to get a passport is not too long.

According to Hruby, regular passport applications usually take four to six weeks. If someone pays extra for faster service, they might get it in just two to three weeks. She also said that a lot of people are actually getting their passports even quicker than that.

To help people even more, there’s now an easier way to renew your passport online. This is only for people who are 25 or older and who had a passport before. If you think you might be able to use this online renewal, you can go to the official website at travel.state.gov to check or get started.