Beginning on May 7, 2025, the federal government will require your driver license, permit or ID card to be REAL ID compliant if you wish to use it as identification to board a domestic flight (within the U.S.), or enter military bases and certain federal facilities.
Enhanced driver license, permit, or non-driver ID [2] and valid U.S. Passport are already REAL ID compliant and can be used to board a flight.
Please visit www.dhs.gov [3] for more REAL ID information.
Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses, permits and ID cards. The Act also prohibits federal agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), from accepting cards for official purposes from states that do not meet these standards.
You can get a REAL ID at any time, but you will need to go to a DMV Office. You cannot get a REAL ID online, by phone, or through mail.
The application process also requires the DMV to take a new photo.
Complete this guide to find out exactly what proof documents are needed before going to an office.
There is no additional cost to get a REAL ID. All normal transaction fees still apply.
If you want to apply for an Enhanced Driver License [2] or Enhanced ID Card [7], there is an additional $30 fee.
Learn more about Enhanced, REAL ID and Standard documents [8].
A REAL ID is optional and is not needed for the following:
If you decide you do not want a REAL ID or Enhanced document, please be advised that any license, permit or ID card issued after October 30, 2017 will be marked “Not for Federal Purposes”.
If you have a U.S. Passport, it can be used for identification, boarding a plane for domestic and international flights, and entry into a federal building or military base.
TSA does not currently require children under 18 years old to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States. The companion will need acceptable identification. Please visit www.tsa.gov [9] for more information.
Links
[1] https://dmv.ny.gov/print/878241
[2] https://dmv.ny.gov/node/2033
[3] https://www.dhs.gov/
[4] https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/
[5] https://dmv.ny.gov/offices/county-offices
[6] https://process.dmv.ny.gov/documentguide/?s=lic
[7] https://dmv.ny.gov/node/2123
[8] https://dmv.ny.gov/which-id-right-me
[9] https://www.tsa.gov/