Can I Fly With This?
REAL ID for US domestic flights
Required since 7 May 2025. Here's what counts, what alternatives the TSA accepts, and what to do if you arrive at the airport without one.
😱 At the airport without REAL ID right now?
You may still fly. Get to TSA at least 2–3 hours before departure. Tell the officer you don't have REAL ID — they'll route you to identity verification. You'll need to answer questions and provide other identifying info (utility bills, credit cards, mail with your address, etc.). TSA can refuse; this is at the officer's discretion. Read the steps below.
What a REAL ID looks like
A REAL ID-compliant driver's license has a star marking in the upper portion of the card — usually gold or black, sometimes inside a circle or shaped like your state's outline. If your license has no star and isn't marked Enhanced, it's NOT REAL ID-compliant for flying.
The five Enhanced Driver's Licenses (Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Washington) also count — they're federally equivalent to REAL ID for domestic flights.
Children under 18 are not required to show ID when travelling with an adult.
✅ TSA-accepted alternatives
If you don't have a REAL ID driver's license, any one of these works for US domestic flights:
❌ What does NOT count
Mobile Driver's License (mDL): Apple/Google Wallet driver's licenses are accepted at select TSA PreCheck lanes in a handful of airports (BWI, DEN, PHX, SFO and growing) but only as a supplement. Always carry the physical card too.
🛂 If you forgot your ID — what TSA does
- Arrive 2–3 hours before departure. Identity verification takes time and you may face additional screening.
- Tell the TSA officer at the checkpoint. Don't try to slip through — be upfront. They'll direct you to a supervisor.
- Provide identifying information. You'll be asked your name, date of birth, current address, and other personal details. The officer compares your answers against commercial databases.
- Show secondary ID if you have any. Credit cards with your name, mail showing your address, utility bills, employment ID — anything that helps confirm who you are. A photo of your driver's license on your phone helps even though it's not accepted alone.
- Submit to additional screening. Even if your identity is verified, expect a pat-down and bag check. Don't argue — it speeds things up.
- Be prepared for refusal. If TSA cannot confirm your identity to the officer's satisfaction, you will not be allowed through security. Your airline may rebook you for tomorrow at no fee in some cases — ask.
⚡ Skip the line: Trusted Traveler programs
If you fly more than 2-3 times a year, paying $85-$120 once for a Trusted Traveler program saves you hours per year at security. TSA PreCheck ($85 for 5 years) keeps your shoes/laptop/liquids in your bag at any TSA checkpoint. Global Entry ($120 for 5 years) adds expedited US Customs re-entry from abroad and INCLUDES PreCheck. Clear ($199/year) is a separate biometric ID-verification line that gets you to the X-ray faster (then you still need PreCheck or standard screening). See the PreCheck / Clear / Global Entry decision tool to pick the right one for how you fly.
📋 Getting a REAL ID
Apply through your state DMV. Standard documents required:
- Proof of identity: birth certificate or unexpired passport
- Proof of Social Security Number: SS card, W-2, paystub
- Two proofs of residency: utility bill, mortgage, lease, bank statement
- Proof of name change (marriage certificate, court order) if applicable
Cost varies by state ($15–$80). Most states process in 4–6 weeks. If you have a passport, you don't need REAL ID at all for domestic flying — though a star-marked license is more convenient than carrying a passport for short trips.