It depends on the state you live in. Click on this map found on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) website to see whether the state that you live in is either…
- In compliance with the act so therefore residents may use their REAL ID licenses issued by their state to fly
- Granted an extension by DHS and therefore residents may use their current license to fly through October 11, 2018
- Under review-and if they are not granted an extension by January 22, 2018, then beginning on January 23, residents of these states will not be able to use their current drivers license as ID on a flight. Instead, they will need to show an alternative form of acceptable identification for domestic air travel, like a passport. Currently three states are under review-Louisiana, Michigan and my home state, New York.
I will post about what happens with the 3 states under review when I know. UPDATE-the states under review got an extension!
Regardless of all of the extensions, starting October 1, 2020, every air traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant license, or another acceptable form of identification, for domestic air travel
If you don’t know what the REAL ID Act is, I swiped this good explanation off the DHS site…
The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for certain purposes driver’s licenses and identification cards from states not meeting the Act’s minimum standards.
