Before you read any further, go get your wallet. You need to check your driver’s license. Starting May 7, you will need a Real ID to board any domestic flight. According to a report by MLive, Real ID-compliant identification cards “feature a marking in the upper top portion of the card of a gold or black star, or some symbol with a star in it.”
If your state-issued ID or driver’s license is not Real ID compliant, you will need to show another approved form of identification, such as a passport, to pass through the TSA security checkpoint.
If you do not have a Real ID, the Department of Homeland Security recommends visiting your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required to obtain a REAL ID. At a minimum, you must provide documentation showing: 1) Full Legal Name; 2) Date of Birth; 3) Social Security Number; 4) Two Proofs of Address of Principal Residence; and 5) Lawful Status.
It cautions that states may impose additional requirements, “so check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency website, before visiting them in person, for additional guidance and assistance.”
Do you have a Real ID? Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter) and let us if you are ready for when this form of identification is mandatory when flying.
