REAL ID Clarification! Do You Need a REAL ID?

As of May 7, 2025, state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs that are not REAL ID compliant are no longer accepted as valid forms of identification at airports.

Passengers should either travel with an acceptable alternative form of ID, like a passport, or enroll for a state-issued REAL ID through their state DMV offices.

Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant at TSA checkpoints and who do not have another acceptable alternative form of ID will be notified of their non-compliance, may be directed to a separate area and may receive additional screening. This includes TSA PreCheck passengers.

To accommodate the recent surge in demand, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias introduced a new designated REAL ID portal on the homepage of its website ilsos.gov. It offers easy questions to help determine if you need a REAL ID, and how to find a walk-in location or schedule an appointment.