REAL ID still required

For domestic flights in the United States, travelers 18 and older still need a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted document at airport security. (tsa.gov) The Transportation Security Administration began full REAL ID enforcement on May 7, 2025, after years of delays tied to state licensing backlogs and earlier deadline extensions. (dhs.gov) (tsa.gov) At checkpoints, the agency no longer accepts state-issued licenses or identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant as standard identification for air travel. The rule applies to all airline passengers 18 and older, including Transportation Security Administration PreCheck members. (tsa.gov) A REAL ID is a state-issued license or identification card that meets federal security standards set by the REAL ID Act of 2005. The Department of Homeland Security says it is also required for access to certain federal facilities. (dhs.gov) A passport book remains valid for domestic flights, and the Transportation Security Administration also lists the United States passport card among acceptable IDs at checkpoints. (tsa.gov) Travelers can usually spot a compliant card by the marking in the upper portion of the license, often a star, but the Transportation Security Administration tells passengers to check with their state motor vehicle agency because designs vary. (tsa.gov) If a traveler shows up without an acceptable ID, the process changed again on February 1, 2026. The Transportation Security Administration says those passengers can pay a $45 fee for TSA ConfirmID, an identity-verification process that can allow them to proceed to screening after additional checks. (tsa.gov 1) (tsa.gov 2) The bottom line at the checkpoint has not changed since May 7, 2025: bring a REAL ID-compliant state card, a passport book, a passport card, or another Transportation Security Administration-approved ID before heading to the airport. (tsa.gov)