TSA says check your ID

A plain driver’s license stopped being enough at many United States airport checkpoints on May 7, 2025, unless that license meets the federal REAL ID standard or you bring another approved document like a passport. The Transportation Security Administration said travelers 18 and older, including TSA PreCheck members, now need a REAL ID-compliant card or another acceptable ID for domestic flights. (tsa.gov) This is not a brand-new law from 2026. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 after the September 11 Commission recommended tougher standards for state-issued identification, and federal agencies spent years delaying enforcement before the airport deadline finally arrived in 2025. (dhs.gov, tsa.gov) The practical check is simple: if your state license or state identification card is not REAL ID compliant, the Transportation Security Administration says it is no longer accepted by itself at airport security. The Department of Homeland Security says the same May 7, 2025 rule also applies to access to certain federal facilities. (tsa.gov, dhs.gov) A passport still works for a domestic flight, and so do several other documents on the Transportation Security Administration’s approved list, including a passport card, an enhanced driver’s license from certain states, a permanent resident card, and some trusted traveler cards. The agency’s own REAL ID tool says a passport can be used instead of a REAL ID license. (tsa.gov, tsa.gov) The easiest visual clue on many compliant state licenses is a star marking near the top of the card, but the Transportation Security Administration tells travelers to check with their state motor vehicle agency because card designs differ by state. A card that looks current can still fail the federal standard if it was issued under older rules. (tsa.gov, dhs.gov) People who show up with a non-compliant state ID and nothing else are not guaranteed to get through. The Transportation Security Administration said those passengers can face delays, extra screening, and the possibility of not being allowed into the checkpoint at all. (tsa.gov, dhs.gov) The backup process also got stricter in 2026. Since February 1, 2026, travelers who cannot present acceptable identification can be referred to TSA ConfirmID, a paid identity verification option that costs $45 before security screening begins. (tsa.gov, tsa.gov) That means the old airport habit of “I’ll sort it out at the checkpoint” now comes with a real price tag and no promise of speed. If you are flying inside the United States in 2026, the safe move is to check your wallet before you leave home and make sure the card you bring is either REAL ID compliant or on the Transportation Security Administration’s acceptable-ID list. (tsa.gov, tsa.gov)