Can You Fly Without a REAL ID? TSA Identification Options
US airport enforcement began May 7, 2025, but travelers can use another TSA-accepted identification document such as a passport instead of a REAL ID license.
Timeline
- May 7, 2025: TSA began enforcing REAL ID requirements at airport security checkpoints.
- For domestic flights: Travelers age 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted identification document.
- Alternative documents: A US passport and several other TSA-listed documents can be used instead of a REAL ID license.
A traveler can fly within the United States without a REAL ID driver license if they present another form of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration. A US passport is the most familiar alternative. The REAL ID rule is therefore an identification standard, not a requirement that every passenger obtain one specific card. [1][2]
Enforcement began May 7, 2025. It applies at TSA airport security checkpoints to passengers who are 18 or older and use a state-issued driver license or identification card. Children under 18 generally are not required to provide identification when travelling with an adult within the United States, though airlines can have their own rules. [1][2]
A REAL ID-compliant state card normally carries a star or another federally approved marking near the top. Some states also issue enhanced driver licenses that are acceptable. Because designs vary, travelers should use their state motor-vehicle agency’s guidance rather than relying only on a picture found online. [1]
Other accepted documents can include a passport card, DHS trusted-traveler card, permanent resident card and certain military or tribal identification. The accepted list can change. A photocopy or a phone image is not a substitute for the original credential unless TSA explicitly supports a digital-ID program at that airport. [1][2]
Travelers who arrive without acceptable identification may face an identity-verification process and additional screening, and TSA does not guarantee that the person will be allowed through. Arriving early does not create an exception; it only leaves time for procedures that may be available. [1][2]
REAL ID applies to federal purposes such as accessing airport checkpoints. It does not replace a passport for international travel. For an upcoming trip, verify the document against TSA’s current list, check its expiration date and make sure the name matches the reservation closely enough for the airline’s rules. [1][2]
The rule applies to domestic airport screening and certain federal facilities; it does not determine whether a state card is valid for driving, voting, banking or other state and private uses. A standard license may still be valid for driving even when it is not accepted at the TSA checkpoint. Those separate purposes are a frequent source of confusion. [1][2]