Real ID for Flying: 15 Alternatives You Can Use
The TSA is no longer accepting a standard driver’s license as identification in order to fly as of May 7, 2025. Travelers must instead have a Real ID-compliant driver's license . Not sure if your driver’s license is a Real ID? Check the upper-right corner. If there is a star symbol, it is a Real ID, and you can use it to pass through airport security.
Don’t worry, if you don’t have a Real ID, there are still plenty of TSA-approved documents that you can use to board a domestic flight. Acceptable alternatives include:
- State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a- federally recognized - Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
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What Happens If You Don’t Have Acceptable Identification?
If you’re flying domestically and don’t have a TSA-approved form of identification, arrive at the airport early—ideally at least three hours before your flight. According to the TSA, travelers without acceptable ID will be taken to a separate area for additional screening. There, they’ll be asked a series of questions to help verify their identity. If the TSA officer can confirm the flyer’s identity, they will be allowed through the checkpoint. Passengers without an approved ID may be subject to extra screening measures.