TSA to Require Real ID at Logan Airport for All Domestic Flights in 2025

Key Takeaways

• Starting May 7, 2025, TSA requires REAL ID or alternative accepted ID for all domestic flights at Logan Airport.
• Travelers without REAL ID face extra screening, possible delays of 5–20+ minutes, or denial of boarding if lacking valid ID.
• Permanent residents can use green cards; passports, Trusted Traveler cards, and military IDs are also acceptable alternatives.

Starting May 7, 2025, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will fully enforce the REAL ID requirement at all airports across the United States 🇺🇸. This includes Boston’s busy Logan Airport, which serves millions of travelers each year. For anyone flying out of Logan Airport, it’s vital to know what these changes mean, which documents you’ll need, and how a missing REAL ID could affect your travel plans. This article provides a detailed look at how the new rules will work, what the TSA expects, and how you can avoid travel delays.

The New Rule: No REAL ID, No Regular Screening at Logan Airport

The change is straightforward: if you’re 18 or older and flying domestically from any airport in the United States 🇺🇸, including Logan Airport, you must show either a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another accepted form of identification. Accepted alternatives include a valid U.S. passport book or passport card, a military ID, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Traveler card (such as Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI), or a permanent resident card (“green card”). If you do not bring a compliant document, you’ll be pulled out of the standard TSA line at Logan Airport and taken into a separate screening area for extra checks.

The TSA is clear that this step is not just a paperwork issue—it’s part of a security program that started after the 9/11 attacks, meant to make sure all forms of identification used for air travel meet federal standards.

What Exactly Is a REAL ID?

A REAL ID is a type of driver’s license or state-issued ID that meets special federal security standards. You can spot a REAL ID by looking for a star at the top corner of your card. Standard licenses without this mark won’t be enough to get you through airport security starting in May 2025.

If you’re unsure whether your driver’s license is REAL ID-compliant, check for this star or contact your local motor vehicles office. Most people updated their ID at renewal or after getting notices from state DMV offices, but many travelers might still have an old version.

What Happens If You Don’t Have REAL ID at Logan Airport?

Passengers who don’t have a REAL ID card—or one of the trusted alternative IDs—will be pulled out of the usual TSA line at Logan Airport and placed in a separate area for extra screening. Dan Velez, the TSA spokesperson at Logan Airport, explained that this process will help keep regular security lines moving for people who already have the right documents. In his words, “We’re going to be pulling aside and identifying individuals who do not have a REAL ID compliant ID… so that those who do have it are going to be able to go through the line and keep going.”

This means that having a REAL ID or another accepted document saves you time and lets you get through TSA lines at Logan Airport without added steps.

If you’re pulled aside for extra screening, it doesn’t mean you can’t fly. According to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, “People will be allowed to fly,” but they may face extra steps such as being guided to a separate area for screening. These steps are designed to confirm your identity using other information or documents.

Acceptable Alternative Documents

You don’t need a REAL ID if you have one of these:

• Valid U.S. passport book or passport card
• DHS Trusted Traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI)
• U.S. military ID (active duty or retired)
• Permanent resident card (“green card”)

Have any of these handy? You’ll be able to go through the regular TSA process at Logan Airport, just like travelers using a REAL ID.

But if you show up without a compliant ID and without one of these alternatives, you could face even more trouble than being pulled aside: you might not be allowed to board your flight at all.

How Much Delay Should Travelers Expect?

If you don’t have a REAL ID or another accepted federal ID with you at Logan Airport, TSA officers will ask you to step out of the regular line. You’ll be sent to another area where your identity will be checked using other information and perhaps through additional questions. This process can take longer than the regular check—TSA has estimated it could add at least 5 to 20 minutes per passenger, and those delays might be longer if many people arrive unprepared on the same day.

The exact delay depends on:

• How many travelers at Logan Airport lack a compliant ID on the same day
• How quickly TSA can process each case with the extra checks

If you are traveling with family members, be aware: only adults (18 and up) need to show a REAL ID or an accepted alternative. Children under 18 do not need their own identification to pass security if they are traveling with an adult companion.

Because the extra screening takes time and is less predictable, TSA and Logan Airport officials strongly urge travelers to show up at least 30 minutes to an hour earlier than they otherwise would—especially for morning flights or during busy travel periods.

What Happens If You Have No Valid ID at All?

If you arrive at Logan Airport without any form of photo identification—meaning neither a REAL ID nor any accepted alternative—you won’t be allowed to board a domestic flight. TSA agents will not let you through security, and your travel plans will be interrupted. This applies to all passengers 18 and over, at all U.S. airports.

The summary table below lays out the different scenarios you might face as you approach the TSA line at Logan Airport after May 7, 2025:

*Only if the traveler presents an alternative, accepted federal document.

Why Is the TSA Enforcing REAL ID at Logan Airport Now?

The move to enforce REAL ID at airports like Logan Airport is the final part of a plan set in motion by federal law after the September 11th attacks. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, but the deadline for full enforcement was delayed several times. Now, as the May 7, 2025 deadline approaches, TSA wants every traveler to know about the change so there are as few problems as possible.

The REAL ID standard is meant to prevent the use of fake documents at airport security. It requires state driver’s licenses and ID cards to include better security features and be backed by more careful checks of identity during the application process. According to TSA, most travelers already have compliant IDs, so officials do not expect long-term disruptions at airports.

Still, people who haven’t yet upgraded their documents, or who normally use a different type of photo ID, need to take the deadline seriously.

What Should You Do To Prepare for the TSA’s Change at Logan Airport?

Here are some practical steps for travelers using Logan Airport after May 7, 2025:

1. Check your identification now. See if your driver’s license or state ID has a star at the top corner, which marks it as REAL ID-compliant. If not, and it doesn’t expire soon, you may want to get an upgrade.
2. Apply early if you need an upgrade. Getting a REAL ID often requires you to visit your state’s motor vehicles office with extra paperwork such as a birth certificate, social security card, or proof of address—plan for possible waits.
3. Know your alternatives. If you have a valid U.S. passport, DHS Trusted Traveler card, or military ID, you can use that instead at Logan Airport.
4. Arrive early on travel day. To avoid missing your flight, add an extra 30 to 60 minutes to your usual airport routine if you are unsure about your documents.
5. Stay informed. Check the TSA’s official list of acceptable identification documents here before you travel.

TSA and Logan Airport: Making Compliance Easier

TSA wants travelers at Logan Airport and other airports to have the best chance of making it through security smoothly. That’s why there are reminders, posters, and online information. Staff trained to answer questions are on hand, especially as the May 7th deadline approaches.

According to statements from TSA leaders and local officials, most passengers at Logan Airport already have a REAL ID or an alternative accepted document. But the agency will take the final steps to help make sure all travelers are ready before full enforcement begins.

The Bigger Picture for Immigration, Visitors, and Residents

This change has some special importance for immigrants, foreign visitors, and permanent residents living in the United States 🇺🇸.

• For green card holders: Permanent residents with a “green card” can use that document for TSA screening at Logan Airport. They do not need a REAL ID, unless they want one for driving or state identification needs.

• For international students and work visa holders: Most will keep a foreign passport, which is accepted by TSA for domestic flights if it’s valid.

• For tourists from other countries: Anyone flying within the United States 🇺🇸 after arriving on an international flight can use their passport book as their main form of identification for domestic flights, including those flying from Logan Airport.

• For U.S. citizens without drivers’ licenses: Older adults and others who no longer drive can get a REAL ID state identification card at the DMV. They can also use their passport or other accepted document.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that, while the new rules will mostly affect people who never updated their licenses or forgot to bring a valid document, the stepwise approach at Logan Airport and clear communication by TSA should keep delays to a minimum for prepared travelers.

Other Viewpoints and Concerns

Some critics wonder if older adults or those who rarely fly will be caught off guard by the change, especially if they do not often check the expiration date or compliance status on their IDs. There are also worries that some people may not be able to get a REAL ID in time due to slow processing at the DMV.

Logan Airport has seen steady messaging campaigns and outreach to local communities to help spread the word. Still, if a traveler is found without the right ID on travel day, extra time and screening will almost always be required.

Summary: What You Need to Remember

• The REAL ID rule goes into full effect on May 7, 2025, at Logan Airport and all other U.S. airports.
• Without REAL ID or another accepted document, you’ll be pulled out of the regular TSA line and sent for extra screening.
• If you don’t have any valid ID, you won’t be allowed to fly.
• To avoid delays, have the right document and arrive early—at least 30 to 60 minutes ahead of your usual arrival.
• The vast majority of passengers are already prepared. If you’re unsure, check your ID, and review guidelines well before your flight.

For more information on TSA identification rules and to review the complete list of accepted documents, visit the official TSA ID requirements page.

Remember, a little preparation goes a long way in making sure your trip through Logan Airport is as smooth as possible. Always confirm your documents in advance, bring an accepted form of identification, and allow extra time in case you or others in the line are subject to new screening steps. This proactive approach helps everyone—including those working for TSA—keep air travel safe and efficient for all travelers.

Learn Today

REAL ID → A state-issued driver’s license or ID card that meets strict federal security standards, marked by a star in the corner.
TSA → The Transportation Security Administration, a federal agency overseeing security screening at all U.S. airports.
Trusted Traveler card → A special identification card, like Global Entry or NEXUS, allowing expedited, federally recognized airport screening.
Permanent resident card (Green Card) → An identification card allowing non-citizens to live and work permanently in the United States.
DHS → The Department of Homeland Security, a federal agency managing national security, including airport identification requirements.

This Article in a Nutshell

On May 7, 2025, TSA will fully require REAL ID or approved identification for domestic flights at Logan Airport. Bring a compliant ID—otherwise, expect lengthy extra screening or denial of boarding. Prepare by upgrading your documents or using alternatives like passports, green cards, or Trusted Traveler cards to avoid delays.
— By VisaVerge.com

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