REAL ID Deadline 2025: Use Passport Book or Card for Domestic Flights

(UNITED STATES) REAL ID checks for domestic flights are no longer a “coming soon” rule. They’re the rule now. Since May 7, 2025, the Transportation Security Administration has required most travelers age 18 and older to show a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID, or another approved document, before they can enter the security checkpoint for a flight inside the United States 🇺🇸.

By late 2025, TSA officers across the country applied the rule in a steady, uniform way, and travelers who arrive with only a non-compliant state ID can be delayed or turned away if they don’t have a backup.

The good news is simple and practical: if you have a valid Passport Book or U.S. passport card, you can still fly domestically without a REAL ID. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, many travelers are choosing passports as their “no-drama” option while DMV appointments stay tight in some states.

The first decision: REAL ID or an approved alternative

For domestic air travel you don’t need to carry both a REAL ID and a passport — you need one acceptable document.

TSA’s accepted IDs include REAL ID cards and several alternatives. The agency posts the current list on its official page for TSA identification requirements at airport checkpoints, which is the best place to confirm what will work on the day you travel.

From the source material, the most relied-on alternatives after May 7, 2025 are:

• U.S. Passport Book (works for domestic and international air travel)
• U.S. passport card (works for domestic flights, but not international air travel)
• DoD IDs (including dependent IDs)
• DHS Trusted Traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• State-issued Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (where available)

Important clarification: Digital photos or photocopies don’t count at the checkpoint. TSA expects the physical document.

What the airport process looks like now — step by step

If you haven’t flown since the deadline, the flow is familiar, but the stakes are higher if your ID isn’t compliant.

1. Before you leave home (5 minutes)

• Check that your ID is unexpired.
• Match the name on your ID to the name on your ticket. If you recently changed your name, pack the original linking document (marriage certificate, court order, etc.) — mismatches can cause extra screening.

2. Arrive earlier than you used to (add 30–60 minutes if unsure)

Travelers without proper ID who try to fly anyway can face 30–60 minutes of delay in secondary screening, and there is still a chance they will not be allowed through.

3. At the TSA document check (1–5 minutes for most people)

• Present your REAL ID, Passport Book, passport card, or another accepted ID.
• If the document is accepted, you proceed to screening as usual.

4. If you forgot an acceptable ID

• TSA may attempt identity verification and secondary screening, but this is not guaranteed.
• Practical lesson from late-2025: carrying a passport in your bag can prevent a missed flight.

Children

• Children under 18 traveling domestically with an adult generally do not need to show ID at TSA.
• Unaccompanied minors may face added airline checks; confirm the airline’s rules before travel.

Key takeaway: If you might risk being stopped by REAL ID enforcement, pack a physical, accepted alternative (Passport Book is the safest single-document option).

Getting a REAL ID: typical application steps

A REAL ID is a state-issued card that meets federal security standards. It’s usually marked with a star (often gold or black) near the top of the card.

Although the REAL ID law dates back to 2005, enforcement began on May 7, 2025, after years of delays. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed the enforcement timeline before the deadline, and by late 2025 there were no new delays.

Typical DMV journey (timing estimates from the source):

1. Prepare your documents (30–90 minutes at home)

• Proof of identity and lawful status (e.g., Green Card for permanent residents)
• Proof of Social Security number (or accepted substitute)
• Two proofs of state residency (utility bill, lease, etc.)

2. Schedule and attend an in-person visit (time varies)

Demand matters: DMV wait times reached 2–4 weeks in some states (Texas example) during surges.

3. Card production and delivery (often days, not months)

• Many states print IDs at secure facilities and mail them.
• Over 70% of states can issue REAL IDs efficiently via mail after the in-person step.
• Example: Ohio mails the card within 10 business days in a high-security envelope; some use USPS tracking tools like Informed Delivery.

Important: Interim paper documents may let you drive but often do not work as flight ID. Plan to use a passport or other approved card until your REAL ID arrives.

Passport Book vs. passport card — which to choose?

If you want a single document that works for both domestic and international travel, the Passport Book is the clear choice.

Passport Book

• Works for: domestic air, international air, land and sea travel.
• Valid for visas and entry stamps.

Passport Card

• Works for: domestic air and certain land/sea travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and parts of the Caribbean.
• Does not work for international air travel.
• Cost: $30 for first-time adults (card) vs. $130 for Passport Book (source material figure).
• Validity: Both typically last 10 years for adults.

Example from the source: “Maria” was denied at international check-in when trying to fly to Mexico with only a passport card — she needed a Passport Book.

Recommendation:

• Frequent domestic flyers who don’t plan to travel abroad soon may find the passport card a cheaper, practical backup.
• Anyone who might take an international flight should get the Passport Book to avoid surprises.

Extra planning for immigrants, permanent residents, and non-citizens

REAL ID affects immigrants because DMVs often require proof of lawful status before issuing a compliant card.

Typical documentation for green card holders applying for REAL ID:

• Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
• Proof of Social Security number
• Two residency documents

Key limits:

• In many jurisdictions undocumented immigrants cannot get a REAL ID, so they must rely on other eligible ID options.
• For domestic flights, the safest practice is to check the TSA list and carry an accepted physical document every time.

Practical family example from the source: A green card holder applies for REAL ID, receives an interim paper for driving, gets the real card mailed in 10 days, and uses a passport card for flights in the meantime. Many families follow this pattern: fly with an accepted alternative while the state processes the REAL ID.

Common trouble spots that still cause missed flights

Even after enforcement, frequent problems persist:

• Assuming a non-compliant license is “close enough.” After May 7, 2025, TSA will not accept non-compliant state IDs alone.
• Mixing up passport card and Passport Book rules. The passport card will not work for international air travel.
• Name mismatches. Bookings that don’t match your ID can trigger extra checks — bring original documents linking names if needed.
• Expired documents. TSA requires an unexpired passport or other accepted ID.
• Relying on a photo of an ID. Only physical documents are accepted.

By December 2025, the source material notes over 50 million REAL IDs had been issued (DHS estimate), yet demand and processing delays mean someone with a flight tomorrow should not rely on getting a new REAL ID in time.

Practical checklist before you fly

• Confirm your ID is REAL ID-compliant or bring an accepted alternative (Passport Book recommended).
• If you changed your name, bring original linking documents (marriage certificate, court order).
• Verify the expiration date on your ID.
• Don’t rely on digital copies or photos — bring the physical document.
• If you’re an immigrant, confirm which documents your state DMV requires and whether you qualify for REAL ID or need another accepted ID.

Final practical plan: If you’re close to travel, the most dependable approach is to carry an approved alternative — especially a Passport Book — and complete your REAL ID upgrade when you can get a solid DMV appointment.