Arkansas REAL ID for Immigrants 2026: DFA Requirements and Steps

(ARKANSAS) Arkansas residents who are immigrants with lawful presence can get a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card through the DFA Revenue Offices. They’ll need one for U.S. domestic flights and many federal buildings starting May 7, 2025.

For non-citizens, Arkansas issues a “Limited Term” REAL ID that expires when the immigration document used to qualify expires.

This matters most for people whose immigration status has an end date — such as many work, student, or humanitarian categories. It also matters for anyone planning 2026 travel, because Arkansas REAL ID validity often follows the dates federal systems confirm during verification. Expect the SAVE check to be part of the visit, and plan your timing around your immigration document expiration.

May 7, 2025: what Arkansas travelers must show at airports and federal sites

The federal REAL ID rule changes what counts as an acceptable ID for domestic flights and for entering many federal facilities. After May 7, 2025, a standard driver’s license that is not REAL ID-compliant will no longer meet that federal screening requirement.

A REAL ID Arkansas license or ID is easy to identify because it is issued as a compliant card meant to meet federal standards. If you don’t have one by your travel date, you’ll need another acceptable document — for example, a passport — to fly.

VisaVerge.com reports that the biggest REAL ID problems are simple ones: mismatched names, missing residency papers, and delays caused by verification of immigration records.

Who qualifies in Arkansas, and who does not

Arkansas issues REAL ID cards to immigrants who show lawful presence, including many groups who live and work in the state day to day. The DFA process covers, among others:

• Lawful permanent residents and conditional residents
• Employment-based visa holders, including H‑1B and L‑1 categories
• Student and exchange visitors, including F‑1 and J‑1
• Refugees and asylum seekers with valid work authorization
• TPS and DACA recipients
• People with pending adjustment of status who have valid documents supporting lawful presence

Undocumented residents are not eligible for an Arkansas REAL ID card under these rules.

How Arkansas checks immigration papers: the SAVE verification step

When you present an immigration document at a DFA Revenue Office, Arkansas verifies eligibility through the DHS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. This is the same federal tool used by many state agencies to confirm that a non-citizen document is valid and current.

Practical implications for applicants:
– Bring the original documents (not photocopies).
– Allow time for SAVE verification during your visit.
– If your lawful status has a short validity window, your Arkansas REAL ID will be issued as Limited Term and will expire with that same window.

Document checklist: what to bring, and why names must match

Arkansas follows a category system. You must present documents that cover legal presence, identity, Social Security number, and Arkansas residency. All names must match across documents. If they don’t, bring proof of the name change (e.g., marriage certificate or court order).

Bring originals. Photocopies generally won’t work.

1) Proof of legal presence (1 document; checked through SAVE)

Examples listed by DFA include:
– Unexpired foreign passport with a valid U.S. visa and I‑94
– Permanent Resident Card (I‑551)
– Employment Authorization Document (EAD), Form I‑766
– Certificate of Naturalization (N‑550, N‑570, N‑578)
– Certificate of Citizenship (N‑560, N‑561, N‑645)

2) Proof of identity (1 document)

Examples:
– Current driver’s license or ID
– School ID
– Vehicle registration or title
– Marriage certificate
– Military ID
– Court order

3) Proof of Social Security number (1 document)

Bring one of these:
– Social Security card
– W‑2
– Recent pay stub

If you need a replacement card, the Social Security Administration provides an online path at Replace a Social Security card or by phone at 1-800-325-0778.

4) Proof of Arkansas residency (2 documents)

These are typically dated within 6 months unless noted otherwise. Examples:
– Utility bills (gas, water, electric)
– Paycheck stubs
– Bank or financial statements
– Current tax return
– Homeowners, renters, or motor vehicle insurance policy
– Lease agreement with landlord name and contact
– Deed or mortgage papers
– Personal property tax receipt
– Valid Arkansas hunting, fishing, or concealed carry license
– Current school transcript or enrollment documents

Before you go, use the DFA’s online tool to pre-check your list: DFA Real ID page and Real ID Quiz.

Quick checklist table

The full journey in Arkansas: a five-step process with realistic timing

Follow these steps to minimize surprises and delays.

1. Step 1 (30–90 minutes at home): build a clean document set
   • Put documents into four stacks that match DFA categories.
   • Confirm your name is consistent across them.
   • If you recently changed your name, add the name-change document to the front.
2. Step 2 (10–20 minutes): confirm your exact mix using the DFA Real ID Quiz
   • The quiz reduces surprises at the counter and helps families with different household situations.
3. Step 3 (5–15 minutes to book): schedule an appointment, or plan a walk-in visit
   • Appointments are recommended but not required.
   • Arkansas has 134 Revenue Offices to choose from.
   • DFA runs special Saturday openings for REAL ID issuance only (example: December 26, 2025), while other services remain on weekday hours.
4. Step 4 (about 30–60 minutes in office): visit the Revenue Office for review and SAVE verification
   • Bring all originals.
   • DFA staff review your identity, residency, and SSN documents, then verify immigration documents through SAVE.
   • Same-day issuance is possible; many applicants leave with a compliant credential that day.
5. Step 5 (same day): pay the fee and check your card details before you leave
   • Fees vary. Related Arkansas REAL ID references often cite amounts around $45; confirm the current fee with DFA.
   • Non-citizen cards are marked “Limited Term”, and the expiration date will track the immigration document’s validity.

“Limited Term” REAL ID: planning around visa and EAD end dates

For many immigrants, the critical planning issue isn’t just May 7, 2025, but the expiration date printed on the immigration document used at DFA.

If you present an EAD, a visa-based I‑94 record, or another time-limited document, Arkansas ties the REAL ID expiration to that date. For example, a worker on an E‑3 visa could receive a card that expires in December 2026 if that is when the underlying permission ends.

Implications:
– Renewals may be needed sooner than expected — especially for students on short programs or workers with temporary approvals.
– Families should align renewals where possible so the household does not lose compliant ID just before travel.

Travel in 2026: backups, deadlines, and a TSA stopgap

If you miss the REAL ID timeline, you can still travel with other acceptable documents, including a passport. The safest approach is to apply early, particularly if your immigration status is close to expiring and you expect to extend, change, or adjust status later.

Starting February 1, 2026, TSA offers Confirm.ID, a fee-based option with 10-day validity as a temporary backup. Travelers should still expect delays and added steps when using any fallback that requires extra checks at the airport.

Key takeaway: apply early, bring originals, and check that names and dates match across all documents to avoid unexpected travel disruptions.

Common problems that trigger extra trips, and how to avoid them

Most REAL ID delays in Arkansas stem from fixable issues:

• Name mismatches across passport, Social Security record, and lease
• Residency documents that are too old, missing, or don’t show the Arkansas address clearly
• Presenting photocopies instead of originals
• Immigration documents that are expired or don’t match the person’s current lawful presence record checked through SAVE

A clean file, checked against the DFA quiz, usually prevents repeat visits and protects travel plans that can’t move.