Real ID Deadline Delayed until May 3, 2023

The original enforcement date was set for October 1, 2020, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has once again extended the deadline for Real ID enforcement to May 3, 2023 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

What is Real ID? In order to use your driver’s license to board a commercial aircraft, your license will need to be Real ID compliant. For many states, if you see a gold or white-on-black star in the upper right corner of your license, you’re already there. (California uses a “golden bear” and Washington State isn’t using the star symbol.)

Without a Real ID compliant driver’s license, you may still board an aircraft using your government-issued passport.

You can learn more about Real ID on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website: https://www.tsa.gov/real-id.

Your best sources of information are DHS and TSA.