Beginning in May 2023, the presentation of a driver's license, or REAL ID card, will be necessary for air travel within the United States.
A REAL ID card is not a national identity document, however, since 2005 after the approval of the REAL ID Act, each state is required to issue this type of identification to comply with security standards.
For example, a driver's license or state issued identification cards are a REAL ID if they have a moon star in the upper corners of the identification.
Currently the law indicates that a REAL ID card will be necessary only to board commercial flights regulated by the Federal Government, to enter Federal Government facilities or carry out certain procedures, or to enter nuclear plants.
However, starting in 2023, presenting a REAL ID will be required to board a domestic flight. This rule only applies to people over 18 years of age. The REAL IDs that will be valid for air travel within the country from 2023 are:
- United States passport
- United States Armed Forces identification card
- Permanent residence cards (Green Card)
- Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDLs) issued by a state
- Passports issued by foreign countries
States currently continue to issue driver's licenses and identifications that are not REAL ID, so before processing any of these documents, check the information of the Department of Motor Vehicles in the state where you are.
