US Department of Homeland Security Extends Real ID Deadline to May 7, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security in the United States has announced an extension of the deadline for full implementation of the Real ID provision. The new deadline is now May 7, 2025, which is two years after the previously fixed deadline of May 3, 2023. This announcement was made through the publication of a final notice in the Federal Register today. This means that US travelers now have an additional two years to update their driver’s license or state ID to comply with the Real ID provision, which is required to take domestic flights and access federal facilities.

After May 7, 2025, individuals will need a Real ID with a star to board a plane or enter federal buildings in the United States. The Real ID Act was signed into law by then President George W. Bush on May 11, 2005, as a response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. The Act requires states to adopt and enforce the same standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and state IDs in order for them to be accepted by the federal government. The goal of this measure is to reduce identity fraud and terrorism.

Some states have been issuing Real IDs for years, and if you recently obtained or renewed your driver’s license or state ID, it is likely a Real ID. You can check whether your ID is a Real ID by looking for a star symbol on it. In New York, American citizens are issued IDs with the American flag. Some states mark their Real IDs with a golden star, while others use a black star. IDs from Hawaii, Ohio, Tennessee, and Utah do not have a star symbol.

To obtain a Real ID with a star symbol, you must visit a DMV office in person and bring documents such as your birth certificate, passport, work permit, green card, or foreign passport with I-94 approval. You must also bring your social security card, W2, or pay stub to verify your social security number, as well as a bill or other similar document to prove your residential address. You can make an appointment online before visiting the DMV office.

Once you have all the necessary documents and have paid the appropriate fee, you can apply for a Real ID. You will then receive a genuine ID with a star symbol that will be accepted for entering federal buildings or traveling on domestic flights.