What happens if you don’t have REAL ID?

The federal REAL ID enforcement deadline has passed, but Pennsylvania residents can still obtain the updated identification card, state officials said this week.

The deadline, which went into effect Wednesday, now requires travelers age 18 and older to have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, or another acceptable form of federal identification such as a valid passport or U.S. military ID, to board commercial aircraft for domestic flights. The identification is also required to enter secure federal facilities and military bases that require identification.

While long lines have been reported recently at PennDOT driver’s license centers, Secretary Mike Carroll said wait times are declining. He noted that Saturday mornings and centers in more populated areas tend to be the busiest.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on Tuesday a temporary measure that travelers flying domestically who have not yet obtained a REAL ID will still be able to use their standard-issued identification but will undergo additional security screenings by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Eighty-one percent of travelers are already compliant with REAL ID requirements, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

The TSA anticipates the number of people obtaining REAL IDs will continue to increase and will maintain enhanced screening procedures for those without the compliant identification until it is no longer deemed a security vulnerability.

Obtaining a REAL ID is optional for Pennsylvania residents, but state officials are encouraging those who may need one for future travel or access to federal facilities to apply.

Since REAL IDs became available in Pennsylvania in 2019, approximately 3 million residents have obtained one, Carroll said.

Carroll told reporters this week that PennDOT is continuing to process REAL ID applications and will continue to do so.

For residents unsure if a REAL ID is necessary for their individual needs, PennDOT offers an online REAL ID wizard at pa.gov/REALID to help guide their decision.

Federal and state officials emphasized that a valid passport will still be required for all international travel.

Federal REAL ID regulations require that PennDOT must verify the below listed documents:

• Proof of Identity: examples include an original or certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics with a raised/embossed seal, or a valid, unexpired U.S. Passport.
• Proof of Social Security Number (proof must display currently legal name and full nine digits of the Social Security Number): examples include a Social Security card, a W-2 form, a SSA-1099 form, a non-SSA-1099 form, or a pay stub.
• Two Proofs of Current, Physical PA Address: examples include a current, unexpired PA driver’s license or identification card, vehicle registration, or a utility bill with the same name and address.
• Proof of all Legal Name Changes (if current legal name is different than what is reflected on proof of identity document): examples include certified marriage certificate(s) issued by the County Court for each marriage, court order(s) approving a change in legal name, or adoption decree issued by your county’s family court.
• Note: If current name is the same as what is reflected on the proof of identity document (usually birth certificate or passport), proof of legal name change does not need to be shown.

The initial cost for a REAL ID in Pennsylvania is a one-time fee of $30, in addition to the standard driver’s license or photo ID renewal fee. The expiration date of the first REAL ID will include any remaining time on the existing non-REAL ID, plus an additional four years (unless the customer is over 65 and has a two-year license). Subsequent renewals will only incur the regular renewal fee.

Pennsylvanians can apply for a REAL ID at any PennDOT driver license center, where the card will be received by mail within 15 days, or at a designated REAL ID Center, where it can be obtained over the counter. A list of these locations is available on the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website.

Residents who received their first Pennsylvania driver’s license, learner’s permit, or photo ID card after September 1, 2003, may be eligible to pre-verify their documentation online and order their REAL ID through PennDOT’s website.