Deadline for REAL ID-compliant license, ID card, extended to 2025
Dec 5, 2022, 10:58 AM
Citing lingering delays associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the deadline for REAL IDs is now in May of 2025. (Dan Bammes/KSL NewsRadio)
(Dan Bammes/KSL NewsRadio)
SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. states and residents will have two more years before REAL ID is fully enforced at airports. In an announcement on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security notes that backlogs at state driver’s license commissions, related to the global COVID-19 pandemic, are behind the delay.
REAL ID was established by Congress in 2005. It creates minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. By the new deadline, May 3, 2025, these identification cards must include anti-counterfeiting technology among other advances.
“DHS continues to work closely with U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories to meet REAL ID requirements,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
“This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.”
According to the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) when the program is fully enforceable, every traveler over age 18 will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card to pass through airport security for domestic air travel.
Our previous reporting:
- Your driver’s license needs this if you want to fly in the next year
- Thousands of Gold Star IDs returned to DPS. Is yours one of them?
- Utah lawmaker rushing to fix ID problem
