​These U.S. States Won’t Require a REAL ID Starting May 7, 2025

Thousands of Americans will soon have to deal with a big change: starting May 7, all Americans will need a Real ID to fly within the United States and get into government buildings. This project, which is based on laws passed after 9/11, wants to improve security and identity verification. IDs that are real have a gold star in the upper left corner and must meet strict government rules.

But the rule won’t be enforced the same way in every state. Five U.S. states—Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont—will accept an enhanced driver’s license instead of a Real ID. This means that people who already have an enhanced driver’s license don’t have to get a Real ID.

In what places can you get a driver’s license with extra features?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says that Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont are the states that have upgraded their driver’s licenses to meet federal standards. These documents will be accepted for domestic flights and entry to government buildings, giving people another way to comply.

People who live in other states will need a Real ID or another paper approved by the federal government. Some of these are a valid passport, a U.S. permanent resident card, a border crossing card, a U.S. commercial mariner credential, or a provincial driver’s license in Canada. These are all recognized by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

How to get a Real ID if you need one

The process is easy to follow if your state doesn’t give an enhanced license or if you’d rather get a Real ID. You can start the application process online and see a full list of papers you’ll need by going to the website of your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Most of the time, you will need to give:

• Proof of your full legal name and date of birth
• Number for social security
• Two proofs of residency in the state
• Proof that you are legally in the U.S.

For extra help, the DHS website has a Real ID lookup tool that you can use to find the closest DMV and see what the standards are in your state. The government says to act quickly to avoid delays, especially for people wanting to fly in the summer.

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