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Short answer: the REAL ID requirements for flying have been enforced since May 7, 2025. Air travelers 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card, or another acceptable form of identification such as a valid U.S. passport, to fly within the U.S., according to the Transportation Security Administration. If your identity cannot be verified, you will not be allowed through the checkpoint or onto your flight.
Which IDs the TSA accepts
| ID | Notes |
|---|---|
| REAL ID driver’s license or ID card | Marked with a star at the top |
| Enhanced driver’s license | Marked with a flag; issued in Michigan, Vermont, Minnesota, New York and Washington |
| Valid U.S. passport | Accepted in place of a REAL ID |
| U.S. military ID | Accepted |
| Federally recognized tribal-issued photo ID | Accepted |
The TSA keeps a longer list of acceptable IDs. Source: TSA, REAL ID. Date checked: Oct. 30, 2026.
What to do if you do not have a REAL ID
Bring a passport, a U.S. military ID or another document from the TSA’s list. To get a REAL ID, you go in person to your state driver’s license agency with the required documents; the TSA page does not mention a fee. A temporary paper interim license is not accepted, so if your new license has not arrived, carry another acceptable ID as well.
Common questions before a holiday trip
Does TSA PreCheck replace the ID? No. PreCheck does not replace the ID requirement, and CLEAR enrollees also need a REAL ID or another acceptable ID.
What about digital IDs? Mobile driver’s licenses are being tested at select airports and only for PreCheck passengers. You must still carry your physical ID, and an officer may ask for it.
Do children need ID? Children under 18 do not need ID when traveling with a companion, but the adult companion does.
Planning around the holidays
Allow time before the trip. Getting a REAL ID means a visit to your state agency, and agencies can be busy in the weeks before Thanksgiving. If you cannot get one in time, a valid passport works for the flight. The holiday rush also affects what you ship and spend: see our guides to holiday shipping deadlines and to Thanksgiving dinner costs.
Common mistakes
The most common are assuming an old license without the star is fine, relying on a temporary paper license, and assuming a digital ID on a phone replaces the plastic card. The last one is not true at most airports, according to the TSA.
Editor’s take
Do this first: look for the star at the top of your license. If it is missing and you are flying in the next few weeks, pack your passport and treat a trip to the licensing agency as a project for after the holidays.
