What You Need To Know About REAL ID
One of the most important things to make sure you have when traveling is your identification. If you don’t have the right form of ID there is no way you will be getting to your destination. We have seen it before in the airport individuals showing up for an international flight with no passport or showing up for a domestic flight and misplacing their ID. This will be even more prevalent when October 2021 arrives. That is because all airline passengers will be required to possess a REAL ID if they want to travel. The REAL ID is a part of the REAL ID Act that was passed in Congress in 2005. The goal of the act is to set standards nationally for different types of identification including driver’s licenses.
It is easy to tell if you need to get a REAL ID. These new types of identifications have certain markers that indicate they are in fact REAL ID’s by way of adding a gold star somewhere on the ID.
What is Real ID?
Just like in the example above, most REAL ID features a star on the right-hand corner. Michigan, Vermont, Minnesota, and New York state issue REAL ID and state-issued enhanced driver’s licenses, both of which are acceptable. Washington state issues enhanced driver’s licenses only.
States that are issuing enhanced driver's licenses will be identifiable with a U.S. flag located somewhere on the ID. These documents will also be accepted at airport security checkpoints when the REAL ID enforcement goes into effect. They additionally allow land and sea border crossings to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. If you are traveling by air however, you will still need a passport.
Required Documentation:
The process of getting a Real ID is slightly more complicated than a regular ID, as you must bring certain documents to prove not only who you are, but that you are also a resident of the state and United States. To obtain a Real ID you will need to bring:
Proof of identity: Such as a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, employment authorization document, permanent resident card, or foreign passport with an approved form I-94.
Proof of your Social Security Number: Such as an SSN card, W-2, or paystub with full SSN.
Two (2) Proof of residency Documents: such as a rental or lease agreement, mortgage bill, utility bill or employment, medical or school document, or addressed piece of mail.
If Applicable: An original or certified copy of a name change document, such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree, may be required.
Certain Circumstances
What if you have to move states?
Currently, federal requirements don’t allow for the transfer of a Real ID license between states. That means that if you move and have to change your driver’s license, that state is required to view and authenticate all documentation upon original issuance in that state. You will need to go in person to present the same documentation such as a U.S. birth certificate or passport, Social Security card, and two proofs of residence address, as well as meet all of your new state’s issuance requirements. Typically, Real ID licenses from other states can be used like any other out-of-state driver license to waive behind-the-wheel drive tests when switching states.
What about if you have several years left before your license expires?
Some states are offering prorated cost to have your current identification switched over. Check with your state department of motor vehicles to see if this is the case. There are many other forms of ID that the TSA will accept to pass through a security screening checkpoint. These include your passport, permanent resident card, DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), and much more. You can find the full list of acceptable forms of ID here.
Covid-19 Massachusetts RMV Update
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Massachusetts RMV severely limited in-person services at it’s locations. As a result of this, appointments for REAL IDs were only being issued on a very select basis, for first time applicants and any person who had relocated to Massachusetts from another state. In response to the limited appointment availability, the RMV had extended the expiration dates of licenses due to expire in 2020 and encouraged anyone with an expiring license to renew online and offered to issue a REAL ID in 2021 with the fee to upgrade from a standard license waived. More on this can be found on the state website.