Real ID deadline: Here's when Arizonans will need one to fly and how to get yours
Although the deadline for getting a Real ID has been extended, don’t wait too long if you plan to get one.
The federal Real ID Act will take effect for Arizonans on May 7, 2025. When that happens, people must have identification compliant with the act to pass through airport security or enter federal buildings.
As of that date, a standard driver's license or identification card won’t get you through a TSA checkpoint. You will need the enhanced driver's license known as the Arizona Travel ID.
Arizona has issued more than 2.1 million Arizona Travel IDs since their introduction, including 262,083 in 2023, ADOT spokesman William Lamoreaux said.
Here’s how to get a Real ID in Arizona, including all the documentation you need.
Do I need a Real ID to fly in 2024?
No. A valid, state-issued drivers license or identification card is enough to board a domestic flight, for now.
When do you need a Real ID to fly?
Real ID will be required to fly on domestic flights starting May 7, 2025.
The Department of Homeland Security intended to begin enforcing the Real ID Act in May 2023, but it pushed back the deadline by two years.
Officials cited lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on states' abilities to ensure their residents have driver's licenses or identification cards that meet Real ID standards. They said progress was stalled because of licensing agencies' need to work through pandemic backlogs.
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What do I need to get Real ID in Arizona?
To get an Arizona Travel ID, ADOT requires one primary document for proof of birth, two documents for proof of address and a Social Security number.
Acceptable documents for proof of birth include:
Certified birth certificate.
U.S. certificate of birth abroad.
U.S. passport or passport card.
Permanent resident card or resident alien card.
Unexpired USCIS employment authorization document.
I-94 form with an unexpired foreign passport and unexpired U.S. visa.
U.S. certificate of naturalization.
U.S. certificate of citizenship.
Acceptable documents for proof of address must be issued from a business, organization or government agency and include your name and residential address. Documents must be in print. These include:
Utility bills.
Credit card or bank statements.
Insurance policies.
What is an enhanced driver's license?
ADOT issues the enhanced Travel ID and standard driver licenses. The difference between the two is the amount of documentation you have to provide to obtain one.
How do I know if I have a Real ID?
The Arizona Travel ID contains a gold or black star on the upper right-hand corner. A standard drivers license has no star.
When Real ID takes effect, standard licenses with no star will no longer be acceptable identification for domestic flights. People without the upgraded license will need to present another form of Real ID-compliant identification.
What if I don’t have a Real ID?
If you don’t switch from a standard driver’s license to the Arizona Travel ID, you will not be able to pass through airport TSA checkpoints without some other acceptable form of identification. These documents fit the Real ID guidelines, according to the Transportation Security Administration:
U.S. passport.
U.S. passport card.
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST).
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents.
Permanent resident card.
Border crossing card.
State-issued enhanced drivers license.
An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized tribal nation/Indian tribe.
HSPD-12 PIV card.
Foreign government-issued passport.
Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card.
Transportation worker identification credential.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766).
U.S. Merchant Mariner credential.
Veteran Health Identification Card.
Do children need a Real ID?
Children under 18 don't need Real ID to fly within the U.S., as long as they're accompanied by an adult who does have Real ID, Lamoreaux said.
How much does an Arizona ID cost?
A Real ID-compliant Arizona Travel ID costs $25.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Real ID 2024 update: Here's how to get yours before the deadline
