Enforcement of REAL IDs go into effect soon – are you ready?

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — If you haven’t received your REAL ID yet, you only have two weeks before the Transportation Security Administration starts requiring it for domestic flights in the United States.

Enforcement of the new ID requirements will go into effect on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

The Utah Department of Public Safety estimates that 95% of Utahns are already in compliance with the new REAL ID requirements, so there is a good chance you are ready for the enforcement.

What is REAL ID?

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, setting a nationwide minimum security requirement for state driver’s licenses and ID cards.

Once enforced, they will be among the listed forms of acceptable IDs to access certain federal facilities, enter nuclear power plants, and board federally regulated commercial aircraft.

Enforcement of the REAL IDs was supposed to go into effect in 2020, but it ran into delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A second deadline was set for 2023, but that was again pushed back to the current enforcement date of May 7.

How to know if you have a REAL ID

REAL ID-compliant cards can be identified by a star marking in the upper right corner of the card. While the star marking can come in a variety of different appearances, in the State of Utah, it appears as a white star in a gold or yellow circle.

If your ID card does not have the star marking, it is not REAL ID-compliant and won’t be accepted by TSA and other security agencies.

What to do if you do not have a REAL ID?

Most Utahns should already have a REAL ID and shouldn’t have to worry about their card being non-compliant.

However, if you are among the estimated 5% who do not have a REAL ID-compliant card, the Department of Homeland Security suggests visiting the Utah Driver’s License Division to find out what documents are required to update your ID.

The Department of Homeland Security says at a minimum, these documents should include your full legal name, date of birth, social security number, lawful status, and two proofs of address. However, states may have additional requirements.