Last updated on August 12th, 2024 at 03:16 pm
Back in 2022, the Department of Homeland Security announced a deadline extension for residents to obtain REAL ID-compliant drivers licenses and identification cards. Starting May 7, 2025, all persons over the age of 18 will be required to possess a REAL ID or other form of TSA-approved identification to successfully pass through TSA checkpoints, among other federal checkpoints.
What makes a REAL ID different?
In order to be approved for the new REAL ID format, extra security measures are taken by issuing agencies to confirm identity. Documentary evidence and record checks are among the methods used by DMVs and other issuing agencies to ensure a person is who they claim to be. These extra steps are part of an effort to make ID counterfeiting more difficult while also providing federal checkpoints with a more uniform standard of identification. The REAL IDs allow officials at federal checkpoints a better idea of who has been fully screened thus providing a safer environment for all involved.
How to get a REAL ID
There is no uniform process for obtaining a REAL ID. Some states require more documentation than others, but the minimum requirements are: full legal name, date of birth, Social Security Number, two proofs of address of principal residence, and lawful status. Even if you provided some or all of this information when you got your ID originally, you will need to provide them again when applying for a REAL ID so that you can be verified by the federal government.
You will take this documentation to your local DMV and let them know that you would like a REAL ID. In many cases you can complete the application online before going into a DMV office, so be sure to check with your state’s DMV website for their individual processes for issuance.
Which states are still issuing non-REAL IDs?
If you’re in the following states and need to renew or get a new ID, please be sure you’re getting the REAL ID so you don’t have to go through the process again in 2025 if you apply for the REAL ID. While every state is compliant with issuing REAL IDs, some still issue standard IDs. Below are the respective states and the indicator listed on the ID that specifies it is not REAL ID compliant. Of 50 states and Washington D.C., 46 states still issue standard IDs. The only states that no longer issue standard IDs are Nebraska, New York, South Carolina, Texas, and Wyoming.
- Alabama – No indicator
- Alaska – Federal limits apply
- Arizona – Not for federal ID
- Arkansas – Not for federal ID
- California – Federal limits apply
- Colorado – Not valid for federal identification, voting, or public benefit purposes
- Connecticut – Not for federal identification
- Delaware – Not for federal identification
- Florida – Not for federal identification
- Georgia – No indicator
- Hawaii – Not acceptable for official federal purposes
- Idaho – Not for REAL ID purposes
- Illinois – Federal limits apply
- Indiana – Not for REAL ID purposes
- Iowa – No indicator
- Kansas – Not for federal identification
- Kentucky – Not for REAL ID purposes
- Louisiana – Not for federal identification
- Maine – Not intended for federal purposes
- Maryland – Not for federal identification
- Massachusetts – Not for federal identification
- Michigan – Not for federal identification
- Minnesota – Not for federal identification
- Mississippi – No indicator
- Missouri – Not for REAL ID purposes
- Montana -Not for federal identification
- Nevada – Not for REAL ID purposes
- New Hampshire – Not for federal identification
- New Jersey – Not for REAL ID purposes
- New Mexico – Not for federal purposes
- North Carolina – Nor for federal identification
- North Dakota – No indicator
- Ohio – Not for federal ID (Note* prior versions of Ohio IDs may have gold star, but are not REAL ID compliant)
- Oklahoma – No indicator
- Oregon – No indicator
- Pennsylvania – Not for REAL ID purposes
- Rhode Island – Not for federal identification
- South Dakota – No indicator
- Tennessee – No indicator
- Utah – Not valid for identification (Driving privilege only)
- Vermont – Drivers privilege card
- Virginia – Federal limits apply
- Washington – Federal limits apply
- Washington D.C. – Not valid for official federal purposes
- West Virginia – No indicator
- Wisconsin – Not for federal purposes
Will IDScan.net still be able to read REAL IDs?
Yes. Since it was announced, we have worked closely with state and federal agencies to ensure we train our AI to accept the new ID format while also training it to catch REAL ID counterfeits. Our VeriScan Authentication platform has been trained over countless hours to recognize the nuances of each state and federal ID in both the existing format and the upcoming REAL ID format. Using an authentication ID scanner, our software will still be able to successfully read REAL IDs while simultaneously flagging fake and suspicious IDs.
