Countdown to REAL ID in U.S.

Save the date: On Oct. 1, 2020, every U.S. domestic passenger age 18 or older must provide compliant identification to fly within the U.S.

In just over a year, U.S. domestic air travelers age 18 or older must provide a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other acceptable form of identification to fly within the states. The regulation, taking effect Oct. 1, 2020, enacts the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.”

For a driver’s license or identification card to be REAL ID compliant, the state issuing it must have taken steps to increase security, such as incorporating anti-counterfeit technology into the card; verifying the applicant’s identity; and conducting background checks on employees involved in issuing driver’s licenses.

What this means to business travelers:

U.S. domestic passengers will be required to:

Federal agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will not accept non-compliant licenses and identification cards after Oct. 1, 2020.

How to tell if your ID is compliant

REAL-ID compliant identification cards generally feature a star on the top of the card. State driver’s license agencies can help with verifying compliance and obtaining proper identification.

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