REAL ID Deadline: What Texans Need to Know for Air Travel

REAL ID Deadline Approaching

• ✈️ The TSA is reminding travelers that starting May 7th, a regular driver's license or ID will not be sufficient for domestic flights.
• 🔒 This change is to enhance security by establishing a higher standard for identification.

Identifying a REAL ID

• ⭐ To check if your license is REAL ID compliant, look for a small star in the upper right corner.
• ⚠️ If your license lacks this star, you will need an alternative form of approved identification to pass through security.

Accepted Alternative IDs

• 🛂 Accepted forms of identification include a passport, permanent resident card, federal tribal card, or TWIC card.
• 🤝 Trusted traveler cards, such as Global Entry, are also valid forms of identification.
• ❗ TSA PreCheck or Clear Entry alone are not sufficient if your driver's license is not REAL ID compliant; you will still need the star.

Potential Delays and DMV Appointments

• ⏳ Travelers without a REAL ID-compliant license may face additional background checks and significant delays at security checkpoints.
• 🗓️ Appointments at local DMVs are filling up quickly, so it is advisable to update your license as soon as possible.

Texas REAL ID Compliance

• ✅ Texas has been issuing REAL ID-compliant IDs since 2016, and the state is 98% compliant.
• 📝 If you need to obtain a REAL ID, you will need to bring proof of identity (like a birth certificate), proof of Social Security number, and two documents showing your current address.