The Real ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005 to improve security standards for license issuance, will take effect on May 7, 2025, according to the TSA. Two decades after its passage, the requirement is set to reshape domestic air travel.

Starting May 7, 2025, travelers in the U.S. will be required to comply with REAL ID regulations to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.

Starting May 7, 2025, REAL ID-compliant identification will be mandatory for air travel and other federal purposes. This new rule from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ensures stricter security standards for state-issued IDs.

Travelers and those accessing federal facilities will soon need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another approved form of identification under new security requirements. The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005 in response to 9/11 Commission recommendations,