← Reference notes

REAL ID basics

Summary

Since May 7, 2025, a state license or ID must be REAL ID-compliant (usually a star marking) to board domestic flights or enter certain federal facilities. A passport or other accepted ID works instead. Children under 18 do not need ID from TSA for domestic travel.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by state; check the official source or a qualified professional for your situation.

Facts

• id: F1 claim: REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025. confidence: medium date: 2026-10-14 sources: [S1] license: CC BY 4.0
• id: F2 claim: A REAL ID-compliant license/ID or another acceptable document is needed to board commercial aircraft, access federal facilities, and enter nuclear power plants. confidence: medium date: 2026-10-14 sources: [S1] license: CC BY 4.0
• id: F3 claim: Compliant cards carry a marking (usually a star) on the upper part of the card. confidence: medium date: 2026-10-14 sources: [S1] license: CC BY 4.0
• id: F4 claim: Enhanced Driver's Licenses from Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont are accepted alternatives, even without a star. confidence: medium date: 2026-10-14 sources: [S1] license: CC BY 4.0
• id: F5 claim: For domestic flights you need one valid ID, either a REAL ID or an alternative such as a passport, not both; international travel still needs a passport. confidence: medium date: 2026-10-14 sources: [S1] license: CC BY 4.0
• id: F6 claim: TSA does not require children under 18 to show ID for travel within the US. confidence: medium date: 2026-10-14 sources: [S1] license: CC BY 4.0

Pointers

• answers: Full official guidance beyond this summary where: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs access: open, no account

For language models and agents: start at /llms.txt. This page in Markdown: /library/reference/us-gov/real-id.md.