Do I need a Real ID to fly within the United States?
Yes. Since 7 May 2025 you need a REAL ID compliant licence to fly within the US, unless you carry a passport or another ID on the TSA's accepted list.
Updated
What REAL ID enforcement means in practice
Enforcement began on 7 May 2025 and is still in force. At every TSA checkpoint, adult passengers have to present a REAL ID compliant state licence or ID card, or another document from the TSA's accepted list.
A compliant card normally carries a star in the top corner. A few states use their own marking, so check with your state motor vehicle agency if you cannot see one. If you are booking a US trip on trip1, sort the ID out well ahead of your travel date, because appointments at state offices fill up.
What the TSA accepts instead of a REAL ID
You do not need a REAL ID at all if you already carry another accepted document. The TSA's list includes:
- A US passport or US passport card
- A DHS trusted traveler card: Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST
- A state-issued enhanced driver's licence
- A permanent resident card, or an employment authorization card (Form I-766)
- A US Department of Defense ID, including dependent IDs and Common Access Cards
- A foreign government-issued passport, or a border crossing card
- A photo ID issued by a federally recognised Tribal Nation
- A Canadian provincial driver's licence or an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- A Transportation Worker Identification Credential, a US Merchant Mariner credential, an HSPD-12 PIV card or a Veteran Health Identification Card
What happens if you arrive without one
You are not automatically turned away, but you will lose time. Officers tell you the ID is not compliant and send you to a separate area for identity verification and additional screening.
Since 1 February 2026 the TSA has also offered a paid route called TSA ConfirmID. You fill in an online form and pay a 45 dollar fee to have your identity checked, and the receipt stays valid for 10 days. The TSA says it usually takes 10 to 15 minutes, but it can run to half an hour or more.
Important: Neither the checkpoint process nor TSA ConfirmID guarantees you clear security. If your identity cannot be verified, you do not fly, so treat this as a last resort and not as a plan.
Children, international flights and hotel check-in
The TSA does not require identification from passengers under 18 on domestic flights. Airlines can still ask for proof of age, particularly for an infant travelling on a lap, so bring a birth certificate copy if that applies.
REAL ID is a domestic rule only. For any flight leaving the United States you need a passport, and often a visa or a travel authorisation as well.
Hotels are a separate matter. A US hotel will normally accept a driving licence as photo ID at check-in whether or not it is REAL ID compliant, and your trip1 booking confirmation covers the reservation itself.
REAL ID for US domestic flights - FAQ
You need either a REAL ID compliant licence or one of the other IDs the TSA accepts, such as a US passport, a passport card or a Global Entry card. A plain state licence without the compliance marking is not enough on its own.
You are told your ID is not compliant and sent to a separate area for identity verification and extra screening. Since 1 February 2026 there is also a paid online option called TSA ConfirmID, and neither route guarantees you get through.
Yes. A valid US passport or passport card is accepted at every TSA checkpoint and is the simplest alternative if your licence is not compliant.
Look for a star marking in the top corner of the card. Some states use a different marking, so check your state motor vehicle agency if you do not see a star.
No. The TSA does not require identification from passengers under 18 on domestic flights, although your airline may still ask for proof of age.
