Here To Explore Our World

Travel Stories & Photography with a Splash of History and Oddities

Travelling with Real ID

Starting May 7, 2025, American travellers flying domestically will need a Real ID. This doesn’t need to be a compliant Driver’s License. It can be their passport and other forms such as:

  • US Department of Defense ID
  • Tribal-issued ID
  • Veteran Health ID, including those issued to dependents
  • DHS-trusted traveller cards such as NEXUS and Global Entry
  • Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

and for non-US-citizens, other forms include:

  • Permanent Resident card
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
  • Passport
  • Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

This list is from the TSA website so it’s best to check it before travelling within the US. The listed IDs will be accepted if they are within two years of expiry.

If your ID is not accepted, according to the website this will happen –

”The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening.

You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if you choose to not provide acceptable identification, you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process, or your identity cannot be confirmed.”

Reading comments on social media, it seems that the extra screening many have experienced has been getting their hands swabbed at security. People report just getting a reminder from the officers and so far no one has been denied flying. Many also shared that they just flew with their passport or passport card.

For clarity, both a passport and passport card are valid Real IDs.

From Travel State Gov website –

”The U.S. passport card is a wallet-sized, plastic passport that has no visa pages. The card is proof of U.S. citizenship and identity, and has the same length of validity as the passport book.  

The card is for U.S. citizens who travel by land and sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries.

The card is not valid for international travel by air and is cheaper than the passport book.”

Costs for first-time applicants for a passport:

  • $165 for adults
  • $135 for under 16

Costs for first-time applicants for a passport card:

  • $65 for adults
  • $50 for under 16

Renewal is $130 for a passport and $30 for – passport card.

AI Policy

  • Here to Explore Our World does not use AI to generate text or images. All content is original, human-made, and copyrighted. Public domain material is labeled.
  • We do not consent for our content to used in AI training.

Here to Explore Our World is reader-supported. Posts on the website may include affiliate links. If you click and purchase, Here to Explore Our World earns a commission, at no extra cost to you.