It’s been a rocky rollout, but the deadline for Real ID is finally here.
Roots of the Real ID Act date to 2005, when Congress passed a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Fast forward to now. The enforcement date for that 20-year-old federal legislation is May 7, 2025 — earlier deadlines were scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. Starting that day, American citizens age 18 and older need a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, permit, or identification card to board a commercial airplane or enter certain federal facilities, such as military bases. Legal residents without U.S. citizenship may obtain a Real ID, but they must provide evidence of their legal status.
A compliant driver’s license or other identification features a star on the front near the top right corner. Without that marking, “it is not Real ID-compliant and won’t be accepted as proof of identity to board commercial aircraft,” Homeland Security says. A valid U.S. passport or passport card can be used as a substitute for a Real ID card in order to board a domestic commercial flight.
How to get the Read ID star on your driver’s license, or another form of compliance? You’ll need to collect documents establishing your identify and take those to Indiana’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If you were born in Indiana and need a copy of your birth certificate, here’s a starting point to track it down.
The approaching deadline has brought added traffic to already-busy BMV offices, which have been churning out compliance stars. That said, Hoosier long have had a head start: Indiana began issuing Real ID driver’s licenses in 2010.
“We have issued over four million Real ID-compliant cards to Hoosiers. This accounts for 80 percent of total credentials issued,” Sarah Dickerson, communications and engagement manager with the Indiana BMV, told Evansville Business on April 29.
Unsure if you’re compliant? Homeland Security has a questionnaire online.
Dickerson also notes the BMV’s website and its Facebook and Instagram pages have been reminding Hoosiers of the May 7 deadline, as well as the documentation needed to meet Real ID requirements.
