Real ID enforcement begins Wednesday in Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Wednesday marks the start of Real ID enforcement in the United States for anyone flying domestically or who is looking to visit a military base.
It's meant to enhance security.
According to the state's official Real ID website, only 36.6%, or roughly 1.3 million Kentuckians, have a Real ID.
Last week, the Trump Administration declined a request from Kentucky lawmakers to delay the Real ID enforcement start date due to long lines at regional offices for people getting their IDs.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has announced a skip-the-line alternative to avoid waiting at driver licensing offices for your Real ID.
Options are now available using online, in-office, and mail-in renewal forms.
Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news
KYTC has been adding staff and implementing new line management technology to make things smoother for customers.
On Tuesday, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that travelers who do not currently have a Real ID are still able to fly for the time being, but will be diverted to a different line for extra screening.
'People will be allowed to fly,' Noem said. 'We recognize that this is a security issue, and we intend to follow the law. So, we will make sure that it is as seamless as possible and that travelers will get to stay on their intended itinerary. But we are telling people that this law will be enforced, and it will allow us to know individuals in this country of who they are and that they're authorized to travel.'
If you have applied for and have been approved for your Real ID but haven't gotten your official ID card yet, staff at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington said you are allowed to fly with the temporary paper ID given at KYTC offices.
Prep work at Blue Grass Airport has been months in the making for the official Real ID start date.
With that said, airport staff like Community Relations Manager Lauren Simmerman say as you pack for your next vacation, especially in the couple of days after the official Real ID start date Wednesday, you should pack your patience.
LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:
Despite preparation, this is still a new process for everyone, TSA officers included.
After Noem's announcement Tuesday, Simmerman is encouraging one other major thing as people prepare to travel.
'The best advice that we can offer is give yourself plenty of time,' Simmerman said. 'It's going to cause some additional screening, maybe a little bit of extra time and effort on your end, but hopefully they're going to be able to get you through.'
If you don't have a Real ID, you still can travel with several different documents:
Kentucky's REAL ID card versions or other federally approved cards offered by other states
U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS Trusted Traveler card (Global
Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense ID,
including IDs issued to dependents
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
DHS-designated enhanced drivers
license
Federally recognized,
tribal-issued photo ID
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued
passport
Canadian provincial driver's license
or Indian/Northern Affairs Canada
card
Transportation worker identification
credential (TWIC®)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services Employment Authorization
Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card
(VHIC)
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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