REAL IDs will be required for air travel in May: What you need to know
Starting May 7, federal agencies like TSA will be prohibited from accepting state-issued cards that do not meet the requirements for air travel. This means you'll need a REAL ID or an equivalent form of identification to board a domestic flight.
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Possessing a REAL ID is optional in the state of Oregon, but it will still be required if you fly within the country. According to the DMV, only 36% of Oregonians have one.
Kathleen McDonald, a federal security director with TSA said all Oregonians 18 and up will need a , a passport, or another federally recognized ID to get through airport security. TSA has a of acceptable forms of ID.
'If you come on May 7 or later, and you don't have a REAL ID with you, you may experience an additional delay and some additional screening at the security checkpoint,' McDonald said.
And if you have not already gotten your REAL ID, that means you'll need to take a trip to the DMV. Typically you'll need a valid ID, passport or birth certificate; proof of your social security number and date of birth; and two items (from different sources) proving state residency, like mail or bills.
'I made an appointment at the DMV, and the process was seamless. It literally took me like 10 minutes to get it,' McDonald said.
But with , Chris Crabb with the Oregon DMV urges travelers not to drag their feet.
'We are seeing record attendance at our DMV offices,' Chris Crabb with the Oregon DMV said. 'We have offered a lot more appointments — made those available — but they are getting snatched up as soon as we release them.'
Once documents are approved, Crabb said the DMV will issue a temporary card, but that paper copy won't fly with TSA. It could take up to three weeks for the hard copy to land in your mailbox.
'Now is the time. If you had a flight on May 7 and you didn't have a passport or another accepted federal identification, April 16 will be the last day that you would confidently get your card in the mail,' Crabb said.
But before making an appointment, check your wallet. You may already have a REAL ID, as Oregon has been issuing them for years ahead of the deadline. To know for sure, look for a star in the corner of your state-issued ID. If you do, you can save yourself a trip to the DMV.
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Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 following 9/11 to create a national minimum requirement for state driver's licenses and ID cards. The official deadline is May 7, 2025.
Once this deadline passes, you will need a REAL ID or another form of identification in order to fly within the United States or even enter a government building. However, REAL IDs are not the same as a passport and cannot be used for international travel.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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