REAL ID becomes mandatory Wednesday— Here's what you need to know
That means anyone wishing to fly domestically will need a federally compliant state-issued identification card or a valid passport. Entry to some federal building will also require driver licenses, learner permit or non-driver ID meeting the new requirements deemed more secure by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
'If your New York State license or ID does not have a star or a flag on it, then you do not have a REAL ID-compliant document,' according to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which began issuing the cards in March 2022.
Some New Yorkers may already have an Enhanced ID. Older qualifying identification cards have a U.S. flag on the lower right-hand corner while more recently issued cards have one in the upper-right hand corner. The state has offered Enhanced IDs since 2008. They are REAL ID compliant.
A REAL ID-compliant card is not required to drive, vote, apply for federal benefits, participate in legal proceedings or access health care services in New York. New Yorkers wishing to obtain a REAL ID card must do so at the DMV. Documents proving U.S. citizenship are required.
That includes proof of identity such as a U.S. birth certificate or passport, two proofs of New York residency and a verifiable social security number. Non-U.S. citizens should be able to prove legal presence.
Travelers carrying a standard license after Tuesday can expect delays. They could also be subject to additional screening or possibly turned away, the TSA warns.
New Yorkers will not be able to access a U.S. military base with only a standard driver's license or state ID after the Wednesday deadline.
The REAL ID Act was signed into law in 2005 based on a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission to enhance national security. The cards were expected to roll out nationally in 2008, but encountered several political challenges and logistical setbacks over the years, in addition to delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. State senators from Kentucky last month asked the federal deadline for compliance be extended just a bit longer so their motor vehicles division could get up to speed.
The TSA says 81% of travelers at its checkpoints have presented acceptable identification including REAL ID cards to board flights.
'The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists' ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification,' TSA's Federal Security Director for airports in the New York City region John Essig explained in a statement last week.
Air travel has become especially complicated in 2025, particularly at Newark International Airport, which has faced significant delays over the past week. Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled there, largely due to Federal Aviation Association staffing issues and equipment problems. United Airlines, that airport's largest carrier, recently cut 35 roundtrip flights from its Newark schedule.
Tensions abroad may also contribute to increased security-related diligence at U.S. airports, government building and military installations.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told FOX News the 'safety law' going into effect this week 'allows us to know who's on our federally regulated aircrafts.'
She also claimed over the weekend that 19 states issue driver's licenses to non-citizens, which she believes threatens election security. There are significant consequences for people who vote illegally and data indicates that's an extremely low occurrence.
'Real IDs make identification harder to forge, thwarting criminals and terrorists,' she posted on social media.
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