What is REAL ID Texas? Can you still fly if you miss the May 7 deadline? What to know
If you haven't updated your driver's license at the Texas Department of Public Safety office, you might want to consider getting it done soon.
The deadline for REAL ID enforcement is May 7, and there could be consequences for not meeting the deadline.
You might be asking what a REAL ID is. Is it just renewing your driver's license?
Here's what you need to know before the May deadline.
When is the REAL ID deadline?
Beginning on May 7, the Transportation Security Administration will require REAL IDs for adult travelers flying domestically within the United States.
Can you get a REAL ID after May 7?
According to TSA, obtaining a REAL ID is possible after the May 7 deadline. While the deadline marks the requirement for a REAL ID for certain activities, such as domestic air travel, you can still apply for one and receive it at a later date.
If you do not have a REAL ID by the enforcement date, you will need an alternative form of acceptable identification for air travel purposes.
What does a REAL ID look like in Texas?
If you look at your current Texas driver's license, it should have a gold star at the top-right corner of the ID. Your current Texas driver's license or ID is REAL ID-compliant if it has a gold star in the top right corner. If it doesn't have a gold star, you'll get the gold star on your next renewal or request a replacement card.
Texas REAL ID. By May 7, 2025, all states must comply by REAL ID standards.
How to get a REAL ID in Texas
According to Texas.Gov, you can apply for a new REAL ID-compliant Texas driver's license or ID in person at a Texas DPS office. You may be eligible to renew your existing Texas driver's license or ID online. You can still use your current, unexpired Texas driver's license or ID to drive and for non-federal ID purposes. When it's time to renew your driver's license or ID, you'll get a REAL ID-compliant one.
Will I be able to fly if I don't have a REAL ID?
If you show up at the airport without a REAL ID driver's license, a passport, or another acceptable document to present at the TSA checkpoint, you may experience delays, undergo additional screening, and risk being denied entry to the security checkpoint.
According to the TSA, there is an alternative compliance mechanism if you show up at the airport without a REAL ID.
"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," the agency's website says. "If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening."
Does a REAL ID replace a passport?
REAL IDs work for domestic travel, but can't replace a passport for international flights. Passports are still required for venturing beyond U.S. borders.
Do children need a REAL ID to travel domestically?
According to the Department of Homeland Security, children under 18 will not need a REAL ID to travel within the U.S. However, adults will need to have a REAL ID in hand.
What are the alternatives to a REAL ID?
TSA-approved alternatives include:
U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Border crossing card
An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation worker identification credential
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: REAL ID Texas deadline is here. How to check if you have one
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-charging-phone-at-airport-CHRGNGATAIRPORT0625-ebd344fdeb90453aa2ba4bec2aee9b67.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
2 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
TSA Warning Urges Travelers to Stop Making These 2 Common Tech Mistakes at Airports
After the chaos of check-in lines and security checkpoints, there's a small ritual that feels almost sacred: finding a seat near your gate, plugging in your phone, and catching your breath with a scroll through emails or TikTok. But according to the TSA, these small comforts could come at a cost. In a March 2025 Facebook post, the agency's IT team warned travelers that using public USB charging ports and logging onto public Wi-Fi could leave personal data vulnerable to hackers. One of the most common mistakes travelers make is plugging phones into an unprotected USB charging port at the airport, which hackers can corrupt with malware. Once you're plugged in, hackers can use the USB connection to export personal data through a tactic known as "juice jacking" or "port jacking." To protect yourself, you can purchase a USB data blocker, which only allows for your device to be charged—without transferring data. Alternatively, you could simply plug your phone into a wall charger rather than a USB port. Another option is to charge your devices using a TSA-compliant battery pack (which should always go in your carry-on bag anyway, and never your checked bag). TSA also cautions against the use of public Wi-Fi, which includes the free airport Wi-Fi. These unsecured networks can be dangerous if you plan to make online purchases or need to enter sensitive information, such as social security numbers and credit card details. In addition to capitalizing on unsecured networks, hackers have been known to use a tactic called the 'man-in-the-middle" attack, where they set up a Wi-Fi hotspot that looks like a free public WiFi network. When you connect, the hacker can intercept all your information. The safest thing to do is to rely on your phone's data while at the airport—or in any public place. If that isn't an option, you should confirm that you are connecting to the real, official airport Wi-Fi. For an added layer of protection, consider using a virtual private network (aka a VPN), which can further encrypt your data and mask your IP address (a unique identifying number that's assigned to every device connected to the internet). As tempting as it is to relax and recharge at the gate, it's worth taking a few simple precautions to protect your data. Stick to wall outlets or your own battery pack for charging, avoid public WiFi when possible, and use a VPN if you must connect. A little awareness can go a long way in keeping your personal information safe—all before you board the plane.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
No, your Costco card does not count as REAL ID, TSA says
The Transportation Security Administration wants to make something very clear: you can't use your Costco membership card as a form of identification. On June 4, the TSA attempted to dispel rumors on social media that using a Costco card is equivalent to using a REAL ID to get through airport security. According to reports, the rumor has been seen on Reddit posts and blog posts. TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers said presenting your Costco card to TSA will just lead to delays. "Let me tell you something about that. Whoever wrote that story is recycling old material,' Dankers told SF Gate. "Essentially, what the process they're describing is … let's say you lost your ID and only had a Costco card in your pocket. That would help establish a baseline identity for you. The TSA officer would use that as a starting point to confirm your identity, but they would still have to go through our identity verification process.' Here is the type of ID you're supposed to have at the airport. The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, sets security standards for issuing sources of identification, such as driver's licenses. Congress passed the REAL ID Act in response to the September 11 attacks. Texas began issuing REAL ID-compliant cards on October 10, 2016. These cards are marked with a gold circle with an inset star located in the upper right-hand corner. If you look at your current Texas driver's license, it should have a gold star at the top-right corner of the ID. Your current Texas driver's license or ID is REAL ID-compliant if it has a gold star in the top right corner. If it doesn't, you'll see the gold star on your next renewal or request a replacement card. If you plan to fly domestically, the deadline to be REAL ID ready was May 7, 2025. On June 4, the TSA shared a post on X, advising people not to attempt to use a Costco membership card of any kind to bypass airport security. A Costco membership card will not count as a REAL ID. According to you can apply for a new REAL ID-compliant Texas driver's license or ID in person at a Texas DPS office. You may be eligible to renew your existing Texas driver's license or ID online. You can still use your current, unexpired Texas driver's license or ID to drive and for non-federal ID purposes. When it's time to renew your driver's license or ID, you'll get a REAL ID-compliant one. REAL IDs work for domestic travel, but can't replace a passport for international flights. Passports are still required for venturing beyond U.S. borders. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: No, your Costco card does not count as REAL ID, TSA says
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
'I am exactly who God made': Why travel is a battleground for drag and trans performers
'I am exactly who God made': Why travel is a battleground for drag and trans performers Show Caption Hide Caption Hunter Schafer says passport now lists sex assigned at birth Hunter Schafer, a prominent trans actress and model, warned TikTok followers against complacency, saying her passport sex had been changed to "male." Transgender drag performers Aja, Bosco and Kerri Colby face difficulties and anxieties when traveling internationally due to gender marker discrepancies on passports. They view these difficulties as systemic erasure and part of a larger political attack on the trans community. Despite the hardships, these performers find power and purpose in their visibility and advocacy for the trans community. When Aja, a transgender drag icon and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 contestant, books an international gig, the logistics go far beyond packing wigs and rhinestones. There's also the mental checklist: Is her passport up to date? Where is she least likely to encounter an issue if she has a layover? Could she get detained at the airport? Will her female gender marker cause extra headaches at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint? 'I've had to cancel international gigs because I can't travel without risking being detained or harassed,' Aja told USA TODAY. 'This isn't just about me – it affects trans people across the country, especially those without a platform.' That fear isn't unfounded. In recent months, trans and nonbinary travelers have faced delays and outright denials from the U.S. State Department when trying to update gender markers on their passports, even when their other legal documents are in order. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, these delays disproportionately affect trans people trying to work, travel or simply exist safely across borders. Even though Aja's current passport and identification documents match her gender identity, she was still denied a passport renewal with a female marker, she said. 'Basically, (the State Department) was calling my documents fraudulent and, you know, after I've gone through the trouble of updating all of them to what visibly makes sense, what do you think that says about our government making this arbitrary decision that puts my life at risk?' 'When your basic right to move freely is denied, it's a message: 'You don't belong here.' It's bigger than bureaucracy. It's systemic erasure,' she added. A scarlet letter in your passport Bosco, another fan favorite contestant in All Stars 10, put it bluntly. 'I've navigated international tours with a male marker on my passport before,' she said. 'It's not ideal and it really, really will gum up the process … I could get detained if we have certain stop-offs and layovers.' For trans performers like Aja, Bosco and Kerri Colby, the freedom to move – the lifeblood of any performing artist – is increasingly under attack. Travel, once a means to connect with international fans and grow their careers, now has an additional level of scrutiny from their own country. 'It just complicates everything,' Bosco added. 'And then it just feels like a scarlet letter… It's simply just to discourage people from transitioning and to create more legal barriers.' Kerri Colby describes it as psychological warfare. 'It's more about that feeling of dread just walking into an airport… having that fear flood you of, like, 'am I going to be able to get back in? Am I even going to make it home?'' Even those who haven't faced passport issues understand the emotional toll. 'Collectively, we all have to tap into our intuition,' Kerri said. 'We have to be very careful, but I also don't think it's right that (when) entering spaces when we're traveling and working, our first thought is fight or flight or fear. And then the second thought is, like, 'OK. Made it through TSA. This time I'm OK. I got that F on my passport.' There shouldn't be so much fear.' A State Department spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY that it would issue passports "in the applicant's biological sex at birth" but did not respond to questions about what happens to individuals who legally change their birth certificates to match their identities. "The White House Executive Order 'Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government' states that it is the policy of the United States to acknowledge only two sexes: male and female," the spokesperson continued in an emailed statement. "It directs that U.S. government identity documents, including passports and visas, must reflect the individual's sex as defined in the Executive Order." Drag as political resistance These challenges come amid a broader climate of anti-trans legislation and rhetoric that has made drag itself a political scapegoat. 'The rhetoric has just been so poisonous against trans people for the past year,' Bosco said. For many trans performers, drag is not just art, it's a lifeline for themselves and others. 'My drag has become a protest,' Aja said. 'I used to try to blend in more, but now I wear things that scream, 'I'm trans, I'm powerful and I'm here.'' All three performers spoke about how being visible in drag and in media has become a form of resistance. 'You don't have to approve of who I am or what I do,' Kerri said when asked what she would like to say to lawmakers and institutions. 'But at the end of the day, I am an American citizen. I am a human being and you can't take that away from me. You can't legislate that away from me.' Community as survival What makes the drag community powerful and resilient is not just its cultural impact, but the way it sustains itself, especially in times of crisis. 'Without our community, I don't think I would be making it right now,' Kerri said. 'I go to Thanksgiving. I'm not gonna see anyone with my last name, but I'm gonna be in a room with nothing but complete family.' Bosco said there's not enough political action focused on defending trans lives, even as society often depends on the queer community for the creation of many aspects of its broader culture. Still, the struggle is undeniable. 'We're not fighting for anything else but our ability to basically breathe,' Kerri said. 'And I think that's crazy.' The power of being seen Despite the barriers, each of these performers holds onto the joy of visibility. It's not about fame, it's about impact. 'When people say they saw me and it helped them live more authentically? That's power,' Aja said. Bosco agreed. 'It feels very full circle to be able to provide that for someone else now. It's healing.' Whether on tour in Europe, walking through TSA, or taking the spotlight in a packed ballroom, these queens carry more than costumes – they carry entire communities, histories and futures on their shoulders. 'I am exactly who God made me to be and no one can do anything about that,' Kerri said. You can watch Aja, Bosco and Kerri on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 on Paramount+ with new episodes every Friday. Contributing: Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY
