Planning to fly soon? Here's how to make sure your Florida driver's license is Real ID compliant
May 7, 2025.
Remember the date. Yes, it's National Tourism Day, which is appropriate since it's also the deadline to have a Real ID if you plan to fly anywhere. Yes, that includes flying inside the United States. It's also Bike to School Day but you won't need a Real ID for that trip.
Here's what you will need a Real ID for and how you can get it.
It used to be easier to get a driver's license in some states than in others.
After 9/11, Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005, which established minimum security standards for getting a driver's license anywhere in the U.S.
Florida began issuing Real ID-compliant cards in January 2010.
If you intend to board a commercial airplane, you'll need to have a Real ID driver's license, state identification card or passport by May 7, 2025, to get through the TSA checkpoint.
Starting May 7, 2025, anyone 18 and older who plans to take a domestic flight will need a Real ID-compliant driver's license or identification card, state-issued enhanced driver's license, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification at airport security checkpoints.
Every state resident in the U.S. must have a Real ID-compliant driver's license or identification card — or valid passport — to board a commercial aircraft within the U.S. starting May 7.
Without a Real ID — or acceptable alternative — travelers will not be permitted through the security checkpoint.
According to Homeland Security, travelers without their approved IDs can expect to face "delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint," even if you're a TSA PreCheck passenger.
If you don't have a Real ID, you'll need:
A REAL ID-compliant identification card.
A valid passport or passport card.
Real ID cards in Florida are issued to first-time and renewing customers at a local driver's license service centers or tax collector offices.
You must visit an office in person to get a Real ID the first time, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Since January 2020, those in Florida without a Real ID license have not been able to renew their licenses online through the MyDMV Portal.
If your card is not Real ID-compliant and you aren't up for renewal before May 7, 2025, make an appointment to get a new card. Locations can be found here.
A Class E license can be renewed up to 18 months prior to its expiration date.
No. The TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States.
However, the person traveling with the child will need acceptable identification, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
To get a Real ID, you'll need to bring original copies of documents to prove your identity, legal residence, Social Security status and date of birth. For U.S. citizens, you'll need to bring one of the primary documents listed below:
Valid, unexpired U.S. passport
Original or certified copy of a birth certificate
Consular report of birth abroad
Certificate of naturalization issued by DHS
Certificate of citizenship
If your name has changed from the one on your primary identity document, you should also bring:
Court-ordered name change document
Marriage certificate, issued by the courts, and/or
Divorce decree, issued by the courts
In all cases, the document must show a clear trail of name changes originating with the birth name to the current name.
Non-citizens will need to bring:
Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card – I-551 for Lawful Permanent Residents
Valid passport for non-immigrants except for asylum applicants and refugees
Other government-issued document showing your full name
Department of Homeland Security document showing proof of lawful presence
If your name has changed by marriage/divorce, you must have your name changed on your Citizen and Immigration Services documents.
Both citizens and non-citizens will need to bring:
Your Social Security Card or proof of your Social Security number. You can find a list of documents that provide proof of your Social Security number on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle's What to Bring page.
Two documents that show your principle residence.
Once your identity and legal status have been verified, a driver's license or identification card will be issued within 60 days and mailed to the address on the driver's record.
In Florida, a Real ID card has a gold circle with a white star in the top right corner of your driver's license or state identification card. If the star is there, it's Real ID compliant.
If you've received a new or renewed Florida driver's license or ID since January 2010, you should be good to go but check the upper right corner of your card for the star.
The fee for an initial Florida Class E license (including learner's permit) is $48 and a commercial driver's license (Class A) license is $75.
The fee for a state ID card is $25.
Most local tax collector offices also charge a $6.25 service fee.
No. Real ID cards cannot be used for border crossings or international travel.
If you're traveling internationally, you still need a passport.
If the star is there, it's Real ID compliant.
Don't count on the Real ID deadline to be extended. It's already been extended at least twice because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contributor: C.A. Bridges, USA Today Network-Florida
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Real ID: What to know, make sure your license valid
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