After 20 years of delays, the REAL ID deadline to fly commercial in the United States has landed. Here are five things to know before flying. 1. What is REAL ID? On May 11, 2005, President George W.

The federal government’s push to finally execute REAL ID travel requirements will take effect Wednesday, amid a push from some Republicans to crack down on voter registration to ensure that those ...

After 17 years of delays, the REAL ID deadline is finally here. The Department of Homeland Security's long-delayed policy requires that all Americans have an ID with REAL ID's telltale star marking in ...

Starting May 7, American travelers over 18 years old will need a REAL ID or otherwise approved form of personal identification to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. Congress ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. A traveler glances at a Real ID sign posted at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago in May. (Nam Y. Huh/AP) Airline passengers ...

Starting May 7, a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or alternative acceptable identification is required for air travel and access to most federal facilities. REAL ID enhances security by requiring ...

Two decades after Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, travelers will finally be asked for compliant IDs to board planes starting Wednesday. Travelers will still be able to fly without a REAL ID, ...

For those who are planning to travel by plane this holiday season, more than a ticket will be needed to board. Travelers now need a REAL ID-compliant identification to board a federally regulated ...

As soon as January, the TSA wants to let air travelers without a REAL ID get through security by purchasing a biometric scan instead. Travelers without a REAL ID-compliant form of identification—such ...

Passengers and crew walk to a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoint while traveling at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, on November 26, 2025.