From The Press Room

• Over $79 Million in REAL ID State Grants Released
• All Jurisdictions Meet Initial REAL ID Requirements
• REAL ID Regulation Released

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More from Homeland Security

• REAL ID: Final Rule
• Privacy Impact Assessment: REAL ID
• REAL ID: Myths & Facts

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Related Resources

• Real ID Grant Guidance
• REAL ID Regulatory Evaluation
• Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief Act

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REAL ID

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REAL ID is a law and rule that establishes minimum standards for state-issued driver's licenses and personal identification cards. REAL ID compliant drivers licenses and ID cards will allow you to board a federally-regulated airplane, access a federal facility or a nuclear power plant.

The REAL ID Act of 2005, was passed by Congress to make it more difficult to fraudulently acquire a drivers license or ID card, as part of the effort to fight terrorism and reduce fraud.

REAL ID compliant licenses and ID cards must meet minimum standards which include

• information and security features that must be incorporated into each card
• proof of identity and U.S. citizenship or legal status of an applicant
• verification of the source documents provided by an applicant
• security standards for the offices that issue licenses and identification cards

The 9/11 Commission endorsed the REAL ID requirements, noting that “For terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons … All but one of the 9/11 hijackers acquired some form of identification document, some by fraud.  Acquisition of these forms of identification would have assisted them in boarding commercial flights, renting cars, and other necessary activities.”

REAL ID Next Steps

REAL ID went into effect May 11, 2008. Recognizing states need more time to implement REAL ID, the department has offered states an extension to allow time to meet the requirements. States granted extensions.

If your state has been granted a REAL ID extension, your current driver's license is still a valid form of identification for boarding a federally-regulated airplane, accessing a federal facility or nuclear power plant.

More information on REAL ID for states and for individual citizens.

This page was last reviewed/modified on June 20, 2008.