TSA Says Passengers Without Real ID Should Get to the Airport 3 Hours Early

The day is almost here. Starting May 7, anyone traveling on a domestic flight inside the U.S. will be required to show a Real ID-compliant form of identification. For most people, that will be a driver’s license with the little star in the corner. And if you don’t have one of those, an American passport will do. But if you don’t have anything that TSA recognizes as compliant with Real ID, the agency is advising passengers to arrive three hours before their flight for extra ID verification.

“Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (e.g., passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint,” TSA spokesperson Daniel D. Velez told Gizmodo via email.

There are a bunch of other forms of identification that are accepted, including a permanent resident card, a border crossing card, or a physical Global Entry card. But a driver’s license is going to be the most common form for most people. And anyone without a Real ID should probably get one of those immediately. If you don’t have one, bring as many non-compliant IDs as you have that include your photo, and make sure you arrive very early.

“If they do not have any acceptable ID, we strongly suggest they arrive to the airport 3 hours prior to their departure time,” Velez told Gizmodo.

Even if you arrive early, however, there’s no guarantee you’ll be allowed to board your flight. So it’s much easier if you just have a Real ID that you can hand over to security.

Which IDs are acceptable? TSA lists them on their website:

• State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
• 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
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
• 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)

How do I know if my driver’s license is a Real ID? If you look in the upper right-hand corner, there should be a star. In the case of the California license pictured below, that star is inside of a golden bear. But most states have a boring old star.

Driver’s licenses are issued by the state, but Real ID technical standards are the same across the country, which is the entire idea behind why the Real ID Act was passed back in 2005. It’s been 20 years, and the deadline for airline passengers to be compliant has been pushed back again and again. But there will be no last-minute reprieve this time. And that’s actually freaked out a number of conspiracy theorists who support President Donald Trump. Guys like Alex Jones think Trump has been tricked into accepting Real ID and insist it’s all the nefarious work of the Chinese, Bill Gates, and George Soros.

But Real ID requirements are here, and if you don’t already have one, get on down to the DMV. Ironically, the type of documents you’ll need to get your Real ID can vary by state, but things like a birth certificate, social security card, and lease agreement are pretty standard fare. Don’t put it off anymore. Because they’re serious this time. And without a Real ID, you’re going to be adding a lot of extra time to your journey at the airport.