REGIONAL- If you have a domestic flight booked for any time after May 6, you’ll be turned away from airport security if you don’t have a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification.
After nearly two decades of delays, the federal Real ID requirement is officially set to take effect May 7.
The Real ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 as a response to security vulnerabilities exposed by the 9/11 attacks. It requires states to issue driver’s licenses and ID cards that meet stricter federal standards. The compliant licenses or cards are marked by a gold star in the upper right-hand corner. Implementation of the requirement has been delayed numerous times.
Though Real IDs have been available in Minnesota since 2018, uptake has been slow. As of early February, only 41 percent of Minnesotans had a Real ID, according to the state Department of Public Safety (DPS). The national average is about 60 percent.
What will happen?
After May 7, Minnesotans without a Real ID or other federally approved ID will not be able to pass through airport security for domestic flights using a standard driver’s license.
In lieu of a Real ID, travelers may also use the following TSA-approved documents:
• A valid U.S. passport or passport card.
• Enhanced driver’s license (EDL).
• U.S. military ID.
• Permanent resident card (green card).
• Federally recognized tribal-issued photo ID.
• Veteran Health Identification Card.
For a complete list of acceptable documents, visit https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.
An enhanced driver’s license or ID, which costs $15 more than a standard license, meets Real ID requirements and can also be used to travel by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and parts of the Caribbean. It is not valid for international air travel.
In Minnesota, Real ID cards currently take up to six weeks – about 42 days – to arrive by mail. If you submit in the next week, you are unlikely to receive a Real ID before Memorial Day weekend.
“You can still apply any time, even after May 7,” DPS stated in a social media post. “Plan ahead if traveling this summer to have your card before your trip.”
Applications
To apply for a Real ID in Minnesota, individuals must provide:
• One document proving full legal name, date of birth, and U.S. citizenship or legal presence, such as a passport or birth certificate.
• Two documents proving Minnesota residency with the applicant’s name and address, such as a utility bill or bank statement.
• Social Security number.
Applicants who have changed their name at any point must also provide legal documentation of each name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order.
Electronic copies of documents can be uploaded online for pre-verification, but printed copies must be brought to a DVS office for final processing. Digital versions on phones are not accepted.
The cost for a Real ID-compliant Class D license is $46 for a new card or $41 for renewals — the same fees as a standard license.
Real ID uses
A Real ID will be required for boarding domestic flights, entering military bases, and accessing a limited number of federal buildings where identification is routinely required. Offices such as Social Security offices that do not require identification to enter will not require Real IDs.
A Real ID is not required for driving, voting, buying alcohol or tobacco, visiting hospitals or receiving healthcare, or conducting banking transactions – a standard driver’s license will continue to be acceptable for these uses. Children under 18 who are traveling alone domestically do not need a Real ID if accompanied to security by an adult who has a Real ID or acceptable identification. However, parents or guardians should check with specific airlines for information about possible restrictions or additional fees.
For complete information on how to obtain a Minnesota Real ID, go online to https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/license-and-id/dl-and-id-card-information/real-id-dl-and-id-card.