Behind on getting a Real ID compliant license? Fortunately, if you have a passport you can still fly domestically even without updating your license.
If you don’t have an approved ID, you risk TSA preventing you from traveling. At the very least, you will need to go through additional extensive questioning to ensure your identity is accurate.
Real ID compliance is part of a larger act passed by Congress in 2005 to set “minimum security standards” for the distribution of identification materials, including driver’s licenses according to reporting from USA Today.
The law forbids federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration or U.S. Department of Homeland Security, from accepting state-issued forms of identification that aren’t Real ID compliant.
Here’s what to know about alternatives.
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What are some Real ID alternatives?
TSA-approved Real ID alternatives include:
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Enhanced Michigan driver’s license (says enhanced on the front)
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DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
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U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
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An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
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Foreign government-issued passport
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Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
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Transportation worker identification credential
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
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U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
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Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
What happens if you get to TSA screening and don’t have Real ID?
Without Real ID, you may be turned away and won’t be allowed past the security checkpoint to your gate or plane.
Without proper ID, the TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process that includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening.
You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if you choose to not provide acceptable identification, you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process, or your identity cannot be confirmed.
When is the Real ID deadline?
The deadline to have a Real ID-compliant identification is May 7, 2025.
How did Real ID come about?
Real ID compliance is part of a larger act passed by Congress in 2005 to set “minimum security standards” for the distribution of identification materials, including driver’s licenses, USA TODAY reported. The law means certain federal agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration or the Department of Homeland Security, won’t be allowed to accept state-issued forms of identification that don’t include a Real ID seal.
How can you get Real ID in Michigan?
You can update your ID by visiting your local Michigan Secretary of State branch office. You’ll need to bring the following documents, per the department:
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Your current Michigan driver’s license or ID.
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A certified legal name-change document, if your name is different from what is on your birth certificate.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What happens if I get to TSA screening and don’t have Real ID?
