The TSA Wants to Delay Full REAL ID Enforcement Yet Again

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday proposed a new rule in the federal registry that would delay full REAL ID enforcement until 2027.

The proposal wouldn’t mean that the original May 7, 2025 deadline would go away. Rather it would allow the TSA to enforce the new requirement in phases, with full enforcement not coming until May 5, 2027.

The plan would essentially give the TSA the power to use a phased enforcement plan if it “determines it is appropriate upon consideration of relevant factors including security, operational feasibility, and public impact.”

Here’s why the TSA is making the move:

Enforcement worries

Right now, as of January 2024, only approximately 56% percent of IDs in circulation nationally are REAL ID-compliant. That number is as low as 40% in 22 states.

Americans, who have been through delays with a REAL ID deadline that was originally supposed to be enforced eight years ago, might also be expecting another delay and not feeling the urgency to get a REAL ID. Phased enforcement would mean some consequences for travelers who don’t have a REAL ID, including an escalating warning notice system.

“These consequences will incentivize individuals who experience them to obtain a REAL ID,” the TSA said.

The new plan would allow the TSA to shift deadlines in certain states if it is transparent and visible with the full enforcement plan, preventing a tsunami of possible issues not only at airports but also at DMVs where travelers need to acquire a REAL ID.

Maintaining the deadline

In the proposal, the TSA said it also considered asking for another delay to that hard deadline of May 7, 2025 but opted against it because it believes that the deadline, combined with the flexibility in the new proposal, would be the best way for full adoption, both for agencies and the public.

“By maintaining the current deadline, agencies that do not determine that phased enforcement is appropriate will immediately transition to full card-based enforcement,” it said. “If the deadline is extended, agencies that could immediately transition to full enforcement are unlikely to do so before the new deadline.”

How can you get a REAL ID?

The DHS says that travelers’ first stop is to go to their state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what is needed to get a REAL ID. Typically, at minimum, those applying for a REAL ID will need the following:

• Full Legal Name
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• Two Proof of Address of Principal Residence
• Lawful Status

Other requirements could be needed depending on the state. New York, for instance, will require, on top of those previous requirements, a valid U.S. passport, birth certificate, permanent resident card, or employment authorization card.

The state-by-state guidelines can be found here. For more on what the process is like, read a piece from TMR’s Paul Ruden on his experience obtaining a REAL ID.