Getting Real

In Buzz, February 2023 by Anna Beth Adcock1 Comment

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The REAL ID deadline for domestic flyers was delayed… again.

Great news for procrastinators! In case you missed it, the deadline to get your REAL ID—aka a driver’s license or ID card that also acts as a federally accepted form of identification—has been extended once again. Originally intended to be enforced starting spring 2023 (after being delayed about 15 years already), the requirement has been pushed back another two years to May 7, 2025. But, once we hit that deadline, it’s pretty much mando. While you will still be able to do some things without it (see below), jet-setters aged 18 and older will need that little star on their licenses (or another acceptable form of ID like a passport) for any in-country air travel—or to enter secure government buildings.

The extension, according to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas in a press statement following the announcement, “will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID-compliant license or identification card.” While the deadline may seem distant, we rec you get your REAL ID sooner rather than later. Here’s what you need to know in order to do so. 

COST: $21.50: There is no added fee; it’s the same price as a standard driver’s license or ID card. If you get a REAL ID within six months of expiration, the cost equals that of a renewal. And if you get a REAL ID outside of the renewal period, the price equals a duplicate ($14).

WHERE: Visit your local DMV (appointments recommended).

BRING: You’ll need a few documents: One document (with full name) proving identity and date of birth; one document confirming Social Security number; two documents (with current physical address) proving NC residency; and one or more documents verifying any name change, if applicable.

WHAT YOU NEED IT FOR: Flying domestically; visiting nuclear sites, military bases, federal courthouses, federal prisons or other federal facilities

WHAT YOU DON’T NEED IT FOR: Driving, voting, applying for federal benefits (e.g. Social Security), entering a federal facility that does not require an ID (e.g. a post office), entering a hospital, participating in law enforcement proceedings or investigations (e.g. serving on a federal jury, testifying in federal court, etc.)

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