VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Real IDs implemented starting May 7
Cam Mollaan: With Memorial Day weekend and summer right around the corner, more people are planning trips. But in less than a month, you must have a Real ID to fly on all domestic flights.
Casey Lange: NCC News’ Riley Fay tells us what this means for future travel. Riley.
Riley Fay: Thanks Casey and Cam, while everyone still has 27 days until the deadline, TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein is urging travelers to get their proper identification now to avoid issues while flying.
Lisa Farbstein: We know that long lines and delays not only impact airline schedules and increase cancellations. And of course, are inconvenient to travelers, but they could also increase possible security risks and escalate any possible physical and verbal abuse of our TSA officers.
Fay: Communications specialist for AAA Valerie Puma says this requirement is to take precautions against fraudulent IDs while flying.
Valerie Puma: Getting all of the states on the same page, having that, that compliance across the board. And it’s going to hopefully keep people even safer.
Fay: You can check if your New York state ID is compliant by making sure there is a black star or an American flag in the top right-hand corner.
Farbstein: And improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification. That’s what happened on 9/11.
Fay: Not only are travel prices increasing nationally with the Real IDs, but they’re also increasing internationally. If you travel into Canada from parts of New York state, the tolls have increased.
Fay: The tolls will increase by a dollar starting May 1.
Puma: A lot of families are even saying, you know. With so many years of not being able to travel, they’ve been saving up, and they’re doing really big trips.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Starting May 7, 2025, you must have a Real ID to travel domestically. A Real ID is a more secure, federally mandated identification, according to Homeland Security.
The Real ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 following the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation for the federal government to set standards on the issuance of identification.
AAA communications specialist Valerie Puma said this has been in the works for a long time.
“Getting all of the states on the same page, having that compliance across the board. It’s going to hopefully keep people even safer,” Puma said.
A Real ID has a star icon on the right-hand side. Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington also have the option of enhanced IDs. They have an American flag on the right-hand side and are Real ID-compliant.
TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said being prepared with the correct identification will help everyone at the airport.
“We know that long lines and delays not only impact airline schedules and increase cancellations and of course are inconvenient to travelers, but that could also increase possible security risks and escalate any possible physical and verbal abuse of our TSA officers,” Farbstein said.
If you fly domestically, you need one of the following types of ID:
- Real ID
- Passport
- Trusted traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- Border crossing card
- Permanent resident card
- Canadian provincial driver’s license
- Veteran Health Identification Card
Some DMVs have extended their hours to accommodate Real ID appointments, which can be made online here.