If you are flying to catch an upcoming cruise, you’ll want to know about the REAL ID Act that starts on October 1, 2020.
Beginning on October 1, 2020, everyone who is 18 years and older will be required to have a REAL ID to take a domestic flight. This will mostly affect cruise travelers who take closed loop cruises without a passport.
You will need one of the following forms of ID to take a domestic flight in the U.S. starting in October:
- Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles that are REAL ID compliant*
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
- Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
*REAL ID compliant cards are marked with a star at the top of the card. If you’re not sure, contact your state driver’s license agency on how to obtain a REAL ID compliant card.
For info on all 50 states, including where to obtain a REAL ID, visit the DHS REAL ID website and click your state on the map.
A few states (Michigan, Vermont, Minnesota, and New York) issue REAL ID and state-issued enhanced driver’s licenses, both of which are acceptable. Washington state issues enhanced driver’s licenses only.
State-issued enhanced driver’s licenses are marked with a flag. These documents will be accepted at the airport security checkpoint when the REAL ID enforcement goes into effect.
Legacy Ohio driver’s licenses have a gold star marking on the card, however REAL ID compliant Ohio driver’s licenses have a black cut-out star. If you are not sure whether your card is compliant, contact the Ohio driver’s license issuing agency.
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 after a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission. It will finally go into effect on October 1, 2020.
