Colorado REAL ID: Enforcement Begins In 1 Year

COLORADO — Coloradans who don't have REAL ID cards have one year to ensure their cards are compliant — the Department of Homeland Security will begin enforcement for air travelers on May 3, 2023.

Coloradans who have a gold or black star in the upper right corner of their ID are compliant. View sample images of compliant ID here.

During the pandemic, the deadline was postponed until next year for Colorado and all other states. The decision to delay enforcement was made amid closures during the pandemic that made it harder for people to get into state motor vehicle departments and get the new IDs.

Most Colorado driver licenses and identification cards have been REAL ID compliant since 2012. Some Colorado identification cards that don't have a gold or black star will not be accepted after May 3, 2023.

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards.

Real ID compliant cards are issued after a more thorough check of an applicant's identification and incorporate new security features that make them harder to counterfeit. Under the Real ID Act, travelers 18 or older wanting to board an airplane by using a driver's license for identification must have one that conforms with the law's stricter requirements.

Coloradans who want a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or photo ID card should get their documents together as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline.

>> More information about applying for new ID in Colorado can be found here.