REAL ID Enforcement Starts In CT, But Can You Still Fly Without One?

CONNECTICUT — After years of preparation and delays, REAL ID enforcement began Wednesday — but for those without the new identification needed to fly domestically, federal officials are now saying that they will still be able to travel.

Speaking to a congressional panel on Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem assured people who don't yet have a REAL ID but need to take a domestic flight that they will be able to fly after clearing additional identity checks.

Noem told the panel that 81 percent of travelers already have identification that complies with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification.

Those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law "may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step," Noem said.

"But people will be allowed to fly," she said. "We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible."

A REAL ID is verified by a gold star in the top right corner of your license or ID card; without a gold star, an ID is considered non-verified.

To travel domestically by air, or to enter some federal government buildings, Connecticut residents 18 years old or older must show one of the following:

• A verified REAL ID license
• A verified REAL ID state-issued ID card
• A passport
• Permanent resident card

What is a REAL ID and who needs one?

The REAL ID law, passed in 2005 in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, strengthens national security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.

REAL ID was originally supposed to take effect in 2008 but has been delayed for multiple reasons, including those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. States’ lack of urgency is also to blame, according to testimony at a late December 2023 Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security hearing.

Federal agencies, including the TSA, began REAL ID enforcement on Wednesday. Agencies may choose to phase in enforcement, but TSA officials have been urging people to upgrade their licenses sooner rather than later "to facilitate a smooth transition."

The REAL ID Act of 2005 does not affect those who only need their ID for driving purposes or identification, and does not apply to those under 18.

What do I need to get a REAL ID?

To obtain a REAL ID, a Connecticut resident who is a U.S. Citizen, or a legal permanent resident, must set up an appointment at a Department of Motor Vehicles branch, AAA/DMV Express location or Nutmeg Credit Union, Connecticut DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera told News 12 Connecticut.

In Connecticut, to obtain a REAL ID, a person will need:

• A U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate
• A Social security card (if lost, you can request a replacement here)
• Two pieces of mail from two different sources dated within 90 days to prove that you live in Connecticut

Your REAL ID will come through the mail and should arrive within 20 days. However, you cannot apply for a REAL ID by mail, and if you receive something in the mail purporting to be a REAL ID application that says you have to mail in, you have been scammed, Guerrera added.

For more information on REAL ID in Connecticut and the requirements, click here.

— Megan VerHelst, Patch Staff, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.