REAL ID Deadline For MA Residents Coming Soon: What You Need To Know

MASSACHUSETTS — The deadline to obtain a Massachusetts REAL ID — which will be needed to board domestic flights and enter federal buildings — is now less than a month away.

Beginning on May 7, those 18 or older will need a REAL ID or other identification accepted by the TSA to fly even within the country as well as enter many government buildings.

At a Massachusetts state budget hearing last week, the head of the Registry of Motor Vehicles said air travelers won't necessarily be subject to a "hard stop" if they don't have a Real ID by the federal deadline of May 7, 2025.

• What Happens If You Don't Get A Real ID Before The Deadline? Massachusetts RMV Head Talks "Phased Enforcement"

Registrar Colleen Ogilvie told lawmakers she doesn't anticipate any further deadline extensions, but she said that federal authorities have planned to offer a "phased enforcement" program.

The Department of Homeland Security has already extended the deadline for REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses multiple times, most recently in late 2022 when the agency moved the implementation date back two years to 2025.

As of January 2024, only about 56 percent of people in the U.S. had driver's licenses and ID cards that are REAL ID-compliant.

A REAL ID is distinguishable from a regular Massachusetts driver's licensebecause it has a star in the upper right-hand corner. That's a shorthand way of saying a person's citizenship and legal residence status have been verified.

If your license has that star, it means you already have a REAL ID and do not have to do anything ahead of the May 7 deadline.

How Do I Get A REAL ID?

REAL ID cards are issued at driver's licensing stations in Massachusetts. In general, those seeking them need to provide documentation showing their legal name, date of birth, Social Security number or proof of lawful status to be in the United States, and two proofs of the address of their principal residence.

Residents must provide a valid U.S. Passport, original or certified version of a birth certificate, and proof of residence — which could include a current license, firearm carrying license, property tax bill, jury duty notice, excise tax bill, insurance bill, utility bill, mortgage statement within the past 60 days, rental contract, W-2 form, pay stub, bank statement, school record or transcript, or alternative residency affidavit for those under 18 years old.

Residents can start the application process online here and finish it in some cases.

Those who don't plan to fly domestically or visit a federal office don't need to do anything. A REAL ID is not required to get a driver's license.

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Also, the TSA won't require children younger than 18 to provide identification when they’re traveling with an adult companion within the United States, but the companion must have acceptable identification.

The REAL ID is not a substitute for a passport required for international travel, and it also does not affect the ability to vote or register to vote, apply for federal benefits, enter federal facilities that don't require identification, obtain medical care, or participate in police proceedings or investigations.

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