REAL ID Deadline Creeping Up In Massachusetts

BOSTON — People who put off renewing their driver's license to the last minute (hello) might want to be on top of the process this time around.

There are less than six months to go before enforcement of REAL ID requirements for certain things like domestic air travel and getting into federal buildings goes into effect.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2021, drivers' licenses and state IDs that are not REAL ID-compliant will not be accepted as identification by federal authorities.

What that means is relatively simple: Your standard license will no longer be enough to get you on a domestic flight or into federal buildings.

REAL IDs will still be optional, but if you don't have one you'll need a U.S. passport or military ID to get fly domestically or get into federal buildings.

You don't need a REAL ID to vote or drive. Children under 18 do not need a REAL ID.

The deadline for REAL IDs had been last October, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed it back to this October.

But again, you don't want to put this off. It could be as many 15 days before you get your REAL ID after applying, so applying in late September could put you at risk for that early October flight.

Obtaining a REAL ID requires an in-person visit to the RMV and costs $50, the same as a standard ID. You can at least start — and in some cases, finish — your application online.

The requirements for applying are different from a standard ID:

You must provide any ONE of the following:

• SSN Card (cannot be laminated)
• W-2 Form
• SSA-1099 Form
• Non-SSA-1099 Form
• A pay stub with the applicant's name and full SSN on it
• SSN Denial Notice with passport, visa, and I-94

ONE of the following:

• Valid, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card
• Certified copy of a birth certificate filed with a State Office of Vital Statistics or equivalent agency in the individual's state of birth — A Puerto Rican birth certificate will only be accepted for identification if it was issued on or after July 1, 2010. For more information on the Puerto Rican birth certificate law, visit the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration website at prfaa.pr.gov
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) issued by the U.S. Department of State, Form FS-240, DS-1350, or FS-545
• Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by DHS or INS
• Temporary I-551 stamp in foreign passport
• Unexpired employment authorization document (EAD) issued by DHS, Form I-766, or Form I-688B
• Unexpired foreign passport with a valid, unexpired U.S. visa affixed — A non-US passport must contain a current visa and be presented with an I-94 Record of Arrival and Departure, unless you have a Permanent Resident Card or other change in status. The I-94 can be either a paper version from U.S. Customs and Border Protection or a printout of an electronic version downloaded from their website at cbp.gov/i94 — For applicable customers who have a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20) or Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (DS-2019) documentation verifying the applicant's most recent admittance into the United States must be shown.
• Certificate of Citizenship, Form N-560, or Form N-561, issued by DHS
• Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
• Re-Entry Permit (I-327)
• Refugee Travel Document (I-571)

TWO of the following:

Massachusetts RMV- issued documents (can use one from the options below):

• Current license, Massachusetts ID card, or learner's permit (liquor ID not accepted)
• RMV-issued correspondence dated within 60 days and received via U.S. mail (including license/registration reminders)

State/federal/municipal/city/town/county agency-issued documents:

• 1st class mail dated within 60 days
• Current MA-issued professional license with photograph
• Medicaid statement dated within 60 days
• Current firearms card
• Jury duty summons dated within 60 days
• Court correspondence dated within 60 days
• Property tax for current year
• Excise tax for current year

Bills

• Utility bill (electric, telephone, water, sewer, cable, satellite, heating) dated within 60 days
• Credit card statement dated within 60 days
• Medical/hospital statement dated within 60 days
• Cell phone bill dated within 60 days

Lease/Mortgage

• Current lease/mortgage or similar rental contract

Financial-related documents

• Bank statement that contains images of cancelled personal checks dated within 60 days
• W-2 wage and tax statement from immediate prior year
• Current pension statement (401k, 457, SEP, etc.)
• Current retirement statement
• Pay stub dated within 60 days
• Current SSA statement
• Current installment loan contract (car loan)

School-issued document

• Official school transcript for current year
• Official letter from school (proof of enrollment) dated within 60 days
• Tuition bill for current year
• Certified school record for current year

Insurance-related documents

• Auto insurance policy for current year
• Renter's insurance policy for current year
• Homeowner's insurance policy for current year

Alternative Residency Affidavit

• For applicants under the age of 18 only

More information on REAL IDs in Massachusetts can be found here.