REAL ID Deadline Is Here: This Is How to Travel In MI Without One

MICHIGAN — The deadline for Michigan travelers to get a REAL ID has arrived, and for those who were not able to secure the new way to fly domestically, options to prove who you are in order to take flights within the United States still remain.

There is a list of other accepted forms of identification for domestic travel, including a valid U.S. passport. Residents could also apply for a U.S. passport card, which provides proof of citizenship and identity.

Passport cards, which are wallet-sized, are not valid for international air travel — but they are accepted for flights within the United States. They are cheaper than a passport book ($65 for adults applying for the first time and $30 for renewals), and typically take four to six weeks to process. Those who want to get their passport cards quicker can pay an extra $60 for expedited processing, which would take two to three weeks. Mailing schedules are not included in processing times.

The State Department has step-by-step instructions on how to apply for a U.S. passport or passport card here. Note that these applications still require an in-person appointment: At a passport acceptance facility (such as a post office or local government office).

Per the Transportation Security Administration, here is the full list of identifications that will also be accepted come May 7:

• 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
• Federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs).
• 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
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

If you don't have an accepted form of ID when you go to fly, you may still be able to board. Per the Travel Security Administration: "The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening. You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if you choose to not provide acceptable identification, you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process, or your identity cannot be confirmed."

What Is A REAL ID?

Beginning May 7, 2025, Michigan residents will need to present a REAL ID-compliant document to fly within the United States and enter certain federal facilities to comply with federal law. REAL ID requirements ensure the secure production and issuance of licenses and IDs to prevent copying or altering.

Michigan’s current license and ID design, which has a star in the upper right corner, will be phased out by January 2029. The new license design has a star in a silhouette of Michigan.

Valid enhanced Michigan licenses and IDs are automatically REAL ID-compliant. Valid U.S. passports and DHS Trusted Traveler’s cards are also already REAL ID-compliant.

Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, following a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission. The date of enforcement changed several times over the past few years, most recently in late 2022, but this deadline has stuck.

If I still want to get a REAL ID, what should I know?

Federal agencies, including the TSA, will begin REAL ID enforcement on May 7. 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."

To convert to REAL ID, visit a Michigan Secretary of State office and provide the following documents:

• Your current Michigan driver’s license or ID.
• A valid, unexpired U.S. passport, birth certificate, or other proof of legal presence document.
• A certified legal name-change document, if your name is different from what is on your birth certificate.

There’s no added charge for converting to REAL ID if you do so at the time of renewing or replacing your license or ID. Otherwise, there is a correction fee ($9 for license; $10 for ID) to convert to REAL ID.

Michiganders can click the link to find a DMV location where they can get a Real ID.