REAL ID Emergency Appointments Available In NJ: Here's Who Qualifies

NEW JERSEY — With just days remaining before the May 7 deadline, New Jersey officials have announced a program that will allow travelers with emergencies to obtain a REAL ID driver's license or identification card.

According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, the new program is available to residents needing to board a domestic flight in the next 14 days for urgent travel or a life-or-death emergency and who do not have an acceptable form of identification to clear TSA checkpoints.

The emergency program is being offered in addition to the continued issuance of REAL IDs at licensing centers and mobile units. The program will be offered starting on Thursday.

Emergency appointments must be made through the Real ID Emergency Issuance Request Portal, which will be active on April 24.

To secure an appointment, travelers will be required to show proof of the emergency, including a death certificate, a statement from a mortuary or a letter from a hospital on the facility’s letterhead. They must also provide proof of travel to another state, including an airline ticket or travel itinerary with proof of payment.

Anyone with a valid U.S. passport cannot schedule an emergency appointment, officials said.

An $80 shipping fee will be assessed to expedite the delivery of a REAL ID within a few business days, officials said. There is no fee for the appointment.

Who needs a REAL ID?

Garden State residents who are 18 and older must show a REAL ID, a passport, or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings when enforcement begins on May 7.

The REAL ID is similar to a regular state identification card or driver's license, but has a small star in the upper right-hand corner.

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."

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.

A passport or valid U.S. passport card can still be used to fly domestically and internationally.

What do I need to get a REAL ID?

First, you need to make an appointment through the MVC — and they have been going fast, with most locations showing limited or no availability for non-renewal appointments as of Tuesday morning.

However, those who need to renew their license or non-driver ID in the next three months have plenty of appointments to choose from.

The MVC said it has been adding about 3,000 new appointments in the online scheduler every day to accommodate the "historically high" demand for services and also scheduled several REAL ID Mobile Unit events on Saturdays.

To get a REAL ID in New Jersey, you must bring two proofs of residential address, one proof of Social Security Number and six points of ID (a U.S. Passport or birth certificate counts for four points; one-point forms of ID include a high school diploma, social security card, bank/credit union statement, debit card, property tax statement and more).

A REAL ID is $35, while a standard New Jersey license or ID is $24.