Real ID Deadline Just Months Away: What To Know In NY

NEW YORK — As the law stands, New York residents who are 18 and older must show a Real ID, a passport or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights or certain federal buildings beginning May 7.

The anti-terrorism law requiring the “gold star ID,” as it’s sometimes called, was originally supposed to take effect in 2008, but has been delayed so often that it has become a running joke.

Will the Real ID Act really take effect this year?

Technically, yes.

The current May 7, 2025, deadline still stands, but the Transportation Security Administration has asked for flexibility to implement enforcement in phases, with progressive enforcement ending in 2027. But that doesn’t mean you should wait until then to make an application.

Here’s what you need to know about getting a Real ID or compliant identification card in New York.

According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, if you are applying for a REAL ID, you must provide two proofs of New York State residency. A New York State license, permit or non-driver ID card, a recent bank statement, or a recent pay stub showing your current New York State address are just some of the acceptable proofs of residency. DMV will accept certain electronic documents such as a utility bill, a credit card statement, or a pay stub if they are printed. Documents with a PO box listed cannot be accepted.

Additionally, any documents issued more than one year before your office visit will not be accepted. For example, a bank statement or utility bill that is provided as proof of residency must have been issued within the last 365 days of the customer’s visit to the DMV.

In addition, you must bring proof of your full, legal name. "DMV may only print your legal name on a REAL ID or Enhanced document. A nickname, like an abbreviated or alternate version of your legal name, is not allowed. If a nickname, abbreviated name, or confirmation name appears on any of your proof documents, additional proof of full, legal name, or proof of a court-ordered name change, must be shown."

If your name has changed once or multiple times due to marriage or divorce, for example, proof of each change, such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree, must be provided to show the connection, the DMV said.

According to the NYS DMV, you can normally only renew a New York State driver's license or non-driver ID card within 12 months or less before the expiration date. However, you can apply for renewal earlier than normal to convert to a REAL or Enhanced License or ID.

To renew early and convert to an enhanced document, your license or ID must

• be valid, not expired, and issued more than 6 months ago
• not expire within the next 12 months
• not be in a conditional or restricted status

You must also meet the proof of lawful status, identity, and residency requirements for a REAL or Enhanced photo document.

The early renewal fees with conversion to REAL or Enhanced photo document fees are based on

• the class of your driver's license or the type of your new photo document, and
• how many full or partial 6-month periods there are between the exact date you apply and your next birthday (the month and the day) and the year of expiration.

If you get a REAL or Enhanced photo document through an early renewal, the year your license expires and your total fee will be different from if you renewed on a normal schedule. The fee can be higher because your license is issued for more months than a normal renewal, the DMV said.

The DMV's online calculator can tell you the fee you would need to pay.

The Real ID Act of 2005 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 that warned of “utter mayhem at our airports” on May 7, 2025, if the deadline is vigorously enforced.

The Department of Homeland Security estimates that only about 70 percent of state-issued identifications would be Real ID-complaint by the deadline.

TSA agents screen about 2.5 million passengers a day, and if just 1 percent of them were to present non-Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses, 25,000 passengers could be turned away in a single day. In a week, 175,000 passengers would be prohibited from flying, 750,000 would be stopped in a month and 2.25 million would be denied in three months.

Under the proposed rule, people are strongly encouraged to get their Real IDs by the May 7 enforcement date, and they may face delays at airport security checkpoints if they don’t have it. Instead of stopping them from boarding aircraft, non-compliant travelers would be issued warnings to get their paperwork in order by May 5, 2027.

“TSA is engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. “REAL ID provides an important security enhancement, and this rule allows us to plan for a range of scenarios to help minimize the potential impact to travelers, industry stakeholders and states during implementation.”

Plans for the gradual rollout are still in progress. The TSA could use a three-strike rule, warning travelers multiple times to acquire their Real IDs before turning them away.

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.