REAL ID Deadline Approaching For Ohio Residents: What To Know

OHIO — With just six months left until the federal enforcement of REAL ID begins for commercial domestic air travel, Ohio officials are reminding residents to prepare.

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

Officials with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles said residents who want a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or photo ID card should get their documents together as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline.

"Ohio driver licenses and identification cards issued prior to July 2, 2018, will not be accepted by the TSA after Oct. 1, 2021. If customers want to able to board a plane after Oct. 1, 2021, Ohio BMV is encouraging customers to renew early," a BMV spokesperson told Patch.

While REAL IDs are optional, you'll need some form of acceptable identification to board domestic flights and access federal buildings if you do not obtain one. Other IDs that will be accepted to fly or get into a federal building include a U.S. passport or a military ID.

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. Ohio received several extensions to implement the requirements.

The federal Department of Homeland Security postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID from October 1, 2020, to October 1, 2021, in response to COVID-19.

To get a REAL ID you'll need the following documents:

• Proof of identity: Original or certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics with a raised seal/embossed or valid, unexpired, U.S. passport
• Proof of Social Security Number: Social Security card, in current legal name
• Two proofs of current, physical Ohio address: Current, unexpired Ohio driver's license or identification card, vehicle registration or a utility bill with the same name and address
• Proof of all legal name changes (if applicable): Certified marriage certificate(s) issued by the County Court for each marriage, court order(s) approving a change in legal name, or amended birth certificate issued by the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics

There are three ways to get a REAL ID:

• You can visit one of the BMV's brick-and-mortar locations, have your documents verified, and pay the one-time fee. Your REAL ID will be mailed to you within 15 business days. Facilities near you can be found on the Ohio Department of Public Safety's website.
• Customers can take advantage of the “Get in Line, Online” virtual queuing system, which allows them to advance in line without physically waiting in the office. After checking in online, customers have a four-hour window to arrive at the deputy registrar location, check in at a self-service kiosk, and claim their spot in line.

More information on obtaining a REAL ID in Ohio can be found on the Bureau of Motor Vehicles website.