REAL ID Deadline Approaching For WA Residents: What To Know

SEATTLE — There's just six months left until the federal enforcement of REAL ID begins for commercial domestic air travel, and Washington officials are reminding residents to prepare.

UPDATE: The deadline has been pushed forward once again, this time to May 2023.

Officials with the Washington State Department of Licensing say 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.

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

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, but implementation has been delayed several times.

The latest delay was due to the pandemic. 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.

In Washington state, there are two types of REAL ID-compliant documents: enhanced driver licenses and enhanced ID cards. Both can be obtained by visiting a driver licensing office. To receive either, you'll need to present proof of citizenship, identity, Social Security number, and residence. A list of accepted documents can be found here.

Due to the pandemic, drivers licenses and ID cards can be renewed online, but cannot be upgraded to become REAL ID-compliant without an in-person application.

After completing REAL ID application, you should receive your new, REAL ID-compliant license or ID card sometime within the following two weeks.

If that's not feasible, the DOL says there are ways to fly without a REAL ID. Travelers 18 and older can still board domestic flights by using a:

• Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
• U.S. Military ID
• U.S. Passport
• U.S. Passport Card
• Foreign Passport
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
• Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID

You can learn more about Washington's REAL ID requirements by visiting the state's website at id2021wa.com