REAL ID Deadline Extended Again For Washington

WASHINGTON — U.S. residents now have an additional 19 months to get a REAL ID card.

Previously the deadline for air travelers to have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification had been Oct. 1, 2021.

Now, that deadline has been postponed until May 3, 2023, for Washington and all other states. The Department of Homeland Security said the new delay is due to the pandemic, which is making it harder for people to get into state motor vehicle departments and get the new IDs. Fewer than half of Americans have obtained their REAL ID.

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. The Department of Homeland Security initially postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID from Oct. 1, 2020, to Oct. 1, 2021, in response to COVID-19.

"Extending the Real ID full enforcement deadline will give states needed time to reopen their driver's licensing operations and ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID-compliant license or identification card," DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

Real ID compliant cards are issued after a more thorough check of an applicant's identification and incorporate new security features that make them harder to counterfeit. Under the Real ID Act, travelers 18 or older will need to have a REAL ID-compliant identification in order to board airplanes.

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 Department of Licensing 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

The DHS said it is continuing to work with all U.S. states and the District of Columbia to implement REAL ID Act requirements. For more information on REAL ID, visit www.dhs.gov/real-id.