Do I need a passport for the Real ID Act?

If you wish to fly commercially by October 1, 2020- in just 2 years, your state ID may not be acceptable for domestic travel. You may need to quickly get a passport in order to take a flight from one state to another. On that day, everyone attempting to visit a military base, nuclear power plant, federal building, or board a commercial flight will need to carry an ID that is compliant with the Real ID Act.

Since the Real ID Act of 2005 was implemented in 2008, only 28 states are currently complaint, while 26 states and territories have had to be given extensions. People who did have to comply at the last minute in these states complained of painfully long lines. If you have a family to manage or you just have a busy schedule, you may want to consider getting a passport now. A valid U.S. Passport is a Real ID Act compliant document that will allow you to board a commercial flight if your state is not currently issuing non-compliant IDs.

So you can bet that, typical of most humans and their distaste for long waits in slow lines, those last few months will be very painful for anyone near their local DMV. Here’s what happened… people showed up to renew their license or ID or get a new DL or State ID, and they didn’t have the right documents with them, because of the new, standardized Real ID requirements. They had just waited in already longer than normal line ups – because EVERY ONE IN THE STATE had to renew that year, (not just the people who had a birthday expiry, as would be usual) and there were all new rules you had to follow in order to obtain this new ID.

Travelers that need an ID compliant with the Real ID Act should consider applying for a passport. Apply early as the passport processing times can range form 6-8 weeks or longer. If you are traveling soon and need your passport fast, our team here at ExpressPassport.com can provide you with expedited passport services – so you don’t have to line up to wait in the passport office, AND we can get it to you in as little as 1 business day!

There is plenty of information out there on the Real ID Act and how to obtain your state issued ID card. You can look directly to The Department of Homeland Security – a great place to start, since they created and imposed this Act. They explain their intentions and provide access to plenty of information to help you get your Real ID as painlessly as possible.

 

 

Not getting your Real ID before the imposed deadline will guarantee you will experience longer than imagined waits. Also, if you don’t take a moment to look at what documents you need to bring with you, or you can expect at least two longer than imagined waits. If you are traveling soon, don’t wait! Contact us today and we can help you get an ID that is Real ID Act compliant and soon you can travel across the country without any concerns.