REAL ID: What you need to know ahead of the 2023 deadline
Starting in 2023, Pennsylvania residents will need a REAL ID to board a flight or access certain facilities.
PHILADELPHIA - Those who want to travel by air will soon need a little gold star on their diver's license in order to do so.
The star, which will be located in the upper right corner of driver's licenses, indicates that a driver's license is a REAL ID, which is a credential that travelers will need to have in 2023.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says REAL IDs will be required starting May 3, 2023, and Pennsylvania residents will have the option to upgrade to a REAL ID at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) office. New Jersey residents will need to schedule an appointment to visit their local motor vehicle commission to get their REAL ID and in Delaware, residents will need to visit a motor vehicle's office.
A standard license will not be valid to board a flight or access a secure federal building, like a military base or certain federal offices, according to officials.
"Although a year seems like a long time to get ready, the deadline will be upon us before you know it," says PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary, Melissa Batula. "We encourage our customers who want a REAL ID to get one as soon as possible. We continue to focus on providing the best possible customer service to all of our customers as the federal deadline approaches."
RELATED
- After coronavirus pause, PennDOT resumes issuing REAL IDs
- PennDOT rolls out REAL ID awareness campaign
- What to Know: Real IDs now available in Pennsylvania
- Real ID deadline extended to 2023 due to ongoing pandemic: DHS
According to the TSA, REAL IDs are needed to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver's licenses and ID cards to block terrorists' ability to avoid detection by using fraudulent identification.
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 and enacted by the 9/11 Commission, which recommended the federal government "set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses."
The deadline was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the new requirement will apply to any traveler 18 years old and older.
Even if a traveler has TSA PreCheck, they will still need a REAL ID to travel by air.
For more information on the change to REAL IDs, visit the TSA's website here.