Real ID Update: TSA to Stop Accepting Driver's Licenses from These 9 States and Territories
UPDATE, Jan. 14: The TSA has addressed common questions about these changes on a dedicated website. Until January 2018, residents from any state can use their driver's license or other accepted IDs for air travel.
Earlier reports noted that travelers from four U.S. states might need a passport for domestic flights. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has now expanded the list of non-compliant jurisdictions under the Real ID Act.
The full list of areas not issuing compliant driver's licenses includes:
- Alaska
- California
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- South Carolina
- Washington state
- Puerto Rico
- Guam
- the U.S. Virgin Islands
The Real ID Act requires driver's licenses to include machine-readable technology, such as a chip. IDs issued in these areas are currently non-compliant.
Affected travelers must use alternatives like a U.S. passport, passport card, military ID, permanent resident card, or trusted traveler cards (e.g., NEXUS, Global Entry). Note: Only about 40% of Americans have a passport, per U.S. State Department data.
How to Prepare for a Flight
The original deadline was mid-January, but DHS has not set firm enforcement yet, with at least four months' notice expected. Check the latest at DHS Real ID page.
This was accurate as of Jan. 4, 2018. Compliance has since improved in many areas; full enforcement starts May 7, 2025. Verify with official TSA/DHS sites.
Photo by Elena Elisseeva / Shutterstock.com
