Real ID Alert: Residents of 4 U.S. States and American Samoa May Need Passports for Domestic Flights Starting 2016
Attention, frequent flyers: Starting in 2016, you may need a passport or other compliant ID to pass TSA security for domestic U.S. flights.
New York, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and the territory of American Samoa do not yet issue driver's licenses meeting the federal Real ID Act standards. This law mandates machine-readable technology, such as a chip, for enhanced security. Licenses issued now in these areas are non-compliant.
Residents must use alternatives like a U.S. passport, passport card, military ID, permanent resident card, or trusted traveler cards (e.g., NEXUS or Global Entry). According to the State Department, only about 40% of Americans have a passport.
No exact enforcement date has been set, but a three-month grace period will permit travel with non-compliant IDs during the transition.
TSA also accepts Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs), which serve as passport alternatives for travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. These are available in New York and Minnesota.
Photo by Arina P Habich / Shutterstock.com
