Real ID deadline: Here’s when you’ll need the Real ID to fly

In a little over a year, everyone in the United States will need a Real ID to fly.

Although the Real ID deadline has been pushed multiple times, the deadline to get one is now May 7, 2025.

“Beginning on that date, Federal agencies are prohibited from accepting a state-issued driver’s license or identification card for official purposes unless such license or card is a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or identification card issued by a state that DHS has determined is in full compliance as defined under this part,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security states.

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The deadline was changed from 2023 to 2025 due to the lingering effects of lockdowns early in the COVID-19 pandemic, which created a steep backlog of work for licensing agencies.

Items needed to get a Real ID include a birth certificate or U.S. passport, social security card and proof of residency, such as a bill from the past 60 days.

The name on the documents must match your current name. If it doesn’t, a marriage certificate or divorce decree is needed.

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Applying for a Real ID in Massachusetts can start online. For more information, click here.

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