Real ID Deadline Pushed Back To May Of 2023

The deadline to get the Real ID has been pushed back again by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Yesterday DHS announced the extension for full enforcement of the Real ID from October 1st of this year to May 3rd of 2023. Once it is in full effect, travelers 18 and older flying commercially in the U.S. will need the Real ID driver’s license or another photo ID card with a star on the top. Passports and other forms of approved identification will also be accepted.
All 50 states are compliant with Real ID security standards but only 43% of U.S. ID’s are currently compliant. DHS previously extended the original deadline in March of last year from October of 2020 to October of 2021 and now it’s being pushed back again. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said by extending the deadline it “will give states needed time to reopen their driver’s licensing operations and ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID compliant license or identification card.”