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Will You Need a Passport to Fly Within the U.S. Next Year?

Mike Richard
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united states passport
Levi Ventura

By this time next year, some U.S. citizens will need a passport or other form of identification to fly domestically. It’s all part of the REAL ID plan that’s been more than a decade in the making. While the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration have delayed the plan’s rollout several times, come the fall of 2020, air travelers will have no excuse.

It’s been more than ten years since the 9/11 Commission delivered its recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” To make ID requirements consistent from state to state, Congress passed the REAL ID act in 2005 with these new standards in mind. Enforcement was subsequently delayed in 2007 and then again in 2011. The phased plan launched in 2014 and 2015, but the final phase of requirements related to air travel is now officially scheduled for October 2020.

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What happens then? According to the TSA website, “Every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.” The look of these new IDs varies somewhat by state, although most have a star somewhere in the upper corner of the card. Passengers without this will need to produce a passport, passport card, military ID, Global Entry card, or other compliant form of identification.

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Some privacy advocates contend the REAL ID program is an excuse for the federal government to build a database of identifying information about U.S. citizens. The Department of Homeland Security expressly denies this on its website: “REAL ID is a national set of standards, not a national identification card. Each jurisdiction continues to issue its own unique license, maintains its own records, and controls who gets access to those records and under what circumstances. The purpose of REAL ID is to make our identity documents more consistent and secure.”

Nationwide enforcement of the new REAL ID requirements goes into effect on October 1, 2020. By then, every U.S. state and territory must be issuing REAL ID-compliant identifications. The DHS is confident all are on track to meet the deadline. U.S. residents can acquire a compliant ID by applying in person at their state’s driver’s license agency. If you need an upgraded ID, don’t wait until the last minute. State officials are already warning of extended wait times and longer lines ahead of the new REAL ID rollout.

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Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
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Travel is tricky enough, but to add to the already confusing world of air travel, the U.S. government has been teasing us with updated identification requirements for what seems like forever. After years of changed dates, extended deadlines, and general defiance at the state level, there’s still a lot of confusion around the REAL ID Act, particularly when it comes to modern air travel. So, do you need a passport to travel within the U.S. once this goes into effect?
Direct answer: You will not need a passport to travel within the US in 2024 or 2025, when the REAL ID Act goes into effect, though you can use one. Most people will use a REAL ID compliant driver's license. These are already being issued and can be identified by the star in the upper right hand corner of the ID.
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