REAL IDs Will Soon Be Needed To Fly In The U.S., How To Know If You Need One

You should double-check that your driver’s license or other state-issued identification card has a black or gold star in the upper right-hand corner.

That star indicates you have a REAL ID, which will be especially important beginning May 7, when the U.S. Transportation Security Administration will require this type of identification, or an alternative, to board a domestic flight.

The good news is that, by and large, most Wyomingites have probably been carrying around a REAL ID for several years. That’s because the Cowboy State began producing REAL ID-compliant cards in October 2011 and driver’s licenses are now valid for five years, while identification cards are valid for eight years.

As of Jan. 1, Wyoming has 462,398 valid driver licenses and 23,568 valid identification cards, all of which are REAL ID compliant, according to the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Wyoming Acted Early

“Most everyone who has a valid driver’s license or identification card is REAL ID compliant,” said Misty Zimmerman, driver services program manager with WYDOT. One possible caveat, she said, is a small number of people who may still have an identification card that was issued prior to Jan. 1, 2010, when those cards didn’t have an expiration date.

While other states are urging residents to book appointments at their local DMV, Wyoming hasn’t been so concerned about the looming deadline because REAL IDs have been issued here for more than 13 years now.

“Thankfully, our Legislature was very forward-looking back in 2009 when this requirement went into effect,” Zimmerman said.

Whether your Wyoming identification bears a gold or black star doesn’t matter; either color indicates it is a REAL ID. The state moved to black stars in 2019, Zimmerman said.

REAL ID Needed to Fly — And More

The few seconds it takes to double-check your photo ID will save you a lot of hassle later on. Beginning May 7, TSA personnel will require passengers to have a REAL ID to enter the security checkpoint at the airport, though other forms of identification are also acceptable, said Lorie Dankers, a spokeswoman for the federal agency. Alternatives include current U.S. passports, U.S. passport cards and passports from other nations, she added. 

If you don’t have a REAL ID, Dankers noted, now is the time to act.

“The closer we get to the deadline, the harder it will be to obtain the type of photo ID you will need,” she said.

The deadline for when the TSA will require a REAL ID to fly has been pushed back a few times from its original 2020 deadline, but there’s currently no indication it will be extended once again. And even if you’re not a frequent flyer, you need a REAL ID to enter any federal building, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 

New, Neighboring Residents May Need to Take Action

While Wyomingites should be pretty well covered on the REAL ID front, new residents may need to take action.

To apply for a license, you’ll need one item to prove your identity (including a valid U.S. passport or state-certified birth certificate), two current forms of proof of your Wyoming residency (such as a utility bill, rent receipt, bank statement or insurance policy) and, while not required, a proof of your social security number is recommended. 

Likewise, residents of neighboring states may need to book appointments at their respective DMVs ahead of the May deadline.

Montana driver’s licenses are valid for eight years and the state only began issuing REAL IDs in 2019. Before that time, a Montana driver’s license was valid for 12 years. Meanwhile, Colorado began rolling out REAL IDs in 2012 and driver’s licenses are valid for three years.

While states have taken different paths to become REAL ID compliance, they must all adhere to the national standard and the minimum security standards established by the REAL ID Act of 2005.

“Every state has a more secure driver’s license today than before the passage of the Act,” Dankers said.