Back in 2005, the US Congress passed the Real ID Act which established minimum security standards for license
issuance and production and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for
certain purposes driver’s licenses and identification cards from states not
meeting the Act’s minimum standards. In other words, if your home state
is not in compliance of the Act, you may need an alternate form of
identification to board a domestic flight after January 22, 2018.
Good news for Texans, your state issued driver's license or
ID card is in compliance with the Real ID Act and will remain valid for
travel. The majority of states not in compliance have been granted an
extension through October of 2018. However, extensions have not yet been
granted to Michigan, Louisiana, New York, or American Samoa. So, if your
ID was issued by one of these states/territories you may be effected come the
end of January. You can check the current status of your state here: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id
Alternate forms of ID that remain acceptable for travel are the
following:
·
U.S.
passport
·
U.S.
passport card
·
DHS
trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
·
U.S.
Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
·
Permanent
resident card
·
Border
crossing card
·
DHS-designated
enhanced driver's license
·
Federally
recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
·
HSPD-12
PIV card
·
Foreign
government-issued passport
·
Canadian
provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
·
Transportation
worker identification credential
·
U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
·
U.S.
Merchant Mariner Credential
