Press Release  REAL ID or Other Approved Doc Needed for Domestic Flights as of May 7

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is reminding residents that, beginning May 7, the federal government is requiring anyone 18 years old or older to have a REAL ID compliant credential to board domestic flights.  Travelers without an acceptable ID may be subject to additional screening.  If you do not yet have a REAL ID, a valid passport can be used as an alternative. Other TSA acceptable credentials are listed here.

“Anyone getting on a plane in May needs to be prepared to provide a federally compliant identification credential like a state issued REAL ID driver’s license or identification card. If you don’t have a REAL ID credential yet, you can present a valid passport or check the TSA website to find out what other identification to bring to the airport,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie.  “There’s no rush to do anything for people not traveling soon, as the Registry of Motor Vehicles will continue to issue REAL ID compliant credentials to anyone who meets the requirements.  Registry staff have been issuing REAL ID compliant credentials since March of 2018, and we plan to continue to offer this product to our customers as long as the federal government has this airline travel requirement.” 

The TSA states that travelers who do not yet have their REAL ID or another TSA acceptable form of ID of May 7, can expect to face delays, additional screening, and the possibility of not being allowed into the security checkpoint. This includes TSA PreCheck passengers. 

Information about Registry of Motor Vehicles REAL IDs can be found on the Registry’s website: Mass.gov/REALID, including information about documents required for a Massachusetts credential and the option to make an appointment.   Appointments are currently being booked for the middle of June and later.  Anyone flying in the month of May who does not have a passport or other TSA approved REAL ID credential is welcome to go to a Registry customer service center with federally required documents to seek a REAL ID, however, it can take up to 14 business days from the time of the appointment to receive the credential in the mail.  If a customer who walks in for a REAL ID transaction cannot be helped immediately, a service center staff will see if another time slot is available for the customer within several days.

As of April 30, more than 3.25 million Massachusetts residents hold an active REAL ID credential issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. 

The fee to obtain or renew a REAL ID compliant credential is the same as obtaining or renewing the equivalent non-compliant credential:  

• The fee for renewing a non-commercial standard or a REAL ID driver’s license is $50.   
• The fee for renewing a Mass ID is $25.   
• The amendment fee for upgrading to REAL ID credential before an existing credential’s expiration is $25.   
• Customers with a less than five-year stay in the U.S. pay a pro-rated fee.  

The RMV has posted helpful information on REAL ID requirements that customers can use to prepare for their in-person visits, including convenient document checklists to help pre-stage REAL ID applications, at Mass.Gov/REALID. Documents required for this transaction include: 

• One document: to prove you are in the U.S. legally -- like a passport or birth certificate
• One document: to verify your full social security number -- like a social security card or W-2
• Two documents: to prove you live in Massachusetts -- like a lease, mortgage, or utility bills

Customers who have had a name change since the issuance of a birth certificate, passport, or other lawful presence document, will need to show the reason for the name change by presenting documentation like a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court document. These required documents must be original or certified versions. The RMV recommends customers gather these documents well in advance of appointments to ensure they have the information required by federal law.

Customers are eligible to renew up to one year in advance of the expiration date printed on their license or ID. Customers who already have a compliant credential may renew online, provided their legal name has not changed. A REAL ID-compliant credential from the Massachusetts RMV has a star surrounded by a yellow or gold circle, at the top right corner of the license or ID.

For information on acceptable identification at airport security points, please visit tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification.   For information on Registry credentials, please visit: Mass.Gov/RMV. 

###