Deadline Extended Again for Domestic Travelers to Get New IDs

A new grace period has been introduced for domestic travelers who do not have REAL ID certified drivers’ licenses. The new rules, which were put into place over a decade ago, require states to issue licenses that are compliant with stricter guidelines. While most states have already been issuing accommodating IDs (27 plus Washington D.C.), many people have not renewed their licenses recently enough to have it. If you’re from one of these states, you have until January 22 to get a new ID in order to fly domestically.

Here’s where it gets kind of tricky. Twenty-three do not have the new IDs yet, but have been given extensions to meet the requirements. And, according to the Department of Homeland Security, they will still be able to fly using those forms of ID past the January 22nd deadline.

Now, the rules now seem to state that if by 2020 these states don’t have their act together, passengers won’t be able to pass through TSA unless they have another form of acceptable ID like a passport.

But as it has been since 2005 that these rules were made, and there is yet another delay, we’ll see if 23 states can get it together.

The map below shows which states have what ID.