Most travelers must have a REAL ID now to fly within the US [View all]

Source: Associated Press

Most travelers must have a REAL ID now to fly within the US

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ
Updated 12:03 AM EDT, May 7, 2025

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — REAL ID requirements for those flying within the United States begin Wednesday after nearly 20 years of delays.

The day ahead of the deadline, people lined up at government offices across the country to secure their compliant IDs. In Chicago, officials established a Real ID Supercenter for walk-in appointments, while officials in California and elsewhere planned to continue offering extended hours for the crush of appointments.

“I’m here today so I won’t be right on the deadline, which is tomorrow,” said Marion Henderson, who applied for her REAL ID on Tuesday in Jackson, Mississippi.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday assured people who don’t yet have a REAL ID but need to take a domestic flight Wednesday that they will be able to fly after clearing additional identity checks.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/real-id-travelers-tsa-when-deadline-f0923fe95923e9675d556ee7e08df326