DHS DELAYS DEADLINE FOR REAL ID COMPLIANCE TO 2025
January 18, 2023
On December 5, 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) issued a press release announcing that it has decided to once again extend the deadline for compliance with the REAL ID Act to May 7, 2025.
The extension will now give states an additional two years to ensure that residents have an opportunity to get the new driver’s licenses and identification cards required to meet the security standards established by the REAL ID Act. DHS noted that the extension was warranted due to “lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card” including extensive backlogs that agencies are continually trying to work through. Under the law, once the new deadline passes, federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) will be prohibited from accepting driver’s licenses and identification cards that do not meet the established requirements. Most notably, the REAL ID-compliant licenses will be required for air travelers 18 and older who want to board flights in the U.S., meaning those who do not present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification at airport security checkpoints for domestic air travel will not be allowed to board and fly on domestic flights after the May 7th deadline.
If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr (esahr@eckertseamans.com 202-659-6622) or Drew Derco (dderco@eckertseamans.com 202-659-6665).
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