Starting May 7, 2025, New York residents will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license to board domestic flights. Without it, they’ll need another approved form of ID, like a passport, to board flights or access federal facilities. The REAL ID-compliant license has a star or flag to show it meets federal security standards.
If you don’t yet have a star or flag on your New York driver’s license, there’s still time to upgrade to a REAL ID-compliant version. However, it’s best to act sooner rather than later.
REAL ID is part of a federal initiative aimed at improving the security of driver’s licenses and identification cards to prevent fraud and terrorism. While New Yorkers can choose to upgrade to a REAL ID or enhanced ID, a standard license without the star or flag will not be accepted for boarding flights or entering secure facilities after May 7, 2025.
To get a REAL ID-compliant license, visit your local DMV and bring necessary documents, including proof of identity (passport or birth certificate), proof of legal presence (for non-U.S. citizens), proof of New York residency, your social security card, and any current driver’s license if you’re exchanging one from another state.
The TSA will enforce this change at airports, and travelers without a REAL ID or another acceptable ID, like a passport or military ID, will not be allowed through security.
For more details on obtaining a REAL ID-compliant license in New York, visit the DMV website.
