United States airports to require Real ID for all travelers starting May 7; Transportation Security Administration says passengers without compliant ID must arrive four hours before domestic flights

May 3, 2025 (Midland Reporter Telegram) –

May 2—The Real ID Act officially goes into effect in the state of Texas on Wednesday, May 7 . Beginning on that date, everyone who comes to an airport will be required to have a Real ID certification on their ID card in order to board their flight. This is represented by a badge at the top right corner of your ID, which in Texas is a gold outline of the state with a gold star circle in the center.

"Real ID requires that each person actually verify their identity when they get their document and when they person their ticket," said TSA media spokesperson Patricia Mancha , who visited Midland International Air and Space Port this week. "So, it really increases the level of security at every airport and every flight."

The law was originally ratified all the way back in 2005 as a recommended added layer of security by the government following the 9/11 Commission Report. Its enforcement has been delayed by more than two decades because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the law receiving a ton of pushback from numerous states in fear of myriad potential issues, and the time required for everyone in America to receive the certification.

"We needed to assure that all 50 states and all territories in the United States were issuing the document and that people had enough time to actually get their compliant ID," said Mancha. "So no more excuses. It's time to comply."

Anyone who does not have a Real ID certification on their ID will need to present other forms of identification — such as a passport, work permit, green card, military credential and/or a transportation work ID credential — to a TSA agent. They will then be asked a series of questions regarding their flight — a process that can be very long.

"Right now, we ask travelers to get to the airport two hours before their domestic flight, three hours before their international flight," Mancha said. "(But) as of May 7 , if you don't have a Real ID, the recommendation is that you add an additional two hours — so, four, seven hours before your flight if you're not Real ID ready."

It is highly recommended to get a Real ID as soon as possible, especially ahead of any upcoming summer travel plans. In order to receive a Real ID, you can also present your birth certificate, social security card and proof of residency to a DMV and apply through them.

Exceptions can be granted to those who have misplaced their IDs, but they will still need to go through TSA's questioning and be at the airport earlier as a result. People under the age of 18 are not required to receive the certification, although TSA heavily warns adolescents against using fake IDs with Real ID on them.

In addition to delays, the law has received plenty of controversy. When the law was originally ratified, various states panned it as an infraction of states' rights, with Texas submitting two bills preventing the law from being enforced in Texas . It has also been criticized by advocacy groups regarding individual privacy, including an individual's preferred gender and immigration status, as well as enabling harsher qualifications to be deported or denied asylum.

While TSA was unable to comment on what convinced Texas to change course, or how the state will maintain the federal right to privacy, it did say that it will not be storing individual's personal information beyond checking them in.

"We don't have a repository or a database; all we want to do is verify that you're the person you say you are," said Mancha. "The responsibility for TSA is to ensure the security of every person that is coming to the checkpoint. So the privilege of traveling is one that everyone chooses, and when they come to the airport, they also have the privilege of being secure, and that's what we're about."

Texas will be one of the first states to fully implement the law as a result of prior efforts to make sure the majority of citizens have a Real ID.

"The state of Texas is a single-issue state, so we're at 98% compliance," said Mancha. "However, in the U.S. , we're at 81% compliance, which means there's still millions of people and travelers who don't have a Real ID."

The U.S. government intends for the entirety of the country to be fully compliant by May 5, 2027 .

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