Which documents can U.S. citizens use instead of a REAL ID to board domestic flights?
Executive summary
U.S. citizens who do not have a REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license can still board domestic flights by presenting other federally accepted identity documents—most notably a U.S. passport book or passport card—but there are several additional government-issued IDs accepted at TSA checkpoints and a paid backstop option for travelers who arrive without any acceptable ID (TSA confirms the acceptable alternatives on its REAL ID and identification pages) [1] [2] [3].
1. The official baseline: check TSA’s accepted-ID list
TSA publishes and updates an explicit list of acceptable forms of identification for checkpoints and instructs travelers that state non‑REAL ID driver’s licenses are no longer acceptable as of the May 2025 deadline, so anyone uncertain should consult TSA’s identification page or their state DMV before travel [2] [1].
2. The straightforward substitute: U.S. passport book or passport card
The simplest alternative for U.S. citizens is a U.S. passport—either the traditional passport book or the wallet‑sized passport card—which TSA says may be used in lieu of a REAL ID for domestic flights [1] [4].
3. Enhanced state IDs and EDL/EID: similar to REAL ID
Several states issue Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) or Enhanced Identification Cards (EID) that meet federal standards and are accepted at airport checkpoints; these are effectively treated as REAL ID‑compliant alternatives and are specifically highlighted by state DMVs and TSA guidance (examples include Washington’s EDL/EID program) [5] [2].
4. Other government credentials that work at TSA checkpoints
Beyond passports and enhanced state IDs, TSA accepts certain federal photo IDs such as U.S. Department of Defense IDs (including dependent IDs) and Trusted Traveler program cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI), plus other specified DHS or federal credentials listed on the agency’s REAL ID/identification pages and summarized in contemporary reporting [6] [7] [1].
5. No acceptable ID at the checkpoint: TSA ConfirmID and the fee option
For travelers who arrive without any acceptable ID, TSA has rolled out an identity‑verification alternative—ConfirmID—that allows an identity confirmation process at checkpoints for a user fee (TSA’s site explains travelers can pay and attempt verification, and the agency has announced a fee policy change for ConfirmID in late 2025) [3] [8] [9]. TSA cautions there is no guarantee identity verification will succeed, additional processing time can be expected, and fees apply [3] [9].
6. Practical caveats, edge cases and remaining limitations in the reporting
Children under 18 typically do not need ID for domestic flights when traveling with a companion who has acceptable ID—a detail noted in consumer reporting and travel guides—but other nuances (such as whether paper interim licenses are accepted, the complete alphabetized list of every acceptable document, or state‑specific labeling of compliant cards) require consulting TSA’s live list or the issuing agency because the list is subject to change and reporting summaries do not reproduce the full, authoritative table [7] [2] [1]. Sources used include TSA’s official identification and REAL ID pages, Travel.State.Gov on passports and REAL ID, state DMV guidance, and coverage of ConfirmID and the May 2025 enforcement timeline [2] [1] [4] [5] [3] [8] [9].