Which federal facilities require Real ID-compliant identification for entry?

1. What “federal facilities” means in practice: secure vs public spaces

The Real ID regime applies where federal agencies currently require identification to enter a facility, which is typically the higher-security or “secure” portions of federal buildings rather than all public-facing areas; agencies do not need Real ID to enter parts of federal properties that do not currently require ID—examples cited include public museum spaces such as some Smithsonian areas where ID is not required today ^{[1] [5]}.

2. Facilities that have explicitly required or can require REAL ID

TSA checkpoints at airports are a primary Real ID touchpoint—state-issued driver’s licenses must be Real ID-compliant to serve as the accepted form of ID for boarding domestic aircraft unless an alternative document is used ^{[3] [2]}. Federal courthouses, military bases and many secure federal centers also fall squarely into the category of locations that require Real ID or an accepted alternative, with state and federal guidance listing courthouses, military installations, and nuclear plants among the sites where compliant credentials are enforced ^{[4] [6] [3]}.

3. Agency-by-agency and owner-controlled discretion

Owners and operating agencies retain authority to set entry requirements: the Federal Protective Service enforces building entry rules under direction of building owners and may ask visitors to present a REAL ID, passport, or other acceptable ID upon arrival ^[7]. Departments such as Commerce announced phased enforcement that makes any DOC‑occupied facility that requires ID a venue where a state-issued card must be REAL ID-compliant starting January 1, 2026—illustrating agency-level timelines and discretion ^[5].

4. Alternatives and exceptions to carrying a REAL ID card

Federal guidance and TSA FAQs make clear that Real ID is not the only acceptable document: passports, passport cards, Department of Defense IDs, veteran IDs, and state-issued Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL/EID) are listed as acceptable alternatives for access to federal facilities or boarding planes, and agencies may accept those instead of a star‑marked state ID ^{[3] [5] [2]}.

5. How enforcement has been rolled out and communicated to the public

Enforcement has been phased and sometimes staggered: DHS and state DMVs communicated deadlines and phased approaches (for example, May 7, 2025 enforcement for air travel and certain facilities and a Commerce phased plan culminating on January 1, 2026 for DOC-occupied facilities), and state DMVs have repeatedly told residents to check facility-specific requirements before visiting ^{[2] [5] [8]}.

6. Limits of reporting and areas to verify before visiting

Public guidance repeatedly warns that secure federal facilities and military bases can set their own ID rules and visitors should confirm requirements with their sponsor or the facility ahead of a visit; reporting and agency FAQs therefore do not produce a single exhaustive list of every facility that will require REAL ID—rather, they describe categories (airports, secure federal facilities, nuclear plants, courthouses, military bases) and delegate specifics to facility owners and agencies ^{[1] [9] [5]}.

7. Competing views and practical implications

Some critics and observers argue the Real ID scheme is unevenly applied or creates access burdens; agencies counter that alternatives (passports, DoD IDs, EDLs) and phased rollouts mitigate disruption, while state DMV notices emphasize choice between standard and REAL ID credentials and urge patrons to verify facility rules before traveling ^{[10] [11] [8]}. The practical takeaway for visitors is straightforward: assume secure federal facilities and airport checkpoints will require a REAL ID-compliant state card or an accepted federal alternative unless the facility specifically informs otherwise ^{[3] [2] [1]}.