What documents are required to obtain a REAL ID in each state?

1. What the federal rule actually requires — a short baseline

The REAL ID Act sets minimum security standards for state driver’s licenses and ID cards and prohibits federal agencies from accepting non‑compliant state IDs for certain federal purposes; beginning May 7, 2025, travelers 18 and older must present a REAL ID‑compliant state credential or another TSA‑approved ID (for example a passport) to board domestic flights or enter many federal facilities ^{[3] [5]}. TSA’s public guidance points users to their state DMV for the state‑specific checklist because issuance is handled state‑by‑state ^[6].

2. Common document categories across almost every state

Most state DMVs follow the federally recommended categories: one proof of identity and lawful status (U.S. passport, birth certificate, lawful permanent resident card, or employment authorization card), one proof of Social Security number (SSN card, W‑2, or 1099), and two proofs of residency (utility bills, lease agreements, bank statements) — those are the same three buckets you will see on USA.gov and state sites like Illinois’ REAL ID page ^{[1] [2]}. Some states will waive an SSN document if you already hold a valid state license and previously provided your SSN, but that variant is set by state practice ^[2].

3. Why you must check your state’s DMV page before you go

The federal law leaves the operational detail to states, so exact acceptable documents, formatting requirements and whether digital documents are accepted differ by state; TSA and USA.gov explicitly tell applicants to “click on your state” to see local instructions because the DMV enforces the checklist and issues the card ^{[6] [1]}. State pages (for example Washington, New Jersey, Michigan, Maine and Missouri) give shorthand guidance but also link a state REAL ID checklist that lists the precise acceptable documents and appointment rules ^{[7] [8] [9] [10] [11]}.

4. Typical stumbling blocks applicants encounter

Common friction points include: name‑change paperwork (marriage certificates or court orders may be required if names differ across documents), missing original/certified documents (many DMVs will not accept photocopies), and SSN documentation (not all pay stubs are accepted — some states require the SSN card or tax forms) ^{[2] [1]}. States also vary in whether they accept foreign documents with visas plus an I‑94 or require additional proof; Illinois, for example, lists foreign passports with evidence of lawful status among acceptable identity/lawful status documents ^[2].

5. Alternatives and who might not need REAL ID

You are not legally required to obtain a REAL ID; you can use a U.S. passport or another TSA‑approved document to fly domestically instead of converting your state license, and standard state licenses remain valid for driving and many state transactions ^{[8] [9]}. TSA’s list of acceptable IDs for checkpoints confirms that non‑compliant state IDs are no longer valid at airports as of May 7, 2025, but a passport remains an immediate workaround ^[4].

6. How states communicate compliance and what to look for on your card

States mark compliant licenses with a star or other indicator; non‑compliant cards often say “NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION” — check your card and your state’s driver licensing site to confirm whether yours meets federal standards ^{[12] [9]}. Because each state posts its own REAL ID instructions and checklists, relying on the state DMV page is the only way to know the fine print for your jurisdiction ^[6].

Limitations and next steps

This analysis synthesizes federal guidance and examples from state DMV pages but does not enumerate every state’s exact document list line‑by‑line; available sources do not list the full, state‑by‑state checklist in a single consolidated table here — consult your state DMV’s REAL ID checklist (linked from TSA or USA.gov) for the precise documents you must bring ^{[6] [1]}.