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Which states issue REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses accepted for federal ID checks?
Executive summary
All U.S. states and territories have been certified to issue REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or ID cards, meaning residents in every jurisdiction can obtain a federally accepted credential for domestic air travel and entry to certain federal facilities [1] [2] [3]. Federal enforcement of REAL ID requirements began in phases with a key enforcement date of May 7, 2025; states and individual DMVs still control how and when you obtain a REAL ID and whether your current card already meets the standard [4] [2] [5].
1. What “REAL ID-compliant” means and who decides
REAL ID is a federal standard set by the Department of Homeland Security that requires states to follow minimum security, identity-verification, and issuance rules for driver’s licenses and ID cards; a compliant card is accepted by TSA and many federal agencies for boarding domestic flights and accessing certain federal facilities [2] [4]. DHS certifies states and territories as compliant; once a jurisdiction is certified it may issue REAL ID-compliant credentials and those credentials are accepted for federal purposes [2] [6].
2. Are all states issuing compliant IDs now?
Available reporting shows that by 2020 all U.S. states had been certified as compliant, and by 2024 all territories were certified; multiple 2025 guides and official sites say every state can now issue REAL ID-compliant cards, though individual residents must apply for or convert to the REAL ID version when they choose [1] [2] [3]. State DMV pages (for example Michigan and Washington) explicitly state they issue REAL ID credentials and note the May 7, 2025 enforcement date [5] [7].
3. How to tell if your state card is already REAL ID-ready
Most compliant state IDs display a star or other marking indicating REAL ID compliance; enhanced driver’s licenses (EDLs/EIDs) are automatically compliant in jurisdictions that issue them, even if the marking differs (for example Michigan and Washington) [8] [5] [7]. TSA’s REAL ID page offers an interactive map linking to local DMV guidance so you can check whether your specific credential meets the standard [4].
4. What changed with the enforcement schedule and why it matters
The federal timeline for full REAL ID enforcement was moved several times and the May 7, 2025 date is now cited as the start of enforcement; enforcement proceeds in phases with some flexibility built in by TSA and DHS, but the practical effect is that travelers without a REAL ID will need an alternative acceptable ID (like a passport) to board domestic flights or access certain federal facilities after that date [2] [4] [3].
5. Practical implications for travelers and residents
If you plan to fly domestically or enter certain federal buildings and don’t have a REAL ID-compliant credential, you must present another TSA-acceptable ID (for example a U.S. passport) or obtain a REAL ID from your state DMV [4] [3]. States continue to offer standard (non‑REAL ID) licenses in many cases, but those noncompliant cards will not be valid for federal ID checks once enforcement is fully in effect [7] [9].
6. Variations, exceptions and how states implement REAL ID
States chose different implementation details: many use a gold star marking while some offer enhanced IDs with different markings or additional border-crossing benefits; states also vary in whether they automatically convert cards or require an in-person visit with documents [5] [10] [8]. The federal government’s certification means a jurisdiction can issue compliant IDs, but individual issuance and document requirements are set and enforced by each state DMV [6] [4].
7. Disagreements, hidden agendas and reporting gaps
Reporting across official DHS/TSA pages and independent guides is consistent that states can issue REAL IDs and that enforcement began May 7, 2025, but some secondary summaries (travel guides and aggregators) emphasize user inconvenience and state-by-state procedural differences, reflecting an implicit agenda to warn travelers to check local DMV rules [3] [10]. Available sources do not mention a definitive single list in these results naming every jurisdiction line-by-line; rather they point readers to DHS/TSA interactive tools and individual state DMV pages for the authoritative status and how to apply [4] [6].
8. What you should do next
Check TSA’s REAL ID landing page or your state DMV’s REAL ID page to confirm whether your current license is compliant and to learn required documents and application steps; if you plan to fly domestically and lack a REAL ID, arrange a passport or visit your DMV well before travel [4] [8] [9].
Limitations: This analysis relies only on the provided sources and does not reproduce a state-by-state checklist; for precise, up-to-date issuance rules or to confirm the marking on a specific state’s card, consult the linked state DMV pages or DHS/TSA tools referenced above [4] [6].