Which states allow undocumented immigrants to obtain REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses in 2025?
Executive summary
Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses because REAL ID requires proof of lawful immigration status; states that issue licenses to undocumented people generally do so with non‑REAL ID “standard” cards that won’t work for boarding domestic flights or entering certain federal facilities after May 7, 2025 [1] [2] [3]. Multiple legal-help and immigrant-advocacy guides confirm that while roughly 19 states plus D.C. (in earlier counts) issue driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status, those documents are typically non‑REAL ID and carry limits such as “FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY” [4] [5] [2].
1. REAL ID’s gatekeeping rule: lawful status is a must
The federal REAL ID framework requires applicants to prove lawful presence in the United States as part of document checks (proofs include immigration status and a Social Security number), which excludes people without lawful status from receiving a REAL ID-compliant card in practice [3] [5]. News outlets and legal guides state plainly: undocumented immigrants will not be able to lawfully obtain a REAL ID-compliant document because they cannot provide the required proof of legal U.S. residency [1] [6].
2. States issue licenses to undocumented residents — but not REAL IDs
A growing number of states and the District of Columbia have laws or policies that let undocumented residents obtain driver’s licenses for the purpose of driving, yet those licenses are typically non‑REAL ID and cannot be used for federal purposes like TSA checkpoints or secure federal buildings [4] [5] [1]. Reporting and advocacy materials emphasize that these state-issued, noncompliant cards remain valid for state driving privileges but are explicitly limited for federal uses after the national REAL ID enforcement date [5] [3].
3. The practical fallout after May 7, 2025
Starting May 7, 2025, TSA and other federal checkpoints began requiring REAL ID‑compliant identification for domestic air travel and certain federal facility access; people without REAL ID must use other federally acceptable documents such as passports or immigration papers—options that undocumented people often lack—thereby creating travel and access hurdles for those holding standard non‑REAL ID licenses [5] [3] [7]. Legal guides and immigration NGOs advise undocumented travelers to consult attorneys and to consider alternative ID options listed by TSA [7] [8].
4. How states label and limit non‑compliant cards
States that issue licenses regardless of immigration status often mark those cards differently (for example, printing “FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY” or issuing clearly non‑compliant formats). Federal guidance explicitly allows states to issue noncompliant cards when lawful presence cannot be determined, and DHS cautions that a noncompliant card does not necessarily signal undocumented status [1] [6]. That distinction matters for privacy and enforcement debates: advocates emphasize confidentiality protections while some policymakers raise enforcement concerns [1] [2].
5. Disagreement and nuance in the sources
Sources converge on the core fact that REAL ID requires lawful status and that undocumented people cannot obtain REAL ID cards [1] [2] [3]. Where material differs is in emphasis: some legal‑practice and immigrant‑help pieces stress workarounds and alternative acceptable documents for travel (foreign passports, other TSA‑approved IDs), while advocacy organizations prioritize the practical harms and urge legal assistance and local support networks [7] [8] [9]. DHS language cited by news outlets also stresses states’ discretion to issue noncompliant cards, introducing nuance about state‑level variations [6] [1].
6. What the sources do not provide
Available sources do not list a definitive, up‑to‑date roster naming each specific state that issues licenses to undocumented immigrants in 2025; some pieces reference prior tallies (e.g., “19 states and D.C.” as of earlier reporting) but do not give a current, explicitly dated state-by-state list in the provided documents [2] [4]. For an exact state list, the reader should consult the National Immigration Law Center’s state table or a state DMV website (p1_s4 notes such tables exist but the current reporting set here does not reproduce one).
7. Bottom line and practical advice
If you are undocumented, expect that any driver’s license you can obtain in many states will not be REAL ID‑compliant and therefore will not serve for domestic air travel or entry to certain federal facilities after May 7, 2025; consult immigrant‑legal services for state‑specific guidance and explore TSA’s alternate acceptable IDs if you must travel [5] [3] [7]. Sources recommend seeking local legal aid and checking official DMV and DHS guidance because state practices and documentation requirements remain the decisive factor [9] [10].