Alternatives to passports or driver's licenses for proving US identity?
Executive summary
A growing patchwork of federally accepted identity documents can substitute for a passport or non‑REAL ID driver’s license when proving identity for federal purposes like boarding a domestic flight or entering federal facilities, but each alternative carries distinct limits and application contexts [1] [2]. This report lists the main alternatives recognized by federal agencies, explains practical constraints and procedures, and flags commonly misunderstood or limited documents so travelers can choose the right backup [3] [4].
1. What federal screening (TSA) will accept instead of a passport or non‑REAL ID license
For TSA checkpoints the clearest, repeatedly stated alternatives are a valid U.S. passport or passport card, U.S. military ID, a state-issued REAL ID (or an Enhanced Driver’s License/EID/EDL that meets REAL ID standards), and certain approved mobile driver’s licenses tied to REAL ID credentials; non‑REAL ID standard state licenses are no longer accepted at airports as of recent enforcement [2] [3] [5]. The Transportation Security Administration and DHS list the passport and passport card explicitly as acceptable federal IDs that may be used in lieu of REAL ID‑compliant state IDs for boarding domestic flights and entering federal facilities [1] [2].
2. Enhanced driver’s licenses, passport cards and mobile IDs — federal pros and practical caveats
Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs) and Enhanced IDs (EIDs) are state‑issued credentials with additional security and citizenship attestations that meet REAL ID requirements and are approved alternatives to passports for certain purposes like re‑entry from Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean travel; states such as Washington sell them as REAL ID‑compliant options [5]. Passport cards are explicitly listed by TSA as an acceptable form of identification and are a smaller, cheaper federal alternative to a passport book for many domestic and near‑border travel purposes [2] [6]. Mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs) are accepted only from states approved for federal use and only when they are based on REAL ID/EDL/EID credentials, so the availability varies by state and device [3].
3. Other government IDs that work in limited or specific contexts
Beyond passports and REAL ID‑compliant state IDs, federal guidance and agency lists include U.S. military IDs and certain federal PIV or agency IDs for access to government facilities and some screening contexts [7] [2]. Employment Authorization Documents (USCIS Form I‑766) and other federal immigration documents appear on some state and agency lists as supporting identity for particular processes, but their acceptability varies by use and is often narrower than a passport or REAL ID for air travel [5] [7]. Sources stress the need to check the specific agency or airline requirements before relying on these alternatives [1] [8].
4. Documents that commonly cause confusion and their limits
Non‑driver state ID cards and birth certificates are important identity documents but cannot always substitute as primary ID for federal checkpoints; birth certificates are typically auxiliary documents used to obtain primary photo ID rather than to stand alone at a checkpoint [9] [10]. Temporary driver’s licenses are explicitly not acceptable for TSA purposes, and mismatched or expired documents may be rejected — travelers are warned to confirm expiration and name‑linking paperwork before attempting to use them [3] [7].
5. Practical choices, tradeoffs, and the hidden incentives
A valid U.S. passport remains the most broadly accepted single document for federal identity needs and avoids state‑level administrative delays tied to REAL ID enrollment — an argument frequently advanced by travel and visa services and echoed in federal guidance as a practical backup [6] [2]. States and DMVs have incentives to steer residents toward REAL ID enrollment to reduce TSA congestion, while airlines and airports warn travelers that lack of acceptable ID can cause delays or extra screening (including a TSA ConfirmID process and fee) that can lead to missed flights, which creates pressure to carry federally accepted documents [8] [2].
6. Bottom line and recommended next steps
For federal purposes, acceptable alternatives to a passport or non‑REAL ID driver’s license include a U.S. passport or passport card, a REAL ID‑compliant state ID or EDL/EID, U.S. military ID, and in limited cases certain federal or state credentials and approved mDLs — but availability and acceptance are context dependent, so verify with TSA, the airline, or the federal facility in question before travel [1] [3] [5]. Where confusion remains, the safest path is to use a passport or obtain a REAL ID/E DL that the state issues, and to carry any linking documents (marriage certificate, court order) if names differ across IDs [4] [7].