What documents are accepted by states as alternatives to Real ID for boarding domestic flights?
Executive summary
States’ non‑REAL ID driver licenses are no longer accepted at TSA checkpoints as of May 7, 2025; travelers can board domestic flights with a REAL ID‑compliant state license or a set of federal alternatives such as a U.S. passport, passport card, or certain enhanced IDs (EDL/EID) [1] [2] [3]. TSA also permits an identity‑verification process for travelers without acceptable ID, now branded TSA Confirm.ID and slated to require a fee beginning Feb. 1, 2026 [4] [5].
1. What the rule actually changed and why it matters
The Transportation Security Administration began full enforcement of REAL ID requirements at airport checkpoints on May 7, 2025, meaning a non‑compliant state driver’s license or ID card by itself no longer meets the federal identification standard for boarding commercial domestic flights [1] [6]. The REAL ID Act set minimum security standards for state IDs; enforcement shifts the burden onto travelers without compliant credentials to present a federally acceptable alternative when flying [2].
2. The clear, accepted alternatives that TSA lists
TSA’s public guidance lists passports and other federally approved identity documents as acceptable substitutes for a REAL ID driver’s license or state ID when screening for domestic air travel [2] [6]. Independent coverage and state DMV pages repeatedly point to a U.S. passport or passport card as a straightforward alternative and note that some enhanced state IDs that meet federal standards are treated as equivalent [1] [7] [8].
3. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses and Enhanced IDs (EDL/EID): state variances
Several states issue Enhanced Driver’s Licenses or Enhanced IDs that include citizenship verification and additional security features; where offered, those cards meet REAL ID requirements and are explicitly accepted in lieu of a passport for domestic travel and re‑entry (examples: Washington’s EDL/EID) [3] [9]. Not all states issue EDLs/EIDs; acceptance depends on federal compliance of the specific card [3] [9].
4. What happens at the checkpoint if you lack any accepted document
If a traveler arrives with a non‑compliant state ID and no other acceptable federal document, TSA directs the person to a secondary identity‑verification process and may subject them to additional screening; success in that process can still permit access to the screening checkpoint [1] [10]. Earlier reporting and TSA FAQs stress that arriving early and having a passport or REAL ID avoids these delays [6] [8].
5. TSA Confirm.ID: a modernized but fee‑based fallback
TSA has formalized an alternative identity verification system called TSA Confirm.ID, which allows travelers who lack acceptable ID to establish identity through a verification workflow; the agency announced travelers will be offered a paid option ($45 for a 10‑day travel period) beginning Feb. 1, 2026 [4] [5]. Coverage notes the program is positioned as a convenience for those who cannot obtain REAL ID before travel but warns it may introduce additional delay and cost [5] [4].
6. Practical options and timelines for most travelers
The simplest ways to comply are: use a passport or passport card for domestic flights, obtain a REAL ID‑compliant state license at your DMV, or — if available in your state — secure an EDL/EID that already meets federal standards [2] [3] [7]. Sources emphasize the administrative step to get REAL ID (in‑person DMV visit and documents) and recommend scheduling in advance to avoid last‑minute problems [5] [7].
7. Conflicting details, limitations in reporting, and open questions
Public guidance across TSA pages and secondary reporting is consistent that passports and REAL ID‑compliant cards are accepted; however, available sources do not provide an exhaustive, single list in this packet of every alternate document (for instance, what combinations of document types or categories beyond passports and EDLs qualify) and urge travelers to consult TSA’s official acceptable‑ID list before travel [2] [1]. Sources also note state variation in issuance of EDLs/EIDs and do not list every state that provides them [3] [9].
8. What to do next — a checklist
Before you fly: check whether your driver’s license bears the REAL ID star or upgrade at your DMV if not [6] [7]; bring a U.S. passport or passport card if you don’t have REAL ID [2]; if you lack both, expect secondary screening and consider TSA Confirm.ID as a paid fallback once it is implemented Feb. 1, 2026 [1] [4]. Sources uniformly recommend verifying the TSA acceptable‑ID list close to travel and allowing extra time at the airport [1] [8].
Limitations: this summary is drawn solely from the set of documents provided here; readers should consult TSA’s live acceptable‑ID page and their state DMV for any state‑specific or newly issued alternatives not covered in these sources [2] [1].