What should travelers do if their REAL ID is expired or unavailable before 2026?
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Executive summary
Travelers without a REAL ID (or whose REAL ID is expired) must present another TSA-accepted credential such as a valid U.S. passport, passport card, DHS trusted traveler card, military ID, or certain immigration documents to board domestic flights after REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025 (TSA guidance and FAQs) [1] [2]. States will still issue non‑REAL IDs for driving, and you can obtain a REAL ID after the deadline by applying at your DMV; however, failure to present an acceptable form of ID can bar you from the security checkpoint [3] [4].
1. If your REAL ID is expired or unavailable, use an alternate federally accepted ID
TSA’s official list of acceptable identification includes passports (book or card), DHS Trusted Traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), U.S. military IDs and other federal credentials; those alternatives are explicitly accepted for domestic air travel in lieu of a REAL ID [1] [5]. Multiple sources say you only need one valid form of ID at the checkpoint — either a REAL ID or another acceptable credential — so carrying a passport is the clearest backup [2] [5].
2. Expired passports and temporary leniency: limited allowances reported
Reporting indicates the Department of Homeland Security/TSA has allowed some limited flexibility for expired passports, with outlets noting that a passport book or card may be accepted up to two years past expiration in certain cases — this is reported by NewsNation citing TSA guidance and confirmed in contemporaneous coverage [6]. Travelers should treat this as an exception, not a guarantee: TSA’s official ID page also notes that it accepts some expired IDs up to two years after expiration for the forms listed, but travelers are urged to verify current policy before travel [1] [6].
3. You can still get a REAL ID after May 7, 2025 — but plan for DMV wait times
States continue to issue REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards and you can obtain one after the enforcement date; multiple outlets say getting a REAL ID post-deadline is possible, but demand and appointment backlogs are common, so plan ahead if you intend to convert your state ID [4] [3]. State DMV pages and USA.gov emphasize that non‑REAL IDs still work for driving but are not acceptable for boarding aircraft or entering certain federal facilities [7] [3].
4. If you show up without any accepted ID, you may be refused at the checkpoint
Reporting and state guidance make plain that inability to present an acceptable form of identification can result in denied access to the security checkpoint and being unable to board your flight [5] [8]. News coverage from May 2025 documented passengers scrambling to find alternatives or seek help from TSA agents, illustrating that practical enforcement has real consequences for travel plans [4].
5. Practical, immediate steps travelers should take
Carry a valid passport or another TSA‑approved federal ID whenever possible; if your passport is expired, check whether the limited expired‑passport allowance applies to your case and airline, but don’t rely on it as certain [1] [6]. If you lack any acceptable ID, contact your state DMV to schedule a REAL ID appointment immediately and review your state’s guidance for temporary options; understand that getting a REAL ID at the last minute may be constrained by DMV capacity [3] [4].
6. Emerging policy changes and future options to watch
TSA and DHS have introduced phased enforcement and alternative identity-verification approaches in 2025; the agency’s FAQ and reporting note a phased approach to implementation and that agencies may use operational discretion as they evaluate impacts [2] [9]. Available sources do not mention the 2026 TSA ConfirmID fee option in detail for travelers before 2026; recent TSA announcements after the enforcement date should be monitored for new alternatives (not found in current reporting).
Limitations and competing viewpoints: official TSA pages and state DMVs present the policy as firm — REAL ID or an acceptable federal alternative is required — while some news outlets reported limited, case‑by‑case leniency for expired passports [1] [6]. Travelers must weigh the stronger, consistent message from TSA and state DMVs (no non‑REAL state ID for flying) against isolated reports of temporary allowances; the safer course is to obtain or carry an unquestionably acceptable ID well before travel [1] [3].