DHS Postpones Real ID Deadline to May 2025

On December 5, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that individuals will have an additional 24 months – until May 7, 2025 – to obtain U.S. state driver’s licenses or identification cards that comply with the REAL ID Act security standards. DHS has extended the full enforcement deadline from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025, due to the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on states’ ability to issue REAL-ID compliant documents. Airlines and federal agencies will continue to accept non-REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards for domestic air travel and admission to federal facilities until May 7, 2025.