Real ID Act

The REAL ID Act (passed by Congress in 2005) established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. Beginning May 7, 2025, a REAL ID-compliant license/identification card will be needed to board domestic commercial flights, enter a military base, or enter a federal facility that requires ID at the door.

REAL ID is optional for Pennsylvania residents, and they are able to get either a REAL ID driver’s license/identification card, or a standard driver’s license or identification card.

A REAL ID is not required to: drive, vote, access hospitals, visit the post office, access federal courts, or apply for or receive federal benefits. If a Pennsylvania resident does not get a REAL ID, they must have an alternative form of federally-acceptable identification (valid passport, military ID, etc.) to board domestic commercial flights and enter certain federal facilities after May 7, 2025.

Beginning May 7, 2025, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, photo ID card, or another form of federally-acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to board a domestic commercial flight or enter a federal building or military installation that requires ID.

Getting a REAL ID is optional for Pennsylvania residents, and they will be available in March 2019 to Pennsylvanians who want them.

Customers may bring their REAL ID documentation into any PennDOT driver license center for pre-verification. Then, when REAL IDs are available in March 2019, customers can apply for their REAL ID online — no need to come back to the driver license center! To learn more about what documents you’ll need to present, visit our REAL ID Document Check page.

The chart below shows the difference between a standard ID or driver’s license, and a REAL ID: