Although federal regulation states U.S. residents should start to make use of a REAL ID by Might 7, officers mentioned Tuesday these with out one will nonetheless be capable to fly with a number of further steps — for now.

“(People) will be allowed to fly,” Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem mentioned earlier than a congressional panel Tuesday. “We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.”

U.S. residents have been instructed that they’ll want an up to date REAL ID so as to fly domestically, in addition to to entry sure federal buildings and services, by Wednesday.

However Noem mentioned Tuesday that for now, these with no REAL ID on the airport “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step.”

“But we are telling people that this law will be enforced and it will allow us to know individuals in this country — who they are and that they are authorized to travel,” Noem mentioned Tuesday.

REAL IDs are federally compliant state-issued licenses or ID playing cards, which have been beneficial by the 9/11 Fee and mandated below a regulation signed in 2005. The unique 2008 deadline for his or her rollout has been repeatedly delayed.

The brand new REAL IDs in most states are marked by a star within the prime nook, although some produce other variations just like the star inside one other image or an American flag.

Noem mentioned nationwide 81% of vacationers are already compliant with REAL IDs necessities. Safety will even be accepting passports and tribal identification after the Wednesday deadline.

In Massachusetts, 58% of all energetic registry issued credentials, licenses and ID playing cards are REAL ID compliant, a MassDOT spokesperson mentioned Tuesday.

Massachusetts RMVs have been providing particular in-person, walk-in service particularly for REAL ID transactions for the final a number of weeks and can proceed to take action in the meanwhile, based on MassDOT.

Those that would not have a right away flight deliberate or a passport readily available, AAA spokesperson Mark Schieldrop mentioned, can nonetheless decide up a REAL ID “whenever it’s convenient for you.”

“We’re seeing a lot of folks with a sense of urgency about Real ID — and it’s great to have one — but there is some confusion about the requirements,” Schieldrop mentioned. “Your common license remains to be a legitimate Massachusetts ID, and Actual IDs will all the time be obtainable.

“Ultimately, having a Real ID will ensure your passage through TSA security checkpoints goes as smoothly as possible, but in the short term, we don’t expect folks finding themselves unable to fly next week,” Schieldrop added.

Extra details about federal necessities and methods to get a REAL ID, together with required paperwork and RMV places, will be discovered at mass.gov/real-id.

Extra data on acceptable identification to get by way of TSA on the airport will be discovered at tsa.gov/identification.

Initially Printed: Might 6, 2025 at 8:08 PM EDT