REAL ID Deadline Nears For Florida Residents: What To Know

FLORIDA — Florida residents have six months left until the federal enforcement of REAL ID begins for commercial domestic air travel.

Officials with the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles office said residents who want a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or photo ID card should get their documents together as soon as possible to meet the deadline.

Starting in October 2021, drivers' licenses and state IDs that are not REAL ID-compliant will not be accepted as identification by federal authorities.

Real ID compliant driver's licenses and identification cards from the state of Florida have a small star in the upper right corner. They're needed if you plan to fly or enter any military base or federal building as of Oct. 1.

A valid passport or military ID card will also suffice to allow you to board a plane or enter a military base or federal offices.

Some military bases have already stopped accepting non-Real ID compliant credentials which display "Federal Limits Apply."

To obtain a new Florida driver license or ID card, read the What To Bring section of the FHSMV site. Click here for a list of local service centers. Visit GoRenew.com to renew your credential online.

"Although October may seem far away right now, we encourage our customers who want a REAL ID to get one as soon as possible," said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. "We continue to focus on providing the best possible customer service to all of our customers as the federal deadline approaches."

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. Florida received several extensions to implement the requirements.

The federal Department of Homeland Security postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID from October 1, 2020, to October 1, 2021, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Four pieces of identification are required to obtain a Real ID: a passport or birth certificate, a Social Security card or tax return, and two documents proving proof of residence, such as a mortgage or rental receipt and a utility bill.

When heading to the FLHSMV to get a Real ID, residents should bring several documents — originals, not copies.

This includes:

• Proof of identity, including a valid license, birth certificate or passport, with full first, middle and last name. This name will be displayed on the card as required by federal law.
• Proof of Social Security number or Social Security number ineligibility.
• Proof of your date of birth.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency or temporary lawful status in the U.S.
• Two different proofs of Florida residence such as a utility bill, bank statement or mortgage statement (a post office box not acceptable). This address will be displayed on your card.
• If the name on your license, permit or non-driver ID application does not match the name on your identity, lawful status and Social Security proofs, you must bring court- or government-issued proof documenting the event causing your name change, such as a marriage license, divorce decree, adoption or court order document.

You can find frequently asked questions about Real ID on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration does not require children under age 18 to provide identification when traveling with a companion within the United States.