REAL ID Deadline For GA Residents In 2020: What To Know

ATLANTA, GA — Georgia drivers' licenses and state IDs must be REAL ID compliant by this fall as a change to bring state-issued identification in line with federal security standards takes full effect. Starting Oct 1., drivers' licenses and state IDs that are not REAL ID compliant will not be accepted as identification by federal authorities.

Georgia Department of Driver Services began offering the secure ID in 2012, but the national deadline countdown is under way. You'll need the new ID, with a star in a circle in the upper right corner, if you plan to fly or enter any military base or federal building as of Oct. 1, 2020.

Real IDs will be needed to board a domestic commercial flight as of Oct. 1, if you don't have an alternative federally-acceptable identification, such as a valid passport or military ID card. Already some military bases may no longer accept non-Real ID compliant credentials which display "Federal Limits Apply."

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards.

Georgians can obtain a Real ID or stick with a standard driver's license when they get a new license at a Georgia Department of Driver Services office. There is no additional fee to obtain a REAL ID.

You must visit a DDS customer service center and bring proof of all identification documents. To obtain your Real ID License/ID bring original or certified documents that prove the following or view the complete list of Real ID Documents:

• Proof of identity: Original or certified copy of a birth certificate with a raised seal/embossed or valid, unexpired, U.S. passport
• Proof of Social Security Number: Social Security card, in current legal name
• Two documents showing Georgia residency — where you live, such as a utility bill, phone bill, vehicle registration, insurance card or bank statement. These documents must show a street address.
• Proof of all legal name changes (if applicable). If the name on your identity document differs from your current legal name, you must provide document(s) to show your name change history (For example, the name on birth certificate does not match the current legal name due to a marriage). Documents are required even if your name is correct on your current license/id.

For a complete list of all required documents to obtain a Real ID, visit the Georgia DDS website.

DDS Customer Service Centers are open Tuesday through Saturday. Tuesday is typically a busy day, so officials urges residents to visit on a Wednesday or Thursday. You can find a customer service center by searching online.

Transportation Security Administration officers who check tickets at airports will not allow travelers into the checkpoint without a REAL ID license or another form of acceptable ID after Oct. 1, 2020.