REAL ID Deadline Is Days Away: What You Need To Know In MD

MARYLAND ? The deadline for Maryland travelers to get a REAL ID is next month, and time and opportunity to get one is running out.

Starting on May 7, residents will need a REAL ID to board domestic flights or enter certain federal buildings, if they don't have a passport or other approved form of identification.

?Maryland is fully prepared for the REAL ID implementation, and I?m proud to announce that 99% of Maryland residents are REAL ID compliant, one of the top rates in the country,? said MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer during a news conference March 11. ?We?ve made it easy for customers to assess whether they are compliant, or not, through a myMVA account. By setting up their own myMVA account, Marylanders can see their REAL ID status, as well as other relevant driver and vehicle information.?

The Maryland MVA permits customers to renew their driver?s licenses up to 12 months before the expiration date, and customers who are eligible for a REAL ID are required to present the required documents in order to renew.

REAL ID required documents in Maryland include:

1. Proof of age and identity (i.e. birth certificate, U.S. passport, permanent resident card, etc.)
2. Proof of social security (i.e. social security card, W-2 form, pay stub less than three months old, etc.)
3. Two forms of proof of Maryland residency (i.e. vehicle registration card, bank account statement, utility bill, etc.)

For Maryland-born customers, the MVA can provide a certified Maryland birth certificate to fulfill the age and identity requirement at the following branch offices: Annapolis, Baltimore City, Essex, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Largo and Salisbury.

Customers can also verify their REAL ID status by entering a driver?s license or ID card number into the REAL ID Lookup Tool here.

"As Maryland's primary gateway for air travel, BWI Marshall Airport is ready for the changes that the REAL ID Act brings,? said Ricky Smith, executive director/CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration. ?Our team has been working hard to ensure a smooth transition for all passengers."