Washington Airports Will Have New ID Standards in 2020

SEATAC, WA — One year from today, anyone 18 or older will need a new a federally-approved form of identification to board flights at Sea-Tac Airport. Your old driver's license will not cut it. Airport officials are joining the state Department of Licensing and the TSA to get the word out early, in hopes of avoiding a mad dash at the last minute next year.

As usual, a U.S. passport or passport card will work, as will military and tribal IDs. Those planning to continue using their license to board a plane will need to visit the Department of Licensing and get an enhanced ID.

Enhanced driver's licenses cost $78 and are valid for six years. Young drivers with learner's permits may get an enhanced version of those, and all ages can get an enhanced ID card. To meet federal requirements, proof of citizenship, identity, and residence is required, plus any documentation of name changes if applicable. You will also need proof of your social security number, which can be the card itself, a W-2 form or even a pay stub if the number is visible.

Congress first passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, establishing a set of federal minimum standards for state-issued identification. Washington and many other states received several extensions to come into compliance, but the clock runs out on October 1, 2020. The law has been controversial since its inception, with privacy advocates raising concerns over the creation of what they see as a national identification system. The ACLU also opposes the law, calling it a "bureaucratic nightmare for individuals."

A full list of approved boarding documents can be found on the TSA's website.

A full list of documents you will need to get an enhanced license can be found on the Department of Licensing website.

The Department of Homeland Security maintains a list of frequently asked questions about REAL ID.