REAL ID Enforcement Begins: Travelers Face New Airport Security Requirements

The long-awaited enforcement date for the REAL ID Act has officially arrived. As of May 7, 2025, all U.S. airline passengers aged 18 and older are required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, or an acceptable alternative such as a U.S. passport, to pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints for domestic flights.

The REAL ID Act, originally passed by Congress in 2005 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was designed to enhance national security by establishing. . .