Why TSA Is Accepting Expired Licenses

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended for one year the due date after which TSA will accept just motorists licenses or state ID cards with REAL ID as legitimate to fly domestically. The previous October 2020 deadline is now October 1, 2021.

Till then, TSA will continue to accept standard state ID as sufficient ID for domestic flight. TSA will also accept a standard license or state ID that ended on or after March 1, for a year after expiration or 60 days after the period of the emergency, whichever is longer. These changes are because of the impact of coronavirus shutdowns affecting the ability of state DMV workplace to process REAL ID applications.

If you still require a REAL ID motorist’s license, all 50 states are now issuing them (if DMVs are still open). The basic idea behind REAL ID is to supply TSA with an improved basis for screening travelers, so you need to provide more background information than you do for a regular license– much of what you offer a passport. And you pay extra: My state of Oregon, for example, charges both a $30 re-issue fee and a $30 REAL ID fee. Contact your state’s DMV or equivalent for information.

Even after that last due date, not everyone will always require a REAL-ID license. Passports, passport cards, irreversible resident cards, and Relied on Tourist cards (which feature Trusted Traveler programs like International Entry) will continue to be adequate identification for domestic flights. Likewise sufficient are “boosted” motorists licenses released by border states Michigan, Minnesota, New York City, Vermont, and Washington.