U.S. residents, including everyone here in Mississippi, have just under two weeks to get a REAL ID if they want to fly the friendly skies anytime soon.
Beginning May 7, most adults catching a commercial flight will be required to present a passport or an upgraded, state-issued identification card that meets federal REAL ID standards. A requirement that has been 20 years in the making, dating back to precautionary efforts onset after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the move is intended to enhance security at airports and inside federal buildings.
If you don’t already have a REAL ID or are trying to figure out if you’re free to fly, here’s what to know.
What is REAL ID?
It’s a driver’s license or other state-issued ID that meets security requirements outlined in a 2005 law passed by Congress. The Real ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
How to get a REAL ID?
Obtaining an ID with the Real ID designation in Mississippi means going to a local driver’s license service bureau and providing your Social Security card or any official document with your Social Security number, a certified copy of your birth certificate, and two forms of proof of Mississippi residency. Appointments to do so can be made online through the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s website, with some locations offering special Saturday appointments through early May.
How to know if you have a REAL ID?
The easiest way to check if you have a REAL ID is to get out your driver’s license and look for a white star inside a yellow circle. If you see that, you’re good to go. You won’t see a specific REAL ID star or other marking on a passport, as it already meets the required security standards.
Mississippi has been issuing driver’s licenses meeting REAL ID standards since 2018, meaning anyone who has gotten a driver’s license over the past seven years should have a license meeting REAL ID standards. According to a DPS news release, 97.1% of Mississippi drivers were REAL ID compliant as of April 1.
Do you have to have a REAL ID?
Yes. If you want to fly commercially or enter federal facilities such as military bases, a REAL ID is required. REAL ID is not required to drive, vote, or receive state or federal services. People who have photo IDs from federal tribal nations don’t need anything new. Employment authorization green cards are already acceptable, as are some other identifying documents on the government’s list.
Is May 7 the final deadline to get a REAL ID?
No. Wednesday, May 7, is the deadline to get a REAL ID to fly or enter federal facilities after that date. People can still get a REAL ID after May 7, but it will not be accepted for travel or federal access until it is issued.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.