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Starting May 7, 2025, Pennsylvania residents will need a REAL ID or another federally accepted form of identification to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities. This new requirement is part of a federal law that changes how states issue driver's licenses and ID cards.
According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, obtaining a REAL ID is optional. Residents who already have a valid U.S. passport, military ID, or another approved form of ID do not need to get a REAL ID. However, those who choose to get one must pay a one-time $30 fee plus the standard renewal fee. The REAL ID will include the remaining time on the current license plus an additional four years.
To apply for a REAL ID, residents must provide proof of identity, a valid Social Security number, two proofs of Pennsylvania address, and proof of all legal name changes. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) offers pre-verification online, allowing residents to receive their REAL ID by mail. Alternatively, residents can visit a PennDOT REAL ID Center for same-day issuance or a regular Driver License Center to receive the ID by mail within 15 days.
As of now, only about one-third of Pennsylvanians have obtained a REAL ID, compared to nearly full compliance in some other states. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is planning a phased enforcement rollout, so it remains unclear if travelers without a REAL ID will be immediately turned away from flights.
For more information and to apply for pre-verification, residents can visit the PennDOT REAL ID website.