From CNET: Real ID was on track to go into effect on May 7, 2025, but it now looks as though it won't happen until 2027. The latest delay comes in the form of a proposal from the TSA that would give you more time to get your paperwork up to date and your new ID ready to go.
The Real ID Act of 2005 means that US residents 18 and older will eventually have to present a Real ID-enhanced driver's license or a passport or other federally approved identification document to fly, even from state to state. Under the new proposal, travelers will be encouraged to have their Real IDs by the 2025 date but won't be turned away from the gates until May 5, 2027.
In short, the Department of Homeland Security is anticipating that a lot of people will be applying for Real IDs at the last possible minute, resulting in a delay. And an influx of people without Real IDs showing up at airports and attempting to fly could cause delays and security issues at airports.
When May 7, 2025, rolls around, agencies will start issuing warnings to fliers who don't have Real ID-compliant IDs. This is to encourage people to update their documents and be prepared for next time. The progressive enforcement would end in 2027, making it a hard rule that a flier must have a Real ID-compliant ID.
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