Deadline to get your REAL ID is six months away

America's deadline for every adult to have a REAL ID is just six months away.

Beginning May 7, 2025 every air traveler 18 and older must have a Real ID or another form of acceptable identification. A REAL ID will also be necessary to visit certain federal facilies, including military bases and nuclear plants.

This requirement is part of the federal REAL ID Act, which aims to establish minimum security standards for state-issued identification documents.

In Kentucky, residents can renew their license up to six months before the expiration date. Those ineligible for renewal can upgrade to a REAL ID for $15 while retaining their current expiration date. 

REAL ID licenses are available for $24 for four-year and $48 for eight-year credentials. A standard, non-compliant four-year license is $21.50, while an eight-year license costs $43.

To apply for a REAL ID driver's license, permit or ID card, individuals must visit a Kentucky Driver Licensing Regional Office and present one proof of identity, one proof of social security, and two proofs of residency. 

In Illinois, all drivers license facilities are issuing REAL IDs.

The federal government has been trying to establish the REAL ID for nearly 20 years. The measure is part of The Real ID Act of 2005, an Act of Congress that established security standards for IDs after 9/11.

The measure is part of The Real ID Act of 2005, an Act of Congress that established security standards for IDs after 9/11.
 
The original Real ID deadline was set to take effect in 2020 but was pushed back several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DHS and Transportation Security Administration also filed a proposal in September to push back the full Real ID implementation until 2027, but a final decision hasn't been made yet, so for now the 2025 deadline is still in effect.
 
Approximately 53 percent of the U.S. population had REAL ID-compliant identifications in 2023 when the deadline was pushed to 2025. As of now, only 56 percent of the population have REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses. The 2027 deadline likely will be pushed another two years (requiring another rulemaking process), but TSA may take a phased approach.