Countdown For Washington and Idaho Residents: Face REAL ID Deadline for Air Travel

Countdown For Washington and Idaho Residents: Face REAL ID Deadline for Air Travel

If you have any travel plans for the upcoming year, you will want identification that complies with REAL ID requirements in order to board a plane.

Representatives from the Department of Licensing, the TSA, and Spokane International Airport reminded residents of Washington that they had exactly one year from Tuesday to obtain an identity document that complies with REAL ID requirements in order to board a plane.

From May 7, 2025, this will be applicable to all travelers who are eighteen years of age or older. Travelers are being urged by officials to obtain new identification as soon as possible.

“We want Washington residents to be ready, and this is a reminder that you have one year to look at your identity document options and determine which one best fits your lifestyle,” Marcus Glasper, DOL director stated.

Glasper added that some individuals might already possess a REAL-ID complaint document, such as an ID card or enhanced driver’s license (EDL) from Washington.

Related: Last Call for Tennessee Residents: Get Your Real ID Now

The enhanced ID cards (EID) and EDL from Washington are consistent with REAL ID, valid for air travel within the US, and can be used to cross land or sea borders into Canada and Mexico.

A certified birth certificate, a U.S. passport, or a military ID are required in order to obtain an EDL or EID. For a complete list of document possibilities, click here.

Other permissible forms of identity to board a commercial airline include a passport from another country, a U.S. passport, a military ID, or a tribal ID. For alternatives to a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card, visit the TSA website.

The same deadline—May 7, 2025—applies to residents of Idaho seeking REAL-ID compliant identification. In order to board a commercial flight in May of next year, acceptable types of identification include an Idaho Star Card, a U.S. passport, and a military ID.

Approximately 50% of Idahoans, according to Lt. Governor Scott Bedke, possess an Idaho Star Card. Click here to learn more about Idaho’s REAL ID deadline.

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With more than two years of expertise in news and analysis, Eileen Stewart is a seasoned reporter. Eileen is a respected voice in this field, well-known for her sharp reporting and insightful analysis. Her writing covers a wide range of subjects, from politics to culture and more.