DELAWARE -- The Delaware Department of Transportation and the Division of Motor Vehicles are urging people to check their Real ID status ahead of the May 7, 2025 deadline, which the US Department of Homeland Security has confirmed will not be extended.
Beginning May 7, 2025, all US travelers must be Real ID compliant to fly domestically and internationally and access certain federal buildings. Only state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards that are REAL ID compliant are acceptable for official purposes.
"It's to create a security standard for driver's license and identification cards in the United States and also how they are issued and the regulation of the issuance," says Kathryn Beasley, Deputy Director of Community Relations for DelDOT.
According to Beasley, more than 742,000 Delawareans are already Real ID compliant. If a gold star is present in the upper right-hand corner of a driver's license or ID, it is a REAL ID and federally compliant.
Those who are not yet Real ID compliant can visit the Delaware DMV with the proper documentation to do so:
• Proof of Identification
• Proof of Social Security Number
• Two Proofs of Delaware Address
• Proof of Name Change(s) if applicable
For those who do not make the May 7 deadline, a passport or global entry will still get you on board. You can still get a Real ID after May 7.