The NYS Department of Motor Vehicles is again reminding New Yorkers to get a REAL ID or Enhanced ID before the upcoming federal deadline on May 7, 2025. Starting then, everyone flying in the US will need a REAL ID, Enhanced ID, Passport, or another form of federally compliant identification to fly domestically and enter certain federal facilities. There is no additional cost beyond the renewal fee to get a REAL ID.
“If you have a flight in your near future, the time is now to get a REAL ID,” said DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. “We are just a few short weeks away from the REAL ID deadline, and you can prevent the burden of delays by getting yours now. Making an appointment online is the best way to get in and out of a DMV office quickly.”
Passed by Congress in 2005, the federal REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses, permits, and ID cards. It also requires customers to bring certain documents to the DMV to prove who they are and to have a new photograph taken before their REAL ID can be issued.
DMV offices strongly encourage customers to make a reservation, which can be done online. To assist New Yorkers, the DMV has implemented several online tools such as a document guide and an online application pre-screening process to help them prepare.
To avoid mistakes and prevent further delays, DMV advises customers to make sure that they provide appropriate proof of residency, with two items such as a current driver’s license or non-driver ID or a utility bill or pay stub with a current New York State address. Also, bring proof of your full legal name, and if you have had a name change through marriage or divorce, provide a marriage license or divorce decree that shows the connection.
In addition to the REAL ID, the DMV offers an Enhanced ID which meets federal REAL ID standards. An Enhanced ID costs $30 extra and can be used as identification when returning to the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico and some countries in the Caribbean. A passport is also acceptable as a REAL ID-compliant document.
For more information about REAL ID and Enhanced Driver Licenses, visit Enhanced or REAL ID
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