With appointments to obtain or renew a state ID or driver’s license being booked weeks, and sometimes months, in advance, it is essential to prepare for the looming deadline to obtain the federally mandated REAL ID-compliant card.
Starting May 3, 2023, everyone will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license with a gold star, a valid passport, or U.S. military ID to travel by air in the U.S.
The deadline was set under the REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. Under the legislation, federal agencies, like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), are prohibited from accepting licenses and identification cards for official purposes from states that do not meet these standards.
If your current Texas driver license or ID already has a gold star in the top right corner, you already have a REAL ID Act-compliant card, and no further action is required on your part. If it does not have a gold star, you will get a REAL ID-compliant license or ID upon your next renewal or if you request a duplicate card either in person or through Texas.gov.
If your card does not have the star past the May 3, 2023, deadline, you can continue to use the card, but only for state-related purposes such as driving (driver license only), banking, and voting. It will not be accepted as identification for federal purposes, however, such as boarding domestic flights or entering secure federal facilities.
If someone presents a non-REAL ID-compliant Texas driver license or identification card after May 3, 2023, the TSA or other federal agency responsible for security will have the discretion to decide whether to permit them access or to subject them to additional screening.
You can apply for a new REAL ID-compliant Texas driver license or ID in person at a Texas Department of Public Safety office. You may also be eligible to renew your existing Texas driver license or ID online.
Some individuals may have received a renewal notice in the mail that lists the documents necessary to obtain a REAL ID-compliant card. If you did not receive a renewal notice, are acquiring a replacement, or are unsure what to take with you, use the REAL ID Document Check Application to learn what you must bring to your driver license office visit.
To get a REAL ID-compliant Texas driver license or ID, you need:
- An original or certified copy of a birth certificate or an unexpired U.S. passport book or card
- Social Security card
- Current Texas vehicle registration or title
- Current car insurance policy or car insurance statement
- If your name changed, legal documents showing proof of name change from your birth name.
The following documents will be accepted for Proof of Identity and Citizenship:
- Photo Texas driver license or Texas identification card, unexpired or expired within the last two years
- Valid, unexpired U.S. passport book or U.S. passport card
- U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization with identifiable photo (N-550, N-560, N-561, N-570, N-578)
- Unexpired U.S. military identification card for active duty, reserve, or retired personnel with identifiable photo.
To determine if you are eligible to renew online or need to obtain a replacement card, visit www.texas.gov.
I tried to renew my license, a year ago, with a valid Texas drivers license and the office at Littlefield,Texas would not accept it.