Changes are coming to the way we board airplanes. Beginning May 7, 2025, you will need to show a form of identification that is Real ID compliant. Here, we’ll answer your Real ID questions.
What is Real ID?
The Real ID Act was enacted in 2005 by the Federal Government and the states to set a standard for sources of identification.
How do I get a Real ID card?
When you renew you driver’s license, you can get this new card, which can be identified by the yellow star in the top right corner. You must bring the following forms of identification to get your new Real ID-compliant card: valid passport or birth certificate, proof of social security (social security card, current W-2 or 1099, or current paycheck stub with full social security number) and proof of Kansas residency (for example, a utility bill dated within past 60 days). Other forms of identification could include a valid Visa, valid Permanent Resident Card or a valid Employment Authorization Card. If your name is not the same on all of your documents, bring proof of name change.
Learn more about this process on the Kansas Department of Revenue website.
When will I need a Real ID card to fly?
On May 7, 2025, you must have a Real ID compliant identification card to fly. This could include state-issued Identification Cards and Driver’s Licenses. Until that date, you can still use your current Kansas driver’s license because the state of Kansas is compliant with the Real ID Act.
Is Real ID secure?
Real ID is not a national identification system. Rather, it is a set of standards that your current state identification card must meet. As stated on the Department of Homeland Security’s FAQ page: “The purpose of Real ID is to make our identity documents more consistent and secure.”
More information on Real ID
Click here for more information about the implementation of the Real ID Act from the Department of Homeland Security.
Click here to learn more information about TSA operations at ICT.
