REAL ID Is Coming

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security is reminding residents of the state of an important deadline coming up in six months. The REAL ID Act of 2005, requires anyone 18 years old or older to have a REAL ID or other federally issued photo ID, such as a passport, to be able to enter certain Federal buildings, military bases and nuclear power plants or board commercial flights within the United States. The REAL ID act will go into effect on May 7, 2025. If you do not have a REAL ID by that date, you will not be able to board a commercial flight in the US.

The Department of Safety and Homeland Security began issuing REAL IDs on July 1, 2019. Of Tennessee’s 5.8 million valid credentials, 1.6 million are not currently REAL ID compliant. Federal law requires REAL ID applications be made in person. You can do so in Tennessee at a Driver Services Center or a participating County Clerk office. To apply for a REAL ID, customers must bring proof of U.S. citizenship or legal presence, proof of your Social Security Number, and two proofs of Tennessee residency. If your name has changed, you must also bring a certified legal document supporting the name change. All documents must be original or certified. Photocopies will not be accepted. A complete list of accepted documents can be found at tnrealid.gov.

Obtaining a REAL ID is optional. Regular Tennessee driver licenses will continue to be accepted for general identification purposes such as driving, purchasing alcohol or tobacco products, applying for federal benefits, voting, accessing hospitals, post offices, banks, federal courts, etc.

The cost for a REAL ID is $28. Tennesseans are encouraged to decide to get a REAL ID before the implementation date to avoid the potential influx of customers to Driver Services Centers.