Virginia Residents Face Looming Deadline for REAL ID Compliance

Virginia residents have less than a year to obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or identification card before the federal requirement goes into effect on May 7, 2025. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards to prevent fraudulent identification.

Why this matters: The REAL ID requirement has significant implications for national security and air travel, as it aims to prevent fraudulent identification and ensure the accuracy of traveler identities. Failure to comply with the requirement may lead to travel disruptions and increased security risks.

To obtain a REAL ID, Virginians must visit their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in person and provide documentation proving their identity, legal presence in the United States, Social Security number, and Virginia residency. REAL ID-compliant licenses and identification cards feature a small star in the upper right corner to indicate they meet the federal standards.

Robin "Chuck" Burke, the Transportation Security Administration's Federal Security Director for Richmond International Airport, emphasizes the importance of the REAL ID initiative. "REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver licenses and identification cards," Burke states. He warns that starting May 7, 2025, "individuals who are unable to verify their identity may not be permitted to enter the TSA checkpoint and will not be allowed to fly."

Over 3 million Virginians have already obtained a REAL ID, but the Virginia DMV urges those who haven't to make an appointment soon to avoid long wait times as the deadline approaches. Without a REAL ID, travelers will need to present another form of TSA-approved identification, such as a passport, to board domestic flights.

Richard Hartman, TSA's Assistant Federal Security Director in Richmond, explains the rationale behind the REAL ID requirement: "The idea is we want to know who is boarding our aircrafts and we want to be able to verify the passengers who are at our checkpoints are who they say they are." The REAL ID provides TSA with an additional tool to confirm passengers' identities with a higher degree of confidence.

Virginia DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey cautions against procrastinating on obtaining a REAL ID. "I wait until the last minute to do everything, so do a lot of other people, what that does is just makes the line longer and longer the longer you wait," Lackey admits. The DMV is currently experiencing a surge in appointments, processing between 1,000 and 3,000 people per day.

Commissioner Lackey also highlights the benefits of having a REAL ID even for those not planning to fly in the near future. "You never know if you're going to have the passport on you or if you're going to need to travel somewhere you didn't expect to travel to for family reasons, so it's worth getting rather than waiting and needing it and not having it," he advises.

The Virginia DMV, TSA, and Richmond International Airport are collaborating to raise awareness about the upcoming REAL ID requirement. They will hold a joint news conference on May 2, 2024, at the airport to provide more information and encourage Virginians to obtain their REAL ID-compliant licenses or identification cards well in advance of the May 7, 2025 deadline.

With the REAL ID deadline approaching, Virginia residents are urged to gather the necessary documents and schedule an appointment with their local DMV office to ensure they have a compliant form of identification. "You never know if you're going to have the passport on you or if you're going to need to travel somewhere you didn't expect to travel to for family reasons, so it's worth getting rather than waiting and needing it and not having it,"Commissioner Lackey reiterates, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for the REAL ID requirement.

Key Takeaways

• Virginia residents need a REAL ID by May 7, 2025, to board domestic flights.
• REAL ID requires proof of identity, legal presence, SSN, and Virginia residency.
• Over 3 million Virginians have already obtained a REAL ID; others should apply soon.
• Without a REAL ID, travelers need a passport or other TSA-approved ID.
• REAL ID helps prevent fraudulent identification and ensures accurate traveler identities.