Keesing / Document Verification / REAL ID

REAL ID Act

The REAL ID Act is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. states and territories. It sets federal standards for the issuance of driver’s licenses and other forms of identification.

Once fully implemented, the REAL ID Act will make it difficult or impossible for terrorists and other criminals to forge identity documents and gain unlawful access to federally-regulated commercial aircraft, nuclear power plants, and certain federal facilities.

Starting May 7, 2025, travellers must present a valid REAL ID driver’s license or ID card (or a TSA-approved alternate document) to board any commercial flight in the United States. On this page, you can find information about REAL ID per state.

What you need to know:

  • Compliant states meet all REAL ID criteria for documentation of identity, security features of cards, and control of facilities that store and issue licenses and ID cards.
  • All enhanced driver’s licenses and ID cards are REAL ID-compliant. Enhanced cards provide proof of identity and citizenship.  They also serve as a passport alternative at certain U.S. land and sea borders from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The types of REAL ID symbols currently in circulation:

Real ID Gold Star

Gold star

Real ID Black Star

Black star

Real ID Gold Star Circle

Star cutout in gold circle

Real ID Black Star Circle

Star cutout in black circle

Real ID Bear Star

Star cutout in gold grizzly bear

Real ID Maine Star

Gold outline of the state Maine

Star cutout in the state Nevada

Star cutout in the state New Hampshire

Star cutout of the state Michigan

States are grouped in alphabetical order by name, and U.S. territories are grouped together. Simply click on the corresponding grouping below to jump to the state (or territory) you are interested in.

U.S. States A-H
U.S. States I-M
U.S. States N-R
U.S. States S-W
U.S. Territories

U.S. States A-H

Lush greenery and a bridge over a lake with the state flag of Alabama.

Alabama

  • Issued starting:2013
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star
  • Standard:“Not for Federal Identification” (if issued on or after 04/25/22)
Mountains with the state flag of Alaska.

Alaska

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:"FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY"
  • Digital ID/DL: https://dmv.alaska.gov/mid/
Large rock boulders with the state flag of Arizona.

Arizona

  • Issued starting:2016
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Star cutout in blackReal ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION” (if issued before 07/09/18) “NOT FOR FEDERAL ID” (if issued 07/09/18 to March 2023) “NOT VALID FOR OFFICIAL FEDERAL PURPOSES” (if issued March 2023 or later)
  • Digital ID/DL:Yes - https://azdot.gov/
A well-lit bridge over water, trees, and some buildings with the state flag of Arkansas.

Arkansas

  • Issued starting:2016
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION” (if issued before 07/09/18) “NOT FOR FEDERAL ID” (if issued on or after 07/09/18)
  • Digital ID/DL:Yes - https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/
A large red bridge over a expanse of blue water with the state flag of California.

California

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Bear Star
  • Standard:“FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY”
Buildings and a sunset with a pink-purple hue with the state flag of Colorado.

Colorado

  • Issued starting:2013
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT VALID FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION, VOTING OR PUBLIC BENEFIT PURPOSES”
  • Digital ID/DL:Yes - https://dmv.colorado.gov/
Buildings and a road bridge with the state flag of Connecticut.

Connecticut

  • Issued starting:2011
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“Not for Federal Identification”
Skyscrapers with the state flag of Delaware.

Delaware

  • Issued starting:2010
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold StarReal ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION” (If issued before 06/04/18) “NOT FOR FEDERAL ID” (If issued on or after 06/04/18)
  • Digital ID/DL:Yes - https://www.dmv.de.gov/
A building with Pillars with the flag of USA and the district flag of Columbia.

District of Columbia

  • Issued starting:2014
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black StarStar cutout in black
  • Standard cards:“NOT VALID FOR OFFICIAL FEDERAL PURPOSES”
Skyscrapers and a beach with blue waters with the state flag of Florida.

Florida

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”
  • Digital ID/DL:https://www.flhsmv.gov/floridasmartid/
Skyscrapers with a yellow-orange sunset with the state flag of Georgia.

Georgia

  • Issued starting:2012
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star CircleReal ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:No indicator
  • Digital ID/DL:Yes
Buildings, a mountain, and a beach with blue waters with the state flag of Hawaii.

Hawaii

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR OFFICIAL FEDERAL PURPOSES”
  • Digital ID/DL:https://www8.honolulu.gov/csd/vehicle/

U.S. States I-M

Buildings surrounded by trees with a yellowish-green hue with the state flag of Idaho.

Idaho

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“Not For REAL ID Purposes” (if issued before 04/12/23) “NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR REAL ID OFFICIAL PURPOSES” (if issued on or after 04/12/23)
Buildings and a large expanse of blue water with the state flag of Illinois.

Illinois

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“Federal Limits Apply”
Buildings with a blue sky with the state flag of Indiana.

Indiana

  • Issued starting:2010
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star CircleReal ID Gold StarReal ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:No indicator (if issued before 05/20/19) “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” (if issued on or after 05/20/19)
A large bridge with buildings in the background with the state flag of Iowa.

Iowa

  • Issued starting:2013
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:No indicator
  • Digital ID/DL:https://iowadot.gov/driversvehicles
Buildings illuminated by sunlight with the state flag of Kansas.

Kansas

  • Issued starting:2017
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL ID”
Buildings with the state flag of Kentucky.

Kentucky

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES”
A brightly-lit bridge with the state flag of Louisiana.

Louisiana

  • Issued starting:2016
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”
  • Digital ID/DL:Yes - https://www.expresslane.org/
A mountain, lush greenery, and a lake with the state flag of Maine.

Maine

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Maine Star
  • Standard:“NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” (before October 2019) or “NOT INTENDED FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES” (starting October 2019)
A harbor with boats situated across buildings with the state flag of Maryland.

Maryland

  • Issued starting:2016
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”
  • Digital ID/DL:https://mva.maryland.gov/Pages/MDMobileID_Apple.aspx
A bridge over water with buildings and a sunset in the background with the state flag of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL ID”
Several buildings with the evening sky with the state flag of Michigan.

Michigan

  • Issued starting:2011
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”
A bridge over an expanse of water and some buildings with the state flag of Minnesota.

Minnesota

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”
Buildings surrounded by green trees with the state flag of Mississippi.

Mississippi

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Digital ID/DL:https://www.driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov/mobile-id/
A park between a lake and buildings with the state flag of Missouri.

Missouri

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES”
  • Digital ID/DL:Yes
An expanse of blue water surrounded by mountains with the state flag of Montana.

Montana

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”

U.S. States N-R

Houses in a countryside with the state flag of Nebraska.

Nebraska

  • Issued starting:2013
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:None will be issued
Buildings in a brightly-lit city with the state flag of Nevada.

Nevada

  • Issued starting:2014
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL OFFICIAL USE” (if issued before August 2021) “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES” (if issued starting 2021)
Buildings surrounded by lush greenery with the state flag of New Hampshire.

New Hampshire

  • Issued starting:2017
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”
Several bridge highways across an expanse of water with the state flag of New Jersey.

New Jersey

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:NOT FOR “REAL ID” PURPOSES
Buildings surrounded by large mountains with the state flag of New Mexico.

New Mexico

  • Issued starting:2016
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES” (if issued before 2019) “NOT INTENDED FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES” (if issued starting 2019)
  • Digital ID/DL:: https://www.mvd.newmexico.gov/nm-drivers-licenses-ids/new-mexico-mobile-id/
Several well-lit buildings with the state flag of New York.

New York

  • Issued starting:2017
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES”
  • Digital ID/DL:https://dmv.ny.gov/id-card/mobile-id-mid
Buildings with lush greenery with the state flag of North Carolina.

North Carolina

  • Issued starting:2017
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star CircleStar cutout in black
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION” (if issued before 06/01/24) “NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES” (if issued on or after 06/01/24)
Mountains surrounding an expanse of water with the state flag of North Dakota.

North Dakota

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION” (if issued before 08/02/23) “NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR REAL ID OFFICIAL PURPOSES” (if issued on or after 08/02/23)
A bridge over water with the state flag of Ohio.

Ohio

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL ID” Note: Prior versions of Ohio credentials may have a gold star but are not REAL ID-compliant.
  • Digital ID/DL:https://www.bmv.ohio.gov
Buildings with the evening sky with the state flag of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma

  • Issued starting:2020
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES”
A landscape surrounded by waters with the state flag of Oregon.

Oregon

  • Issued starting:2020
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard: “Not for REAL ID Act”
Buildings with greenery and mountains in the background with the state flag of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES”
Colorful buildings with the state flag of Rhode Island.

Rhode Island

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”

U.S. States S-W

Colorful buildings by a road with the state flag of South Carolina.

South Carolina

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”
Mount Rushmore boulders with the state flag of South Dakota.

South Dakota

  • Issued starting:2010
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold StarReal ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:No indicator (if issued before 2018) “NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION” (if issued 2018 or later)
A brightly-lighted bridge over water with the state flag of Tennessee.

Tennessee

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:NOT FOR REAL ID ACT PURPOSES
Buildings with a pink and purple sky with the state flag of Texas.

Texas

  • Issued starting:2016
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:None will be issued.
Rock formations with creeks of water with the state flag of Utah.

Utah

  • Issued starting:2019
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard :"NOT VALID FOR IDENTIFICATION" ("DRIVING PRIVILEGE ONLY")
  • Digital ID/DL:Yes - https://dld.utah.gov/
Buildings surrounded by trees during autumn with the state flag of Vermont.

Vermont

  • Issued starting:2014
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star CircleReal ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:“Drivers Privilege Card”
A large bridge surrounded by nature with the state flag of Virginia.

Virginia

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:“FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY”
A building with pillars surrounded by pink blossom trees with the state flag of Washington.

Washington

  • Standard:“FEDERAL LIMITS APPLY” (if issued on or after 07/01/2018)
Mountains surrounded by water with the state flag of West Virginia.

West Virginia

  • Issued starting:2013
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star CircleReal ID Gold Star
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION”
  • Digital ID/DL:https://transportation.wv.gov/DMV/MiD/Pages/default.aspx
A city surrounded by an expanse of water with the state flag of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin

  • Issued starting:2015
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES”
Trees surrounded by a lake with the state flag of Wyoming.

Wyoming

  • Issued starting:2014
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star CircleReal ID Black Star Circle
  • Standard:None will be issued

U.S. Territories

An island with greeneries and beaches with the American Samoan islands' flag.

American Samoa

  • Status:REAL ID compliant
Buildings with greenery and waters with the flag of Guam.

Guam

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION
Islands with greenery and blue waters with the flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Northern Mariana Islands

  • Issued starting:2020
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Black Star Circle
A bright city surrounded by water with a Puerto Rican flag.

Puerto Rico

  • Issued starting:2016
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle
  • Standard:“NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION"
A beach with blue waters and an emblem of the US Virgin Islands states.

US Virgin Islands

  • Issued starting:2018
  • REAL ID symbol:
    Real ID Gold Star Circle

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