REAL ID enforcement begins today. What does it mean for Kentucky’s airports?
It’s May 7, 2025, which means federal enforcement of REAL ID has officially begun.
REAL ID’s enforcement is 20 years in the making, and it’s come with multiple delays. The federal legislation that enacted it was passed by Congress in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks of 2001, and it aims to close a loophole used by the hijackers to stage those attacks.
The Transportation Security Administration has been preparing, and a regional spokesperson said earlier this month the agency doesn’t expect any major problems with enforcement. That said, if you show up at a TSA security checkpoint without a valid REAL ID or other compliant document, you should expect additional identity screening and possible delays.
The TSA has recommended people flying without a REAL ID or compliant form of ID, like a passport, arrive at the airport three hours early to ensure enough time for security screening, according to CBS News.
Officials at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington are echoing that advice, according to Lauren Simmerman, the airport’s community relations manager.
“Real ID enforcement begins tomorrow, May 7, 2025. Passengers without a Real ID—or another acceptable form of identification—should plan ahead and allow extra time at TSA checkpoints, as they may be subject to additional screening,” Simmerman told the Herald-Leader in an email Tuesday.
As REAL ID enforcement begins, here are answers to top questions on traveler’s minds.
Can you get a REAL ID after May 7, 2025?
Yes. Officials at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet have stressed May 7 is the enforcement date but not the deadline.
“We urge Kentuckians to have a plan for their travel needs. If you don’t need to fly right away, you still have time to upgrade or get a real ID before you do,” Allen Blair, a spokesperson for KYTC, wrote the Herald-Leader in a March 13 email.
By the end of February, exactly 1,270,737 Kentuckians had opted for REAL ID driver’s licenses and state ID cards, Blair said at the time. That figure represents almost 35% of the people carrying those types of credentials in the Bluegrass State.
This spring, the state’s regional driver’s licensing offices have experienced long lines and wait times as they juggle the surge in demand for REAL IDs and a new vision screening requirement for renewing drivers.
How to know if you have a valid REAL ID?
In Kentucky, REAL ID-compliant cards are marked with a white star in a black circle.
Per KYTC, the following are considered acceptable forms of ID for U.S. commercial air travel, including domestic flights:
Kentucky’s REAL ID card versions or other REAL ID-compliant cards offered by other states
U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
U.S. Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
DHS-designated enhanced driver’s license
Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation worker identification credential (TWIC)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
You may also be asked to present a REAL ID when entering federal buildings.
For more information about how to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license or state ID in Kentucky, including what documents are required and costs, visit drive.ky.gov or check out our guide for obtaining one.
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