MILWAUKEE– Starting May 7, 2025, travelers across Wisconsin and nationwide will need to meet new federal ID requirements if they plan to fly within the U.S. or enter certain federal buildings.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in coordination with Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will begin enforcing the REAL ID Act — a federal law that raises the standard for state-issued identification.
The biggest change is requiring a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID — or another approved document like a passport — to board domestic flights or access federal facilities. If your current license or ID has a star in the top right corner, you’re likely already set. Otherwise, you’ll need to update your identification before May 7 deadline.
“So the best and most important thing customers in our state should do is visit our website: WisconsinDOT.gov” says Administrator for the Department of Motor Vehicles Tommy Winkler, which contains a link to the Driver License and Identification Card Guide.
The page contains an interactive guide for the documentation needed to obtain a REAL ID.
”It also allows customers to pre fill out their application prior to their visit. And you can even schedule an appointment for service at a DMV Customer Service Center,” says Winkler. “By using that DLID guide and making that appointment for service, you will make your trip successful and fast”.
For the documentation needed, applicants should provide “original or certified copies of documents that provide proof of name and date of birth and legal presence”, which can include a certified copy of one’s birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport.
Winkler says, “you’ll also need to provide proof of identity, which for many that’ll just be the existing driver license or ID card that you have. You’ll also need to provide proof of two forms of address.”
Wisconsin began issuing REAL ID compliant driver licenses and IDs back in January of 2013. To date, nearly 64% of all validation driver license and ID cards in Wisconsin are REAL ID compliant, amounting to over 3.1 million driver license and ID cards.
Paper copies of one’s ID or license are no longer accepted when boarding a plane.
Wisconsin TSA Federal Security Director Mark Lendvay says, “in the State of Wisconsin, when you renew your driver’s license, issues a paper document, which is good for approximately 30 days,” making the paper document unacceptable by airline ticket checkers.
“So if you’re getting the ID replaced and for instance you’re doing it online, we suggest if you’re able to retain the old driver’s license because we will still accept that at our nation’s airports. So again, the paper tickets that you’re getting or license would not be acceptable. And then for trusted traveler, our precheck population, which is at 20 million right now, those individuals are not issued a government ID. And a lot of those individuals may not have REAL ID. So although you’re a trusted traveler, you’re still going to be required to have the real ID on the day of travel: May 7.”
