COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The deadline for Ohio travelers to have the proper identification to board U.S. domestic flights is arriving soon.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, on May 7, 2025, the TSA will begin enforcement of Real IDs at airports nationwide, including John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Rickenbacker International Airport. U.S. air passengers without a Real ID-compliant driver’s license will need another form of identification, such as a passport, to clear TSA security checkpoints.
“All airline passengers 18 years and older, including TSA PreCheck members, must present Real ID-compliant identification or another acceptable ID, such as a passport, at TSA security checkpoints,” a spokesperson for the TSA told NBC4. “Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not Real ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (e.g., passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint,”
In anticipation of the deadline, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, which issues the Real ID, announced on social media that locations across the state will extend service hours until 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
How to check if a driver’s license is Real ID-compliant
Ohio began issuing Real IDs in July 2018, and currently, 56% of Ohioans have one, so some people might not realize their ID is already Real ID-compliant. Real ID cards are typically marked with a star in the upper portion of the card, per the TSA.
How to get a Real ID in Ohio
To obtain a Real ID, an in-person visit to an Ohio BMV office is required. The BMV allows people to “get in line online” with remote queueing available through its website to reduce wait times, which the agency highly recommends.
According to the BMV, obtaining a Real ID-compliant card requires more identity documents than the standard card. Drivers need to bring documents that prove their:
• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Proof of legal presence in the U.S.
• Social Security number
• Ohio street address – two documents, from sources
• Legal name change (if applicable)
The BMV website lists acceptable documents.
Once the paperwork at the BMV is complete, the official Real ID will be delivered by mail. In the meantime, clients will have their current ID perforated to show that a new ID is being processed.
Additionally, a paper document from the deputy registrar’s location will show that a person’s Real ID application is pending.
In a news release, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority confirmed that the perforated ID and interim document paper for a Real ID are acceptable forms of identification to board a U.S. domestic flight.
“The number one Real ID question we get via social media, at our TSA lines and through our Customer Experience team is, ‘I went to the BMV to update my ID, but it hasn’t come in the mail yet. All I have is this piece of paper and my old ID. Can I still fly?’” the Fly Columbus website notes. “In a word, YES! Just bring the current ID that the Ohio BMV perforated along with the temporary identification — both documents will be needed when flying until your Real ID comes in the mail.”
What is a Real ID?
Passed by Congress in 2005, the Real ID Act was a response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The program is designed to improve U.S. travel requirements and set minimum security standards for driver’s licenses and identification cards.
According to Homeland Security, all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories, are issuing Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses and IDs.
Real IDs cannot be used to cross into Mexico or Canada. Passengers will still need a passport for international travel, plus any relevant visas or other travel documents.
