The agency said they have a backlog of 62,226 applications across the board, and 23,749 of them are for a REAL ID.

There are delays in getting REAL ID applications and renewals done and Department of Public Safety leaders say first-time applicants should expect up to an an 80-day wait. “Our application volume just ...

The law requiring Real ID for air travel went into effect May 7, 2025. Since May travelers on domestic flights in the U.S. have needed a Real ID-compliant license to pass through airport security.

What the REAL ID delay tells us about implementing proof-of-citizenship laws You know the REAL ID that you need if you want to board a plane? The deadline to get one was supposed to be May 7.

“If it takes much longer, I may go in and do a standard driver’s license renewal,” Eisenman said. Real ID remains a federal requirement to fly and access secure buildings.

As of May 7, travelers need a REAL ID or other acceptable identification for domestic flights and accessing federal facilities.

Some travelers with a certain type of federally recognized ID are being denied by the TSA at airport security, but the reason is fairly innocent.

While REAL ID began on May 7, 2025, the Rhode Island DMV will always issue a REAL ID credential when someone comes in for one. In Rhode Island, getting a REAL ID is optional, especially if you ...

A spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety said the reason for the backlog is that there are too many applications and not enough staff.