California's REAL ID Deadline Approaches: What To Know

CALIFORNIA — In six months, every Californian will need to acquire a "REAL ID" to board a domestic flight within the United States. The new card will also serve as identification to visit federal buildings and military bases.

Due to high demand, officials from the California Department of Motor Vehicles are urging residents to begin the process of applying for the card as the Oct. 1 deadline draws near. The also agency recommends getting it done at the time of your driver's license renewal cycle.

Getting a REAL ID isn't necessarily required, but the state is recommending it. U.S. passports will still be an acceptable form of federal identification to board any flight or visit a federal property. Those who are under 18 years old are not required to have this ID to fly.

View the DMV's fact sheet about the REAL ID here.

It's important to note that the new federally compliant ID card looks slightly different from a traditional California Driver License. This new card will have a little gold bear in the top right corner, while a driver's license will be labeled "federal limits apply."

Any Californian who can prove their legal presence in the U.S. with one accepted identity document is eligible to apply for this card, officials said. DACA and Temporary Protected Status recipients are also eligible to apply if their documents are current, the DMV said. See the REAL ID checklist here.

The REAL ID Act was passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards.

"Starting October 1, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will require a valid passport or other federally approved document, like a REAL ID driver’s license or identification card, to board flights within the United States and access secure federal facilities and military bases," state officials wrote on the DMV's website.

Information about the REAL ID in Español can be found here.

Confused? There will be a virtual meeting April 22 where California DMV Director Steve Gordon will be sharing information about the REAL ID. The event begins at noon on Facebook Live and will be hosted by the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The DMV is also warning Californians about phishing scams related to the REAL identification initiative.

The agency said in March that it learned of a text message phishing scam and reminded Californians that it will never ask for personal information related to a driver's license number, Social Security number or financial information through email, text or over the phone.

Several Californias reported that they received a message like this one:

"Our records indicate that your contact information must be updated for REAL ID Compliance. Provide an Up-to-date Mailing Address and Phone Number." When customers click the continue button, the following message appears: “Action Needed: Due to an update on our new regulation complaint, every CaDMV customer must update their contact information. Update now at: (a fictitious link)."

This is not a text message from the DMV, officials urge.

"The DMV has not sent such a text, nor would we," Gordon said. "We offer secure online services and send text messages for some services, but never ask for personal information outside of a secure DMV account accessed by the customer."

Anyone who receives a message like this was advised to ignore or delete it. The message can be reported here: ftc.gov/complaint.

How to apply for the REAL ID in California

To apply for the new card, you'll need to gather a few documents and take a trip to the DMV.

1. First gather any of the following identity documents:

• Valid U.S. passport
• Birth certificate
• U.S. certificate or consular report of birth abroad
• Certificate of naturalization or citizenship
• Valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card
• Unexpired employment authorization document (EAD) Card (I-766) or valid/expired EAD Card with Notice of Action (I-797 C)
• Unexpired Permanent Resident Card or valid/expired Permanent Resident Card with Notice of Action (I-797 C) or Approval Notice (I-797)
• Unexpired foreign passport stamped “Processed for I-551”
• Documents reflecting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) benefit eligibility

2. Then find proof of your social security number (full number required)

• Social Security card
• W-2 form
• SSA-1099 form
• Non-SSA-1099 form
• Paystub

3. Gather two of these documents to prove California residency

• Home utility bills (including cellular phone)
• Medical documents
• Car or Boat registration
• Employment documents
• Insurance documents
• Bank and Financial institution records
• Change of Address confirmation by the U.S. Postal Service
• Mortgage bill
• Rental or lease agreement (signed by owner and tenant)
• IRS or California FTB tax return
• A document issued by a government agency (local, state, or federal)
• More examples here.

4. Complete the application process online and upload your documents here.

5. Visit a DMV office. Find one close to you.

"Check wait times before you go and bring your application confirmation code," officials said. "Your confirmation code will work like an appointment."