You Have Less Than 1 Year To Get Your Real ID

COLUMBUS, OH — Ohioans have less than one year to get a REAL ID compliant license if they're planning on traveling on a commercial airline.

The original deadline for REAL ID-compliant licenses, for air travel, was Oct. 1, 2020. However, due to COVID-19, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security extended the deadline by one year.

The Ohio BMV will be putting interactive kiosks in John Glenn International Airport in Columbus to raise awareness of the impending deadline. Customers will be able to enter their driver's license number and determine if their identification is REAL ID compliant. Customers can also build a list of which documents they need to get their new license.

“The BMV’s presence at the airport will be a new and innovative way to reach Ohio travelers where they are. Travelers who are in a hurry can also snap the QR code from the sign at the kiosks so they can build their own document checklist while they are waiting at their gate,” said Ohio BMV Registrar Charles Norman.

To get a REAL ID compliant identification, Ohioans will need to provide documents which prove the following: full legal name, date of birth, legal presence, social security number (SSN), and two proofs of Ohio residency. If someone has changed their name, they will need to provide proof of the change.

Commonly used documents to receive a REAL ID compliant license include a birth certificate or U.S. passport, a social security car or W2.