Pennsylvania REAL ID Enforcement Pushed Back To 2021

PENNSYLVANIA — The enforcement of the REAL ID has been pushed back a while year due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19.

According to PennDOT, the Department of Homeland Security has postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID from Oct. 1, 2020, to Oct. 1, 2021, in response to COVID-19 and the national emergency declaration.

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. Pennsylvania received several extensions to implement the requirements.

REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses and photo ID cards have been available at the customer's option since March 2019. Still, many residents continue to have questions about the REAL ID requirements.

PennDOT closed all driver and photo license centers on March 16 and paused REAL ID issuance in the state out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of public health. Centers will reopen no sooner than April 3. PennDOT also sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, requesting that the agency consider extending the Oct. 1, 2020 REAL ID enforcement deadline.

"We are very pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has listened to our concerns, as well as the concerns from our fellow states regarding the need for a postponement on REAL ID enforcement in the midst of this national emergency," said PennDOT Acting Secretary Yassmin Gramian.

REAL IDs are optional. If you have a passport, you can use that form of identification to board flights and obtain entry into federal facilities.

REAL IDs are not required to drive in Pennsylvania and PennDOT will continue to offer standard-issue driver's licenses and photo IDs once issuance has resumed.

A federally-acceptable form of identification — whether it's a Pennsylvania REAL ID driver's license or ID card, a valid U.S. Passport/Passport Card, a military ID, etc. — must now be used on and after Oct. 1, 2021, as identification to board a commercial flight or visit a secure federal building that requires a federally acceptable form of identification ID for access.

There are three ways to get a REAL ID. If you've been pre-verified, you can order your REAL ID online and receive it in the mail. You can also visit one of PennDOT's 63 Driver's License Centers, have your documents verified and pay the one-time fee. Your REAL ID will be mailed to you.

If you want to receive your REAL ID over the counter, you can visit one of the 12 REAL ID Centers to have documents verified on site and receive it the same day.

Required documentation includes identification (original or certified copy of a birth certificate with a raised seal or valid U.S. passport), a Social Security card, proof of legal name changes, and two proofs of address. For specific information about the documents you'll need to apply for pre-verification, click here to go to the REAL ID Document Check page.

Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver's license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

Have more questions? Find the answers here.