Real ID Guide For PA Residents: Do This Before Oct. 1, 2020

A counter-terrorism law passed by Congress several years ago could ground you if you attempt to fly domestically without “REAL ID,” also called a “StarID.” By Oct. 1, 2020, residents of Pennsylvania and all others in the United States will have to have the REAL ID if they want to fly or enter certain federal facilities, such as federal offices and military bases.

Transportation Security Administrator screeners will look for a gold or black star on driver’s licenses. Valid passports and military ID cards can also be used as an alternative. But travelers who don’t have that documentation or a REAL ID won’t be allowed on the plane after Oct. 1, 2020. That's the last day that your non-REAL ID driver's license will be accepted.

To get a REAL ID, you’ll be required to make a trip to PennDOT with the proper documentation in hand — a U.S. passport or passport card, a certified copy of a birth certificate or proof of a Social Security number. It’s a good idea to check your state’s requirements before you go.

In Pennsylvania, start the process of getting the REAL ID by applying online through PennDOT here. When you go to your local PennDOT branch, you'll need a birth certificate, social security card, two proofs of address, and, if applicable, proof all legal name changes. Requirements for non-U.S. citizens and other details are available through PennDOT's site.

The cost of a REAL ID is a $30 one time fee, plus the $30.50 fee charged by PennDOT for all card renewals. REAL ID will be valid for four years plus any time remaining on your existing REAL ID identification.

If you have a valid U.S. passport, you can still use that for domestic flights.

If you can’t get the starred license for any reason, TSA screeners will accept other forms of identification. A full list is found here.

The REAL ID Act of 2005 was passed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks as a way to make airline travel safer. In addition to the stars on driver’s licenses, the cards themselves will be built with new technology, making them much more difficult to forge, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

If you don’t plan to fly domestically or visit a federal office, no worries. You don’t need a REAL ID to get a Pennsylvania driver’s license, or to vote. Also, the TSA won’t require children under 18 to provide identification when they’re traveling with an adult companion within the United States, but the companion must have acceptable identification.

The REAL ID isn’t a substitute for a passport required for international travel, and it also doesn’t affect the ability to vote or register to vote, applications for federal benefits, enter federal facilities that don’t require identification, obtain medical care, or participate in police proceedings or investigations.