PA License Valid For Air Travel Until Oct. 2018, As State Gets Another REAL ID Extension

HARRISBURG, PA — The saga of the REAL ID continues in Pennsylvania, with state officials announcing Friday they've received another extension from the federal government, this time through Oct. 10, 2018.

That's good news for travelers, who can rest easy knowing their state-issued license is ample identification to board a domestic flight until that date.

If the extension wasn't granted, a Pennsylvania license would also not have been valid identification for entering a federal facility after January. After next Oct. 10, if no additional extensions are given, residents with just a Pennsylvania license will need a passport or another approved form of identification to board domestic flights.

Gov. Tom Wolf said Pennsylvania is working hard to become complaint with the REAL ID Act, a law created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.

PennDOT anticipates that REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses will be available at the customer’s option in March 2019, according to information from the governor's office.

So what happens between Oct. 10, 2018 and then?

State officials have said they hope to obtain additional extensions provided they are making progress to comply with the REAL ID law.

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