New Virginia State ID Card Coming, Why You'll Need One

RICHMOND, VA—REAL ID Act standards are going into effect this year, which means states must develop driver's licenses and state ID meeting federal standards in the coming months. In a few years, travelers will need to have a REAL ID-compliant card or an alternate form of ID to travel domestically.

Some states are already compliant, while others have gotten an extension to update driver's licenses and state-issued IDs to meet federal standards. Virginia is one of the states getting an extension to begin offering a compliant ID by Oct. 10, 2018.

So what does that mean for travelers now? The current state driver's licenses and IDs remain ok for domestic travel, entering military bases and visiting secured federal facilities until Oct. 1, 2020. After this date, they must obtain a REAL ID-compliant Virginia license or use a U.S. passport or another TSA-approved form of identification instead.

The REAL ID program is opposed by the ACLU, which says it is a thinly veiled attempt to create a national ID, and says it will allow the federal government to collect even more information on residents, as well as put an burden on state governments to issue the ID cards.

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, the state's driver's licenses and ID will be READ ID-compliant beginning in October 2018. Virginians can obtain this identification card meeting the federal standard, or stick with DMV’s current style of credential until REAL ID requirements kick in during 2020. Either driver's license will still be ok to use for driving, voting, cashing a check, applying for government benefits and other everyday business activities. (SIGN UP: Subscribe to a Virginia Patch News Alert and Newsletter. For DC readers, Get Patch’s daily newsletter and news alerts. Or like us on Facebook. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

To apply for the new license or ID, Virginia residents will need additional documentation as required under the REAL ID standards. Required documents include:

• Identity; (e.g. Unexpired U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate)
• Legal Presence; (e.g. Unexpired U.S. passport or U.S. birth certificate)
• Social Security Number; and (e.g. Social Security card or state payroll check stub)
• Residency (two proofs will be required). (e.g. utility bills or mortgage statements)

According to DHS, the neighboring District of Columbia, Maryland and other states/territories are already REAL ID compliant:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• DC
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Ohio
• S. Dakota
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

The DHS has granted the following states/territories an extension until Oct. 2018 to meet federal standards and make their state-issued IDs compliant:

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• California
• Guam
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• N. Marianas
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• N. Carolina
• N. Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• S. Carolina
• Texas
• Virgin Islands
• Virginia
• Washington

For more information on REAL ID in Virginia visit DMV's REAL ID FAQs page.

By Patch editor Feroze Dhanoa

Image via Virginia DMV