After multiple delays, the REAL ID enforcement deadline is just a couple of weeks away.
The Transportation Security Administration will begin requiring compliant documentation for adults at U.S. airport security checkpoints on May 7. The rule – which also applies to certain other federal facilities and nuclear power plants – stems from the 2005 REAL ID Act.
The law “established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards,” according to the Department of Homeland Security. REAL IDs are marked by a star-shaped mark on their top half.
Sample Illinois Real ID
If you still need to update your identification, here’s what to know.
How do I get a REAL ID?
REAL IDs are issued by states, the District of Columbia and the five major U.S. territories. Travelers will need to show documents with the following in order to get a REAL ID-compliant license or ID, per DHS:
Two forms of proof of their address at their “principal residence”
“States may impose additional requirements, so check with your state’s driver’s licensing agency website, before visiting them in person, for additional guidance and assistance,” DHS said on its website.
Even after the deadline passes, travelers can use acceptable alternative forms of ID, including passports or a state-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (only available in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington). They will also still need a passport for international travel.
How long does it take to get a REAL ID?
That depends. In Tennessee, for instance, while applicants will receive an interim paper document immediately, the hard copy arrives by mail 10 to 20 days later.
“If you need a REAL ID compliant credential for an upcoming trip, please allow enough time before to receive your hard copy in the mail,” the state’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security said on its website. “A paper credential may not be accepted by TSA.”
Connecticut’s Department of Motor Vehicles, meanwhile, advises residents that hard copies will arrive “within 20 business days” of their appointment.
Long waits, no appointments: How DMVs across the country are prepping for Real ID deadline
How much does a REAL ID cost?
Fees vary by state or other jurisdiction. In Washington, D.C., applicants must pay $47 for a standard first-time driver’s license or renewal, while getting a duplicate of their current driver’s license costs $20. “The fees for REAL ID credentials are the same as those for our current credentials,” the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles website reads.
Maine, for its part, charges $55 to obtain a new non-commercial license – or to renew one – for residents younger than 65, and $40 for those 65 and up, according to its Department of the Secretary of State. Duplicate licenses or ID cards cost $30. Travelers should check with their local agencies for pricing information.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How do I get a REAL ID? What to bring to your appointment