As the May 7, 2025, deadline for full REAL ID enforcement approaches, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) has announced an emergency REAL ID issuance program. This temporary measure aims to assist New Jersey residents with imminent domestic flights within the next 14 days for critical situations like life-or-death emergencies or other urgent travel who lack acceptable identification to pass TSA checkpoints.
“For years, the NJMVC has been issuing REAL IDs and preparing for the start of federal REAL ID enforcement,” stated Acting NJMVC Chief Administrator Latrecia Littles-Floyd. “Anticipating the recent increase in demand nationwide, we have implemented various accommodations, including this new emergency program, to serve as many customers as possible. Our efforts will continue through and beyond the May 7 enforcement date.”
The emergency program will serve a limited number of eligible individuals who meet specific criteria. Qualified applicants can secure a special appointment at the NJMVC’s Trenton Regional Center after undergoing a screening process and confirming they possess all required documentation. Importantly, these appointments are not available through the regular NJMVC scheduling platform.
An $80 expedited shipping fee will apply to ensure the REAL ID is delivered within a few business days. This fee covers the expedited delivery from the secure central facility where New Jersey licenses and IDs have been printed since 2020. There is no charge for the appointment itself.
Residents who already possess a valid U.S. passport or other TSA-approved identification will not qualify for this emergency service. Applicants must also submit documentation verifying their urgent travel need and confirm they have the necessary REAL ID documents: two proofs of residential address, one verifiable Social Security number, and identity documents totaling six REAL ID points (refer to the document selector tool and checklist at REALID.nj.gov).
Detailed information and requirements for the emergency REAL ID appointments are available on the NJMVC REAL ID website: REALID.nj.gov. This emergency service will begin on Thursday, April 24.
This initiative supplements the NJMVC’s ongoing REAL ID issuance at Licensing Centers and Mobile Units. The agency has been actively working to accommodate the surge in demand, including adding hundreds of thousands of appointments, launching “REAL ID Thursdays,” and expanding its Mobile Unit program to Saturdays.
The NJMVC urges customers to double-check and verify TSA travel requirements at TSA.gov before requesting an emergency REAL ID appointment. For more information about REAL ID in New Jersey, visit REALID.nj.gov.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Emergency REAL ID in NJ: Who qualifies and how to apply