Shapiro Administration Urges Pennsylvanians to Prepare Now for May 7 REAL ID Deadline

Philadelphia, PA – With just two months remaining until the May 7 federal REAL ID enforcement deadline, officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Philadelphia International Airport, American Automobile Association (AAA), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are encouraging Pennsylvanians to prepare now to ensure they can fly domestically without disruptions.

These efforts reflect the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to ensuring residents have the information and opportunities they need to comply with the federal deadline.

Getting a REAL ID is optional in Pennsylvania, but beginning May 7, travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or ID card, or another form of federally-acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to board a domestic commercial flight, and enter military bases and other federal facilities that require ID at the door. More than 2.5 million Pennsylvanians have gotten a REAL ID driver’s license or ID card since they became available in the state in 2019.

“As the weather starts getting warmer, we know many Pennsylvanians have made exciting travel plans,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “With federal REAL ID enforcement beginning on May 7, your travel planning should include making sure you have proper ID to fly. If you want to keep using your driver’s license or photo ID card to fly domestically, you’ll need to upgrade to a REAL ID if you haven’t already.”

PennDOT is hosting a series of REAL ID Days at driver license centers across the commonwealth. During these events, centers will be exclusively processing REAL IDs to help Pennsylvanians obtain a REAL ID before the enforcement deadline. REAL ID Days are held on Mondays when the centers are typically closed. The centers will still be open during their normal hours and people can also get a REAL ID or conduct other driver license business during that time.

“Our team takes pride in ensuring passengers have a great experience with their journey via PHL,” said Philadelphia International Airport CEO Atif Saeed. “One thing travelers can do to make sure their trip goes as smoothly as possible is to obtain a Real ID compliant driver’s license. Thank you to the TSA, PennDOT and AAA for partnering on this initiative to make sure travelers have a REAL ID compliant state ID or driver’s license or a passport or passport card before the deadline. I also want to thank Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Michael Carroll and the PennDOT team for opening their driver license centers on days when they are closed to assist more Pennsylvanians in need of REAL IDs.”

AAA is urging Pennsylvanians to be prepared for travel by either having a REAL ID or an alternative form of identification such as a passport since the May 7, 2025 federal deadline is fast approaching.

“Pennsylvania residents who plan to travel domestically by plane should take advantage of the opportunity to get their REAL ID identification sooner rather than later to avoid potential last-minute scrambling when planning air travel,” said Jana Tidwell, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “If you currently board domestic flights using your state-issued driver’s license as your form of identification, you’ll need to apply for a REAL ID driver’s license or start using a passport to board a domestic flight. Travelers interested in obtaining a REAL ID should begin the application process ahead of time to ensure they do not experience any travel delays or postponements.”

Federal REAL ID regulations require that PennDOT must verify the below documents: Proof of Identity; Proof of Social Security Number; Two Proofs of Current, Physical PA Address; and Proof of all Legal Name Changes (if applicable).

When a customer gets their first REAL ID product, they will pay a one-time fee of $30, plus the applicable renewal fee. The expiration date of their initial REAL ID product will include any time remaining on their existing non-REAL ID product, plus an additional four years (unless over 65 with a two-year license). After the initial REAL ID product expires, customers pay no additional fee beyond regular renewal fees to renew a REAL ID product.

After customers present the proper documentation and pay the applicable fee, customers may obtain a REAL ID-compliant product by receiving the product in the mail within 15 days if application was made at a Driver License Center, or receiving the product over the counter if application was made at one of PennDOT’s 15 REAL ID Centers.

For more information on REAL ID, visit PennDOT’s REAL ID website.