The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The official deadline to get a Real ID to fly in the United States is almost here, 20 years after lawmakers first passed the requirement.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is reminding Oregonians that the deadline for the federal REAL ID is fast approaching.Starting on May 7, 2025, an

The TSA says you have to get your Real ID by May 7. For real, this time. Why it matters: After that date, Real IDs or valid passports will be required for domestic travel and entry into certain government facilities like military bases.

Originally, the law mandated the switch to REAL IDs by 2008, but that date has been pushed back year after year. Now the deadline is only months away.