What’s the most essential item to bring on a trip? It’s identification.
But what constitutes approved and accepted identification? Of course, it’s your U.S. passport. That’s the gold standard at TSA checkpoints and essential at foreign border crossings. You can also opt for a passport card if you’re coming from Canada, Mexico, or Caribbean countries.
If you have Global Entry, it’s also accepted by the TSA, along with your driver’s license.
But here’s where it gets tricky. A federal law is requiring something called Real ID — an addition to your driver’s license.
It was supposed to be mandatory in 2015, but the program keeps getting delayed.
The new extended deadline for Real ID is now in May of 2025.
For the time being, your driver’s license will still work for domestic flights at the TSA.