Starting May 7, travelers flying without a Real ID-compliant identification document will still be allowed to board flights, but only after going through enhanced screening measures, according to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials. This change marks the beginning of the enforcement of the Real ID Act, a federal regulation passed in 2005, aimed at improving security and reducing the risk of identity fraud during air travel.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that passengers will face added scrutiny if they attempt to fly without Real ID credentials beginning Wednesday. TSA representatives at Newark Liberty International Airport echoed this announcement, noting that new protocols will be in place for passengers who arrive at security checkpoints without the required documentation.
Thomas Carter, TSA’s New Jersey director, emphasized that enforcement would begin but noted the agency’s efforts to implement the policy with flexibility. “We have a reasonable and manageable approach we are launching, so yes, enforcement will begin,” he said. “Those who are not Real ID compliant … may be subjected to enhanced screening at the check point above and beyond what they would normally go through.”
This enforcement comes amid ongoing travel disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport, where passengers have already been facing challenges such as flight delays and cancellations. These problems stem from a combination of factors including a shortage of air traffic controllers, outdated equipment for flight operations, and continued runway construction.
Although a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card will be required for domestic flights, travelers can still use other forms of acceptable identification. These include U.S. or foreign passports and Global Entry cards, among others. In total, there are 15 federally approved documents that are considered valid for travel, Carter said.
He encouraged travelers to check the TSA website to verify whether they already possess a compliant document. “Travelers can check the website and they may be pleasantly surprised,” he noted.
Carter also emphasized that travelers who comply with the new process should still be able to fly without issue. “Everyone should be able to continue on, as long as they comply with the process,” he said. In the early stages of enforcement, TSA officers will distribute informational pamphlets and issue warnings to travelers who are not compliant.
He warned, however, that additional time should be factored into travel plans to accommodate the potential for enhanced screening. “We anticipate some people could be selected for enhanced screening, so that should be baked into folks’ travel times,” Carter explained.
Nationally, approximately 81% of travelers possess some form of Real ID-compliant documentation, Secretary Noem reported to a congressional committee. In New Jersey, only about 17% of residents hold a Real ID driver’s license or identification card, but 79% do have a U.S. passport, which is also compliant.
Interestingly, expired passports or Real ID driver’s licenses may still be accepted at TSA checkpoints as long as they are no more than one year past their expiration date, Carter added.
Travelers aware that they do not have Real ID-compliant documents should plan ahead by arriving earlier than usual. Carter advised that domestic flyers arriving at airports on or after the May 7 deadline should budget at least an extra 30 minutes for the additional screening process.
To minimize congestion and delays at security checkpoints, passengers without Real ID will be directed to separate TSA personnel who will handle the enhanced screening process. “Travelers without Real ID documents will be sent to other TSA personnel for additional screening to avoid creating a backup at airport security lines,” Carter said.
“You could be subjected to that enhanced screening which could take a few extra minutes,” he added. He did not go into specifics about the process due to security concerns, but noted, “They are things we’ve done in the past and that we do now so it’s nothing new. It’s an above and beyond the usual screening measure applied at that point.”
In more extreme cases, such as when a traveler cannot provide any form of identification, Carter said the process could involve filling out a detailed form and waiting for federal authorities to verify their identity. “That would only be in the most extreme circumstance where an individual doesn’t have any ID to provide,” he said.
If the verification process fails, the traveler may be denied access to the secure area of the airport and not allowed to board their flight. This could become more common in the future as enforcement of the Real ID rule becomes stricter. “That’s a step that travelers could face later as the Real ID enforcement intensifies years down the line,” Carter said.
To prepare for the anticipated increase in screening workload, the TSA has boosted staffing levels and implemented new technology designed to maintain efficiency at airport checkpoints. “We want to make sure we don’t interrupt the flow and mitigate the impacts as much as possible,” Carter stated.
Still, there are concerns about the effect on travelers who are fully compliant. Officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are wary that delays caused by non-compliant passengers could disrupt operations for everyone, especially as airports brace for a busy summer travel season.
The TSA currently screens an average of 85,000 passengers per day at Newark Liberty International Airport. Even with a high compliance rate of 95%, this would still leave roughly 4,100 travelers daily who require additional screening. “We’ll be able to handle that volume and still not impede operations here significantly,” Carter assured.
Port Authority officials remain vigilant, particularly in light of increased passenger numbers. January 2025 saw record-breaking traffic at the Port Authority’s three airports, with 3.5% more passengers—or 180,000 additional people—than in January 2024.
“My biggest concern is we start to see congestion volumes at the checkpoint and the impact on customers who showed up prepared with a Real ID,” said Aidan O’Donnell, general manager of the Port Authority’s New Jersey airports, speaking in March.
CherylAnn Albiez, spokesperson for the Port Authority, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to minimizing disruptions during the transition. “In anticipation of this transition, we have been working closely with the TSA and our airport partners to ensure a smooth experience for travelers,” she said.
The Real ID Act was introduced as part of a 2005 federal law aiming to standardize identification documents nationwide. The move followed the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, during which several of the hijackers used fake driver’s licenses to board aircraft.
The latest enforcement phase reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance airport security and ensure the integrity of passenger identification.