REAL ID deadline extended for two years

There is once again been an extension on the REAL ID requirement, this one to last another two years before folks will need a REAL ID to get on a plane or enter a military base.

According to a news release, the extension was announced by the Department of Homeland Security, benefiting Kentucky and other states, with the new enforcement date set for May 7 or 2025 instead of the prior date of May of 2023.

The REAL ID Act is a federal law that sets standards for all U.S. states and territories regarding the issuance of state-issued credentials. Once the enforcement date takes effect, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, or a federally-compliant form of identification, to pass through airport security checkpoints for domestic air travel, enter military bases, or enter federal buildings that require identification.

Governor Beshear says, “The grace period is welcome news, especially for those still recovering from back-to-back natural disasters, who have more time to gather and replace needed documents if they choose to apply for a REAL ID.”