What’s probably the least surprising announcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security? It’s another extension of the deadline for requiring all air passengers to have Real-ID, this time to May 3, 2023 instead of October 1, 2021.
This is at least the eleventh time the deadline has been pushed off, this time in recognition that the pandemic has made it harder for people to get to their state motor vehicle departments in person, a requirement of the 2005 Real ID Act. The original deadline was May 11, 2008; Real ID has now taken longer than the endless process that finally completed Berlin’s new airport eleven years late. Note the title image above: yes, October 2020 was once the deadline.
Under the Real ID Act, passed in the wake of September 11, passengers are required to have ID which is more secure against fakes and requires more proof of identity for issue. For a number of years, some states refused to comply arguing that it invaded privacy or amounted to a national ID card. An estimated 43% of licenses already issued are compliant; many states offer both compliant and non-compliant versions. For those who prefer another way, a U.S. passport is also considered Real ID.
