BOZEMAN, Mont.– Officials with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Montana Division of Motor Vehicles today reminded Montana residents that starting Oct. 1, 2020, all travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant driver license, identification card or another acceptable form of identification to board a commercial flight.
To determine if a montane driver license or identification card is REAL ID-compliant, look for a white star within a gold circle in the upper right hand corner. The presence of this icon will indicate that the credential is REAL ID-compliant.
Congress passed The REAL ID Act in 2005, enacting a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission that established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses and identification cards. The Act further prohibited federal agencies, including the TSA, from accepting state-issued driver licenses or identification cards that do not meet the minimum standards.
“Starting Oct. 1, 2020, TSA will be prohibited from accepting a state-issued driver license or identification card from a traveler if the credential does not meet the REAL ID standards,” said TSA Federal Security Director for Montana Dan Fevold. “Because the type of identification that the majority of travelers present at the security checkpoint is a driver license, now is the time for Montanans to determine whether their license meets REAL ID standards.”
“We encourage Montanans who want to get a REAL ID driver license or identification card to review our website mtrealid.gov to ensure they have the required documents to obtain one and then make an appointment,” said Sarah Garcia, administrator of the Montana Division of Motor Vehicles.
REAL ID is intended to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver licenses and identification cards while inhibiting the ability of terrorists and others to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, all travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant state-issued ID or another acceptable form of identification to board a commercial flight or gain access to secure federal facilities, including military bases, nuclear facilities and some federal offices. Now is the time for residents to plan ahead to ensure compliance with identification requirements.
The Montana Division of Motor Vehicles began issuing REAL ID-complaint licenses and identification cards in January 2019. Eligibility requirements include providing proof of date of birth, proof of Social Security Number; and two forms of documentation to confirm state residency. More information on applying for a driver license of identification card in Montana is available at mtrealid.gov
On the TSA website, there is a full list of acceptable forms of identification beyond a state-issued driver license or identification card that can be presented at the security checkpoint. Some examples of alternate forms of acceptable identification are a U.S. passport, U.S. passport card; Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler card including a Global Entry or NEXUS card; active duty and retired military ID including IDs issued to dependents; and the Transportation Worker Identification Credential.
Signs are currently posted at airports nationwide reminding the public that REAL ID-compliant licenses or other acceptable forms of identification will be mandatory for commercial air travel beginning on October 1, 2020. More information and Frequently Asked Questions on REAL ID can be found at https://www.tsa.gov/real-id.