A Pennsylvania REAL ID license has a gold star in the corner.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Do you have a gold star on your Pennsylvania driver’s license? If not, there’s still time to get your REAL ID-compliant driver’s license with that star on it. But it’s better to get it sooner, rather than later.
Individuals who want to board an airplane for a domestic flight will soon need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license. If their driver’s license is not REAL ID-compliant, they will need another form of approved identification, such as a passport to board their flight or enter a secure federal facility or military base. The Pennsylvania REAL ID driver’s license has a small star on it to indicate that it meets federal regulations that establish minimum security standards.
“REAL ID goes into effect starting May 7, and the countdown is on,” said Gerardo Spero, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Pennsylvania. “REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver licenses and identification cards. The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.”
“Getting your REAL ID before the deadline is more than just a suggestion—it’s a game changer for your travel plans,” he added. “By securing your REAL ID before May 7th, you’ll breeze through security like a pro, avoid delays and start your trip right.”
Pennsylvania residents have the option to upgrade to a REAL ID or they can stick with a standard driver’s license. However, a standard credential—without the star—will not be valid to board a domestic flight or to access secure federal facilities, including military bases and some federal offices.
To get a REAL ID compliant license in Pennsylvania, individuals can visit the PennDOT web site where they can review the process for getting a REAL ID license. If they received their first Pennsylvania driver’s license, learner’s permit or photo ID after September 3, 2003, they can check if PennDOT already has their documents on file by completing the REAL ID Online Pre-Verification application process.
Required documents include one proof of identity (passport or U.S. birth certificate), proof of legal presence for non-U.S. citizens, two proofs of Pennsylvania residency, your social security card (if you’ve been issued one) and a current driver’s license if you are applying to exchange one issued by another U.S. state. If someone has had a name change (i.e. a marriage or divorce), they will need to bring proof of that name change as well.
Transportation Security Administration officers who staff the ticket document checking podium at airports will be checking for a REAL ID-compliant license or another form of acceptable ID after May 7, 2025, because of a federal law (The REAL ID Act of 2005) that mandates that a REAL ID is needed for federal identification purposes. TSA is exploring a plan to phase in implementation starting on May 7, and when that plan is finalized, TSA will post those details on its web site.
Travelers will notice signs at airports nationwide to remind people that REAL ID-compliant licenses or other acceptable forms of ID, such as a valid passport, will be mandatory for air travel beginning on May 7.
For more information and details about how to obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card in Pennsylvania visit https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/driver-services/real-id.html.