A REAL ID license has a gold star in the corner.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — On May 7, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will no longer accept state-issued identifications that are not REAL ID compliant at TSA security checkpoints. All airline passengers 18 years and older, including TSA PreCheck® members, must present REAL ID-compliant identification or another acceptable ID, such as a passport, at TSA security checkpoints starting May 7.
Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant and who do not have another acceptable alternative (i.e., a passport) can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint.
TSA expects the number of passengers obtaining REAL IDs to steadily increase even after the deadline and compliance will continue with additional screening measures for those without a REAL ID until it is no longer considered a security vulnerability.
If their driver’s license is not REAL ID-compliant, travelers 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 West Virginia REAL ID driver’s license and identification card have a small star on them to indicate they meet federal regulations that establish minimum security standards.
“REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver licenses and identification cards,” says John C. Allen, TSA’s Federal Security Director for West Virginia. “The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.”
West Virginia residents have the option to upgrade to a REAL ID or they can stick with an older 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 the REAL ID compliant license, individuals will need to visit their local West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in person and bring certain documents to prove U.S. citizenship and West Virginia residency. Or they can go online to the DMV REAL ID HeadStart page to upload documents to speed the licensing 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 West Virginia residency, proof of social security number and a current driver’s license if you are applying to exchange one issued by another U.S. state.
Transportation Security Administration officers who staff the ticket document checking station 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.
For more information and details about how to obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card in West Virginia visit https://transportation.wv.gov/DMV/Pages/default.aspx.