WICHITA - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today reminded Kansas residents that starting Oct. 1, 2020, travelers will need a REAL ID-compliant form of identification to board a commercial flight at all US airports or to gain access to secure federal facilities, including military bases, nuclear facilities and some federal offices.
Kansas has been issuing REAL-ID compliant licenses and ID cards since August 2017. To determine if a Kansas driver license is REAL ID-compliant, look for a star cutout in the upper right-hand corner of the license. If “NOT FOR FEDERAL ID” is printed in the top right corner of the license or ID instead of the star cutout, the card is not REAL ID-compliant and will not be a valid ID at airport security checkpoints starting Oct. 1, 2020.
“It is important for travelers to start planning now to ensure they have a REAL ID-compliant identification in advance of the deadline,” said TSA Kansas Federal Security Director Jay Brainard. “Signs are currently posted at airports around Kansas and nationwide reminding the public that REAL ID-compliant licenses or other acceptable forms of identification will be mandatory for air travel beginning on October 1, 2020.”
Travelers who do not have a REAL ID may use another form of acceptable documentation, such as a valid passport or military ID. For a complete list of acceptable IDs, go to https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification
“The state began preparing for Real ID by asking Kansans to provide the documentation needed since 2012,” said Director of Vehicles David Harper. “This resulted in about 70% of eligible Kansans with the required documentation on file and ready to transfer to a REAL ID credential.”
Kansans can go to https://www.kdor.ks.gov/Apps/DLStatus/login.aspx to see if their documents are already on file. If they are, a REAL ID can be obtained at the time of a standard renewal. If the license or identification card expires after October 1, 2020, an upgrade to a REAL ID credential outside normal renewal period can be done with proper documentation for an $8 transaction fee.
Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act complies with the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies from accepting licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards for official purposes, such as at airport security checkpoints. The regulations established the deadline of October 1, 2020, to ensure full enforcement of the REAL ID Act. States have made considerable progress in meeting this key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.
More information and Frequently Asked Questions on REAL ID can be found at https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs