A Virginia REAL ID license has a star in the corner.
DULLES, Va. — Do you have a gold star on your Virginia 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. REAL ID enforcement begins in exactly one month—on May 7.
Starting May 7, individuals flying domestically will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another federally approved form of identification, such as a passport, to board their flight or enter a secure federal facility or military base. The Virginia 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 one month from today and the countdown is on! All airline passengers 18 years and older, including TSA PreCheck® members must present a state-issued REAL ID credential or alternative acceptable ID, such as a passport, at TSA security checkpoints. Failure to do so will result in delays and additional screening, which could lead to those passengers missing their flights.
TSA must ensure the highest level of security and identity verification is applied at airport security checkpoints. TSA will apply these measures in a manner that does not impact the flow of passengers or the overall screening process. For more information on the phased enforcement details, please visit the TSA web site.
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.
Virginia 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, individuals will need to visit the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles web site where they can start the application process online and then bring certain documents to a nearby DMV Customer Service Center to prove U.S. citizenship and Virginia residency. 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 Virginia 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.
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.
For more information and details about how to obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card and make an appointment to get your license in Virginia visit REAL ID Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.