Real ID's federal deadline is approaching. Time to update license

While airline travelers in the U.S. won’t have to worry about having a “Real ID” this Thanksgiving travel season, anyone planning to fly in 2025 should check their travel documents before heading to the airport.

A federal law that will take effect next year Real ID Compatible ID when flying domestically.

Here’s what you need to know about the Real ID deadline and how to ensure your compliance.

What is Real ID?

Real ID is a federally approved driver’s license or state identification card for travel security.

Where do you need a Real ID?

Real ID will be required for domestic flights and access to some federal facilities.

What does Real ID look like?

Michigan’s Real ID was recently redesigned, but the old version remains valid.

Originally, Real ID-compatible Michigan driver’s licenses or state identification cards featured an image of the Mackinac Bridge and a star within a gold circle in the upper-right corner. According to the new design, there is a star on the golden map of the state of Michigan in the upper right corner of the IDs.

The old design will be valid until the ID expires, and the state will phase out the old design by January 2029. Michigan Secretary of State. All new IDs will be issued with the new Real ID compatible design.

What happens if I don’t have a star on my ID?

If your ID is missing the star in the upper right corner, your ID is not compatible with Real ID and you will need to update your ID to fly. Driver’s license remains valid for driving in the US

You can do this by visiting your local. Michigan Secretary of State office. You will need to bring the following documents:

Your current Michigan driver’s license or ID.
A valid, unexpired U.S. passport, birth certificate, or other document Certificate of proof of legal existence.
Certified legal name change document if your name is different from the one on your birth certificate.

How much does Real ID cost in Michigan?

The Department of State said there is no additional cost to update your driver’s license or state ID card to Real ID when renewing or replacing your driver’s license or state ID card.

If you choose to update your driver’s license or state ID card to Real ID outside of renewing or replacing, a fee of $9 for a driver’s license and $10 for a state ID card will apply, according to the Department of State.

What other forms of identity are acceptable?

If you do not have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID, you can carry other documents with you, including a U.S. passport or passport card. A full list of documents acceptable to TSA is available online.

When is the Real ID deadline?

The deadline to obtain a Real ID-compliant ID document is May 7, 2025.

USA Today contributed.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: [email protected].