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Arizona Travel ID will be mandatory starting May 2023

PHOENIX — The Arizona Travel ID will be mandatory for travelers starting exactly one year from today.

Beginning on May 3, 2023, you will need a federally compliant ID in order to get through TSA checkpoints at airports for domestic flights, the Arizona Department of Transportation says.

The pandemic caused delays in the process and ultimately pushed back the date.

“Without the Arizona Travel ID or other form of federally-compliant identification such as a valid U.S. Passport, fliers risk missing an airline flight because the standard driver license will not be accepted at TSA checkpoints,” ADOT says.

Identification cards that are federally approved have a gold star in the corner.

You can walk in to get a Travel ID, but ADOT suggests making an appointment first .

You’ll need to bring proof of identity (birth certificate or US passport), social security number, and two documents proving your residency (rental or bank statements, credit card or phone bills) at your current address.

The ID costs $25.

For more information, click here.

RELATED: Arizonans can start adding IDs to virtual Apple Wallet

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Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint

Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel.

• Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant . If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.  
• State-Issued Drivers License or State-Issued ID
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• An acceptable photo ID issued by a  federally recognized , Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Transportation worker identification credential
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)

In coordination with its DHS counterparts, TSA has identified acceptable alternate identification for use in special circumstances at the checkpoint.

A weapon permit is not an acceptable form of identification. A temporary driver's license is not an acceptable form of identification.

Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant . If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.

Learn more about flying with a REAL ID .

TSA currently accepts expired ID up to a year after expiration, for the above listed forms of identification. DHS has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline to May 7, 2025. Learn more about REAL ID on  TSA’s REAL ID  webpage.

TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States. Contact the airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18.

Don’t Have Your Acceptable ID?

In the event you arrive at the airport without acceptable identification (whether lost, stolen, or otherwise), you may still be allowed to fly.

The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name and current address to confirm your identity. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint, where you may be subject to additional screening.

You will not be allowed to enter the security checkpoint if you choose to not provide acceptable identification, you decline to cooperate with the identity verification process, or your identity cannot be confirmed.

TSA recommends individuals without acceptable identification arrive at least three hours in advance of their flight time.

Names With Suffixes

TSA accepts variations on suffixes on boarding passes and ID. Suffixes are not required on boarding passes. If there is a suffix on the boarding pass, and there is not one on the ID or vice versa, that is considered an acceptable variation.

If your identity cannot be verified, you will not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint.

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Real ID deadline extended again. How to get one, what other forms of ID will let you fly

Real ID 2022 update: We're glad you found this article. For the most up-to-date information on the 2022  Real ID deadline extension , read our latest story:  https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/airlines/2022/07/18/real-id-deadline-2023/10053983002/

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article was not clear that a certified birth certificate is needed for the Real ID.

The countdown is on. In less than a year, if your driver's license is not Real ID-compliant, you won't be able to use it to get on a plane. 

Starting Oct. 1, 2020, you'll have to show a Real ID to board a domestic flight. That means you probably need to upgrade your current Arizona driver's license if you want to use it to fly.

Why is this happening now? 

This is the final phase of the Real ID Act of 2005, which Congress passed on recommendation from the 9/11 Commission after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The act aims to provide "minimum security standards" for the issuance of identification nationwide.

Many states immediately moved to implement the new standards, which require applicants to show four different documents to receive a Real ID. Arizona was one of several states that delayed implementing Real ID over concerns about privacy and federal overreach.

To respond to these concerns, the federal government granted some extensions and rolled out the implementation of Real ID over four phases. Accepting only Real IDs to board domestic flights is the final stage of the process.  

Bottom line: If you have the old Arizona driver's license that doesn't expire until you turn 65, you'll need to get a new one. If you don't, you'll have to show another Real ID-compliant document, such as a passport. 

How do I know if I have a Real ID?

Look in the upper right-hand corner of your driver's license. Do you see a star? If you don't, it is not Real ID-compliant.

To get a new driver's license or Arizona ID, go to  AZTravelID.com . You can make an appointment and start filling out the application online. Or, visit a Motor Vehicle Division office, where it's first come, first served. Locations and hours are at  www.azdot.gov/motor-vehicles/hours-and-locations .

Do this sooner rather than later. Many Arizonans will need new IDs. Appointments may book up and it will take 10 days or so to get your license back in the mail. 

Here are the documents you need

You need four documents to get an Arizona Travel ID. Make sure all of these match the name you intend to have on your driver's license. 

1. Proof of identity

Bring ONE of the following:

• Certified birth certificate.
• U.S. passport.
• Passport card.

2. Proof of Social Security Number

Bring ONE of the following:

• Social Security card.

3. Proof of Arizona residency

Bring TWO of these showing your current address:

• Utility bill. 
• Credit card statement.
• Bank statement.
• Insurance policy.

What other ID is valid for travel?

According to the Transportation Security Administration website, you can show any of the following to board a domestic flight in the United States: 

• U.S. passport card.
• DHS trusted traveler card (Global Entry, Nexus, Sentri, FAST).
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents.
• Permanent resident card.
• Border crossing card.
• State-issued enhanced driver's license.
• Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID.
• HSPD-12 PIV card.
• Foreign government-issued passport.
• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card.
• Transportation worker identification credential.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employment authorization card (I-766).
• U.S. Merchant Mariner credential.
• Veteran Health Identification Card.

You can connect with Arizona Republic Consumer Travel Reporter Melissa Yeager at [email protected] . You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram . 

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