What Happens If You Fail to Get A REAL ID in Minnesota?

If you're planning on flying domestically later this year and you don't yet have a REAL ID, you're quickly running out of time here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. But what happens if you DON'T get one?

The clock is ticking fast on the date you'll need a REAL ID not only here in Minnesota but across the country, and those without that enhanced ID, passport, or another federally approved form of ID may face travel disruptions once the requirement takes effect in just a few weeks.

We've been hearing about REAL IDs for a while now in the North Star State. Twenty years, to be exact. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Driver and Vehicle Services (MDPS-DVS), the REAL ID Act was first passed by Congress in 2005, as a response to the September 11th terror attacks.

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But time is running out, and the deadline for when you'll need a REAL ID is now just under a month away. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said May 7, 2025, is the date they will start enforcing the REAL ID Act, according to MDPS-DVS. This means that if you don't have a REAL ID as of May 7, 2025, you won't be able to board any domestic airline or go through security checkpoints at a U.S. airport, enter a U.S. military base, or enter federal buildings without an additional ID, like a passport.

You can tell if you already have a REAL ID by the gold circle and star in the upper right corner of your Minnesota driver's license.

But just what happens if you DON'T get a REAL ID? Well, first, you don't *need* to have a REAL ID. If you already have another enhanced form of identification, like a U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, or a DHS Trusted Traveler Card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), you can use that to fly domestically starting May 7th, and you don't need a to get REAL ID.

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And then there's this nugget, courtesy of travel site Thrifty Traveler. They note that while the TSA is requiring enhanced IDs beginning in May, 'full enforcement' isn't set to start until 2027. And that even if you don't have a REAL or other enhanced ID, you *could* still be able to fly-- but it might take longer.

"Travelers who do not have a REAL ID-compliant state-issued credential or another acceptable form of ID can expect delays when they arrive at the TSA security checkpoint. The length of the delay will be determined by the number of other travelers who do not have a REAL ID-compliant credential," the TSA said in the Thrifty Traveler story.

If you want to obtain a Minnesota REAL ID, MDPS-DVS says the wait time is now around 45 days after applying. To apply, you'll need the following things:

One document that proves your full legal name, date of birth, and legal presence (a passport works well).
Two different documents that show your current Minnesota residence address.
Know your Social Security Number (SSN).

MN DPS-DVS

And here are the steps MDPS-DVS says you should take to start the process toward getting your REAL ID here in Minnesota:

Start by filling out the pre-application information. (At the end of the pre-application, you can choose to have your documents reviewed before you visit an office.)
Bring your documents to an office that takes REAL ID applications.
Bring the appropriate fee.

A special note that while you can start filling out and uploading your pre-application information online, you *will* need to head to an MDPS-DVS office to actually apply for a REAL ID and complete the process.