More than 8.6 million New Yorkers have obtained a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card one year after the federal requirement for domestic air travel took effect, according to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
May 7 marked one year since travelers were required to present a REAL ID-compliant document to board domestic flights within the United States.
State officials said the total includes 4.6 million Enhanced licenses and nearly 4 million REAL ID driver licenses issued across New York.
“New Yorkers are ahead of the curve in getting their REAL ID so they are ready to fly this summer,” Acting DMV Commissioner Christian Jackstadt said in a statement. “We are happy that millions of New Yorkers have visited a DMV to get their REAL ID while millions of others are prepared with a U.S. Passport.”
The federal REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 and established minimum security standards for state-issued driver licenses, permits, and identification cards. To obtain a REAL ID, applicants must visit a DMV office in person, provide additional identity documents, and have a new photograph taken.
New York offers two forms of REAL ID-compliant identification: a standard REAL ID and an Enhanced license, permit, or non-driver ID. The REAL ID costs the same as a standard license, while an Enhanced ID carries an additional $30 fee. Enhanced IDs can also be used to re-enter the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, and some Caribbean countries.
Officials noted that a valid U.S. passport is also accepted for domestic air travel and other federal identification purposes. According to the DMV, more than 12 million New Yorkers currently hold passports.
The DMV is encouraging residents who still need a REAL ID to make an appointment online before visiting an office. The agency also offers an online document guide and pre-screening process to help customers confirm they have the required paperwork before arriving.
DMV officials said one of the most common issues applicants encounter is failing to provide proper documentation for name changes.
