How can I tell if I have a California Real ID? Look for these key features
After two decades of delays, California’s Real ID requirement is now in effect.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security now requires people to have a federally approved document — such as a passport or a Real ID driver’s license — for domestic plane travel.
Do you have the correct form of identification to board a flight? How can you tell?
Here’s how to check if you have a Real ID in your wallet.
Why do I need a California Real ID?
Congress first passed the Real ID Act in 2005 in an effort to strengthen national security in the United States in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
It was signed into law by then-President George W. Bush on May 11, 2005, with plans to carry out the new identification requirement in phases over several years.
The law was shaped around the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to create federal standards for driver’s licenses and identification cards, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
“Secure driver’s licenses and identification documents are a vital component of our national security framework,” the federal agency said on its website.
However, a variety of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and DMV backlogs delayed the deadline.
When did Real ID requirement begin?
The federal government started enforcing the Real ID requirement on Wednesday, May 7.
You need the special state-issued identification card to board domestic airplane flights as well as access federal facilities and nuclear power plants, the Department of Homeland Security said on its website.
The law applies to everyone age 18 years or older, according to the federal agency.
How can I tell if I have a Real ID? What does it look like?
You can check if you have a California Real ID by looking at the top right corner of your California driver’s license.
If it’s a Real ID, there will be a golden bear with a white star imprinted on its backside.
“The presence of this image will indicate that the credential is Real ID-compliant,” the Transportation Security Administration said in a February news release.
Don’t have a Real ID? Here’s how to apply
Don’t have a California Real ID yet? Don’t worry.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles is “continuing to issue REAL IDs, just as we have for the last seven years,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said in a news release Wednesday.
Applicants need to complete these steps to get a California Real ID from the DMV, according to the state road agency’s website:
▪ Submit a document that confirms your identity, such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate. Your current full name must match the name listed on the identity document.
▪ Provide two printed documents that prove your residence within the state. For example, you can use a utility bill, insurance documents, phone bill or bank statement to confirm your mailing address.
▪ Complete the online Real ID application, a process that typically takes less than 10 minutes. You’ll need your name, address, birth date and Social Security number.
▪ To complete the process, visit a California DMV office. Bring your documents establishing your identity and residence, plus your Real ID application code, and pay a $35 fee.
To avoid long lines, you can reserve an appointment online ahead of time.
Do I have to get a California Real ID?
Getting a California Real ID driver’s license or identification card is “optional,” according to the DMV’s website.
You only need a Real ID if you plan on using your driver’s license or identification card to board domestic flights within the United States or to enter secure federal facilities after Wednesday, May 7.
“If you already have a federally approved document such as a valid U.S. passport, you can wait to upgrade to a REAL ID when your ID or driver’s license is due for renewal,” Gordon said.
As of May 1, nearly 19.5 million Californians had received their Real IDs, which represents about 58% of all issued cards, a DMV spokesperson told The Sacramento Bee.
More than 15 million Californians had yet to get Real ID cards, according to DMV data.
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How can I tell if I have a California Real ID? Look for these key features."
