Everyone knows that a passport is required for international travel to show your identity anywhere in the world. This is the case if you are coming to the United States, but how about if you were already in the United States and wish to fly within the USA.

Many travelers are not sure if a passport required for domestic flights whether they are Americans or not.

Can you fly domestically in the us without a passport?

If you are an American citizen, you can use your US passport as your identification, but you don’t need to use it as a requirement for domestic fly.

If you are a Green Card (GC) holder or Permanent Resident you are not obligated either to bring your passport from your country of origin for domestic fly in the United States, however, by immigration law you are required to carry your Green Card with you at all times in the United States, whether traveling or not, to show your legal presence in the United States. Your passport or GC serve as a valid identification too.

If you are a temporary visitor coming to the U.S. for any reason such as tourism or work training…, you must carry your passport with you at all times as it shows your identity and the validity of your visa, anywhere in the U.S.

Now that you know you are not obligated to bring your passport whether you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident and you can fly without passport, what you can show to verify your identity when flying within the U.S. to TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agent at the airport.

Do you need a passport for US domestic flights?

The answer is that you have the choice between several proofs of identification, depending on your case.

Here is a typical list of all acceptable identification, (including the US Passport, Permanent Resident Card and Foreign Passport) for airplane travel within the United States according to TSA.

• REAL-ID compliant driver’s license or ID
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS trusted traveler card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. military ID
• Permanent resident card
• Border crossing card
• DHS-designated enhanced driver’s license
• Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
• 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)

Can you fly domestically in the US with a driver’s license?

As you can see if you prefer not to use your passport you can show just the driver’s license or other photo identification (Real ID compliant driver’s license or ID) issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles from your state. Passport or ID both are accepted as valid identification.

But if you are planning to use your ID for your domestic flight, be aware that a standard license or ID card will continue to be considered for use in federal purposes (like visiting the white house or military bases), this includes domestic flights, until October 1st, 2021 (extended to May 3rd, 2023, as a result of the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic).

Do you need a Real ID to fly in the US?

Effective May 3rd, 2023, the airport security checkpoint will only accept Real ID-compliant driver’s license or state-issued enhanced driver’s license from any air traveler 18 years of age or older.

What is the purpose of Real ID?

The Real ID helps the security system recognize the card immediately and easily at the airport to prevent terrorism and identity fraud.

• REAL ID-compliant cards: Have a star at the top of the card
• State-issued enhanced driver’s licenses: Show a flag

Real ID is applicable to the 50 states in the United States, including Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

To ensure that your ID or driver’s license is a real one, find out if it has a star.

➤ Washington Real ID

Washington state has 2 types of REAL ID-compliant documents, Enhanced driver license (EDL) and enhanced ID (EID).

To find out if you need a real ID use the following quiz.

You can upgrade your standard driver license or ID to EDL or EID, by visiting a driver licensing service office only by appointment.

For documents click here.

➤ Oregon Real ID

Oregon Real ID has a black circle with a star ✪ in the upper right corner.

To upgrade from a standard card to a Real ID, you must make an appointment at a DMV office.

For documents scroll down to Real ID Help.

➤ California Real ID

California REAL ID has a golden bear with a white star in the top right corner.

To apply for a REAL ID card you can visit a DMV Office or use the online application.

Complete Real ID checklist for documents.

➤ Idaho Real ID

Idaho Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

To apply for an Idaho Real ID , visit your local driver’s license office with the necessary documents.

Use the ADD the Star tool to get a customized list of the documents required.

➤ Nevada Real ID

Nevada Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

To upgrade from a standard card to a Nevada Real ID, you have to apply in person at DMV offices. Make an appointment online at any of the three offices in Carson City, Las Vegas or Reno.

For documents visit GetRealNevada.com.

➤ Montana Real ID

Montanan Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

To apply for a Real ID use this online scheduler or call the Customer Center at 866.450.8034.

For required documents follow this link.

➤ Minnesota Real ID

Minnesota Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner. Minnesota provides both a real ID card and an enhanced state-issued driver’s license

To upgrade from a standard card to a Minnesota Real ID, just use the Find Office Locations link to get the nearest driver’s license office and select the Driver’s License or ID – REAL ID option. Minnesota travelers at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) can also request their REAL ID inside Terminal 1 by appointment only.

Monday – Friday

From 9 AM TO 5 PM

Please note that you must complete the online pre-application prior to your appointment.

For required documents click here.

➤ Missouri Real ID

Missouri Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

You can apply for a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or nondriver identification card at multiple Missouri licensing offices.

For the list of acceptable documents click here.

➤ Alaska Real ID

Alaska Real ID has a black circle with a star ✪ in the upper right corner.

You need to schedule an in-person appointment for Alaska Real ID with the required documents at DMV offices.

➤ Guam Real ID

Guam Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

To apply for Guam REAL ID, you need to pre-register online for a GUAM ID or a driver license first by creating an account here and schedule an appointment with the DMV office.

For the list of acceptable documents click here.

➤ Illinois Real ID

Illinois Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

To apply for Illinois REAL ID you must visit the nearest Secretary of State Driver Service Center with the required documents by using this finder link.

➤ Kentucky Real ID

Kentucky Real ID has a black circle with a star ✪ in the upper-right portion of the card.

To apply for Kentucky Real ID you may visit a Driver License Regional Office in person or by appointment.

You can check the required documents here.

➤ Louisiana Real ID

Louisiana Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

You may schedule an appointment to visit your local Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) and apply for Real ID.

For acceptable documents click here.

➤ Maine Real ID

Maine Real ID has a gold outline of the state with a star in the upper right corner.

To obtain a Real ID you must visit one of your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) office.

For Motor Vehicle Branch offices contacts and list of documents click here.

➤ Massachusetts Real ID

Massachusetts Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

You can apply online for a Real ID after verification of documents listed at the bottom of this page.

➤ Michigan Real ID

Michigan Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner. For those who already have an enhanced driver’s license or enhanced state ID card, with or without a star, it is a REAL ID compliant card, and both are acceptable.

To get your Real ID, follow these steps.

➤ New Hampshire Real ID

New Hampshire Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

You need to visit a DMV when you renew your driver’s license or ID card to apply for a Real ID or outside the renewal period by appointment.

For acceptable documents click here.

➤ New Jersey Real ID

New Jersey Real ID has a gold star in the upper right corner.

You can apply for a Real ID at New Jersey MVC by appointment.

For acceptable documents click here.

➤ North Carolina Real ID

North Carolina Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

To apply for N.C. Real ID, schedule an appointment and visit DMV office with the required documents. When you make an appointment, select Duplicate License except if you are renewing your license. In both situations, don’t forget, when you arrive at DMV office to tell the examiner that you want your license or ID card to be a REAL ID.

➤ South Carolina Real ID

South Carolina Real ID has a gold star in the upper right side.

You can apply for a REAL ID online if you are eligible, Otherwise, make an appointment to visit DMV branch and bring the necessary documents by answering the “Start Sweet Caroline” questions at the bottom of this page.

Note that a Certificate of Vision Examination is also required.

➤ North Dakota Real ID

North Dakota Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

To obtain a Real ID you need to book an appointment and visit a Driver License office.

Here is the list of the required documents.

➤ Oklahoma Real ID

Oklahoma Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner, it’s all here to get it.

➤ Pennsylvania Real ID

Pennsylvania Real ID has a gold circle with a star in the upper right corner.

You can obtain your Real ID online if you are eligible, to find out, complete the online pre-verification here. If not visit any REAL ID Center and get your REAL ID when served or any DOT Driver License Center and have your REAL ID delivered to you in 15 days.

For the complete list of documents, click here.

➤ Puerto Rico Real ID

Puerto Rico Real ID has a gold star in the upper right corner.

To apply for Real ID you will need to follow these steps:

• Check and pay your fines with CESCO Digital here.
• get your stamps and coupons
• Print DTOP-DIS-260 from Departamento de Transportación y Obras Públicas website (in Spanish only)
• Check documents and other information https://dtop.pr.gov/real-id/
• schedule an appointment here (Scroll down and select LECENCIAS Y ID)

➤ Texas Real ID

Texas Real ID has a gold star in the upper right corner.

You can apply for a Real ID online if you are eligible, otherwise visit a DPS office with the required documents.

➤ Virgin Islands Real ID

Virgin Islands Real ID has a gold star in the upper right corner.

To apply for a Real ID, schedule an appointment and visit a BMV office with necessary documents.

➤ Rhode Island Real ID

Rhode Island Real ID has a gold star in the upper right corner.

For any information on the reservation and documents click here.

➤ Virginia Real ID

Virginia Real ID has a black circle with a star ✪ in the upper-right portion of the card. You can obtain you Real ID online if eligible, if not you have to schedule an appointment for DMV visit. For documents click here.

➤ New York Real ID

New York Provide both a real ID card and an enhanced state-issued driver’s license.

For all the steps, visit this page.

➤ American Samoa Real ID

REAL ID is under review.

➤ North Marianas Islands, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio (Ohio Real ID has a black circle with a star in the upper right corner), South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont (Vermont Provide both a real ID card and an enhanced state-issued driver’s license), West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

⮎ Are already in compliance with the REAL ID law.

Related:

How to Apply for US Citizenship and Have Your US Naturalization