REAL ID deadline fast approaching, but ‘no reason to panic’

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - With less than a week until a REAL ID-compliant state-issued driver’s license will be required for every air traveler over the age of 18 — unless you have a passport or military ID — it’s crunch time if you’re looking for a smooth experience getting through TSA.

“The beginning of the federal enforcement of REAL ID will begin on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at airports across the country,” said Lorie Dankers with TSA Public Affairs. “This is not unique to Anchorage. It’s not unique to Alaska.”

Dankers said that the REAL ID is intended to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver’s licenses and identification cards, keeping those looking to defraud the system from doing so.

While the deadline is five days away, Dankers stressed that many may already have an acceptable form of identification to fly.

“TSA accepts multiple forms of identification beyond the state-issued driver’s license,” she explained.

“[The list] includes a U.S. passport or the U.S. passport card, active duty military credentials (referred to as the CAC), or the credential that is issued to military dependents. The DHS trusted traveler card, such as the Global Entry card or the Nexus Card, will work as well as a photo ID issued by any federally recognized tribe.”

Other forms of ID are also acceptable and are listed on the TSA website.

According to DMV Director Kathy Wallace, roughly 375,000 real IDs have been issued since January 2019, a compliance rate of about 50%.

“Are all of our offices do accept appointments, however, they are fully booked at this time,” Wallace said. “We offer appointments every 10 minutes, but as you know, with REAL ID coming, we are really busy. We do take walk-ins, so please feel free to come, bring a book, and we will assist you as quickly as possible.”

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) said it’s not a difficult process, but you need to show up in person with the proper documents.

In order to obtain a REAL ID in Anchorage, people must provide proof of name, identity, date of birth, lawful status, Social Security number, and two documents proving a physical address. For those off the road system, the DMV said there are steps in place to ensure every Alaskan has the ability to obtain a REAL ID.

If you plan on flying May 7 and beyond, but have no immediate plans of getting a REAL ID, this is what to be prepared for: “Expect to encounter additional screening and, of course, risk being turned away if we’re unable to verify their identification,“ Dankers said.

”At this time, that’s actually no different than what we have now. Those individuals, let’s say, who’ve lost their ID maybe when they’re on a trip, we work to verify their identity, but we’re also very aware that when we’re looking at a population where there may be hundreds, if not thousands, of people who aren’t prepared for REAL ID, we don’t have the resources in place to do that for everyone."

Dankers went on to say that the TSA will focus on those who are REAL ID compliant, getting them through security quickly, because the REAL ID deadline has been discussed for years.

“This is not a strategy,” she stated. “A strategy isn’t to wait to see what action will be taken when they come to the checkpoint. The strategy is to take an inventory of what IDs you have access to now so you can be able to use them.”

Again, this is a nationwide effort, so if you leave Alaska without a REAL ID, your return trip may be full of headaches.

“Only 50% of your trips start at your home airport; the other 50% start somewhere else, and that airport may not have the same resources that we have in place here in Alaska, so you might find that it’s going to be more challenging for you,” Dankers said.

While she said there is no reason to stress, as the DMV will continue issuing REAL IDs after May 7, it’s always best to arrive at the airport prepared.

“The pieces are in place for people to get in compliance, and we would just ask that they consider doing that,” she stated. “It’ll make your life easier. It makes our life easier at TSA, to have people just present that acceptable form of ID or the REAL ID license.”

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