HARRISBURG, Pa. — Note: The video above is from 2019.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Friday issued a reminder to residents that there are just six months left before federal enforcement of REAL ID begins for domestic commercial airline travel and other federal purposes.
That means Pennsylvanians who want a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or photo card should gather the documents they need to obtain one as soon as possible, so that there's enough time to get them all before the enforcement date begins, PennDOT said.
To date, PennDOT said, approximately 1.1 million Pennsylvania residents have been issued REAL ID products.
REAL ID is a federal law that affects how states issue driver's licenses and ID cards if they are going to be acceptable for federal purposes, such as boarding a domestic flight or entering a federal building that requires federally acceptable ID upon entry, PennDOT said.
A federally acceptable form of identification (whether it's a Pennsylvania REAL ID driver's license or ID card, a valid U.S. Passport/Passport Card, a military ID, etc.) must be used for these purposes on and after October 1, according to PennDOT.
There is no requirement that any resident obtain a REAL ID; PennDOT continues to offer standard-issue driver's licenses and photo IDs.
“Although October may seem far away right now, we encourage our customers who want a REAL ID to get one as soon as possible,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian in a press release. “We continue to focus on providing the best possible customer service to all of our customers as the federal deadline approaches.”
Based on data from other states offering an optional REAL ID program, PennDOT said it initially projected that 1.3 million of its customers would get a REAL ID prior to the federal deadline.
Having crossed the threshold of issuing 1 million REAL ID-compliant products in December 2020, PennDOT is well-positioned to reach this target by the federal enforcement deadline, the agency said.
Since March 1, 2019, PennDOT said it has processed about 5.4 million customers, with more than 1.1 million individuals choosing to opt into the REAL ID program.
The remaining 4.3 million have chosen not to participate or use an alternative federally acceptable form of ID come the October deadline, according to PennDOT.
PennDOT paused REAL ID issuance in March 2020 due to COVID-19 out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of public health. It resumed issuing REAL IDs in September 2020.
Additionally, the federal Department of Homeland Security postponed the enforcement date for REAL ID from October 1, 2020, to October 1, 2021, in response to COVID-19 and the national emergency declaration, PennDOT said.
"We want to do everything we can to encourage residents interested in applying for a REAL ID to start the process now and be aware of all the proper documentation needed," said Gramian. "This will help ensure our customers have their REAL ID well in advance of the October 1, 2021 deadline."
Customers can obtain a REAL ID by presenting documents for verification and processing at any driver license center.
Federal regulations require that to be issued a REAL ID-compliant product, PennDOT must verify the below documents:
- Proof of Identity: Examples include original or certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics with a raised seal/embossed or valid, unexpired, U.S. Passport;
- Proof of Social Security Number: Social security card, in current legal name;
- Two Proofs of Current, Physical PA Address: Examples include a current, unexpired PA driver's license or identification card, vehicle registration or a utility bill with the same name and address; and
- Proof of all Legal Name Changes (if current legal name is different than what is reflected on proof of identity document): Examples include a certified marriage certificate(s) issued by the County Court for each marriage, court order(s) approving a change in legal name or amended birth certificate issued by the State Office of Vital Records/Statistics. If current name is the same as what is reflected on proof of identity document (usually birth certificate or passport), a customer does not need to show proof of legal name changes.
Customers have three options for obtaining a REAL ID product.
- They may order their REAL ID online if they have been pre-verified and their REAL ID product will be mailed to them within 15 business days
- They can visit any PennDOT driver license center that is open for driver license services, have their documents verified and imaged, and their REAL ID product will be mailed to them within 15 business days
- They can visit one of 13 REAL ID Centers and receive their REAL ID product over the counter at the time of service.
For a full list of driver license centers and their services, please visit the PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.
When a customer gets their first REAL ID product, they will pay a one-time fee of $30, plus the applicable renewal fee (current renewal fee is $30.50 for a four-year non-commercial driver’s license, and $31.50 for a photo ID), PennDOT said.
The expiration date of their initial REAL ID product will include any time remaining on their existing non-REAL ID product, plus an additional four years, unless the customer is over 65 and has a two-year license. This expiration date structure means that the customer won’t “lose” time that they’ve already paid for, PennDOT said.
After the initial REAL ID product expires, the customer will pay no additional fee, beyond regular renewal fees, to renew a REAL ID product, according to PennDOT.