oregon travel real id

Oregon Real ID: What you'll need to fly domestically come October 1st

by Stuart Tomlinson KATU Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. — It's back.

Oregon DMV officials are urging anyone looking to travel by air later this year to apply for an Oregon Real ID .

The federally mandated travel document requirement was supposed to go into effect last October, but was delayed a year due to the pandemic.

We've got the details on how to get yours, as well as other options that will allow you to get on a plane this fall without hassle.

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A year ago, Oregon DMV officials were scrambling to get a new computer system up to handle the influx of applicants for the Oregon Real ID.

Then the pandemic hit, and the October 2020 deadline was extended to Oct. 1, 2021.

“We did successfully implement our new computer system in July of 2020,” said DMV spokesman, David House. “And that new computer included the Real ID option in Oregon.”

House said a regular driver's license will not get you on a plane through an airport TSA checkpoint after the fall deadline.

But there are other options.

A regular passport book or passport card will work just as well as the Oregon Real ID.

House recommends anyone who needs to have their regular driver’s license renewed before Oct. 1, apply for the Real ID instead.

“Go to Oregon. gov/real ID and find out what you’ll need to bring and then set an appointment at DMV,” he said. “And when you renew, make it a Real ID and use that to fly domestically.”

If your driver’s license is still good for another three or four years, House said look at the passport book and/or the passport card option to fulfill the Real ID requirement.

Be aware that a passport card is only good for domestic flights, not international travel.

House himself used that latter option because his license is good for another six years.

“I felt, well, I’d be better off renewing my passport and then also getting the passport card option with that,” he said. “And I carry that in my wallet -- that’s really handy because it’s good for domestic flights and crossing the border into Canada or Mexico.”

Other options other than the Real ID include a military ID card, or a family military ID card, as well as other numerous federal ID options listed on this website .

Forty percent of Oregonians already have passports.

“But for the others, the biggest concern is for people who rarely travel and don’t plan to travel and then one day they get invited to a wedding across the country or, unfortunately, a funeral across the country,” House said.

To get the Oregon Real ID, you'll need to present proof of citizenship, two proofs of your address in Oregon and you must apply in person, not online.

“We need to take a new photo -- that’s part of the requirement -- and we need an image that we keep for 10 years; again, that’s part of the federal requirement to qualify for REAL ID,” he said.

House said if you haven’t been to a DMV office in a while, prepare to wear a mask, socially distance and probably wait a bit longer.

Appointments to get the Real ID can be made online .

“People have had -- they’ve got cabin fever,” House said. “They want to travel, they want to take that vacation they put off, and we’re all looking forward to the end of the pandemic.”

In addition to domestic travel, the Real ID can also be used to enter secure federal facilities.

Children under 18 do not need to have a Real ID or other documents for domestic flights, but are required to have a passport for international flights.

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Real Talk: It’s Time to Prepare for Real ID

Have you started making travel plans for 2023 and beyond? Make sure you prepared for Real ID changes. Beginning May 7, 2025 , every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.

What is Real ID?

The Real ID Act establishes minimum security standards surrounding state issued driver’s license and identifications. It calls for travelers to present a Real ID card or its equivalent (passport or U.S. military identification) in order to board commercial flights. Therefore, these are more secure alternatives to the standard picture ID.

These cards include built-in security technology that helps prevent counterfeiting and tampering. The use of Real IDs are a coordinated effort by both states and the Federal government to improve reliability.

Real ID Deadlines

Beginning May 7, 2025 , all states must comply. Most states, including Idaho & Oregon have already begun issuing IDs.

Prepare For Real ID

Consequently, if you don’t already have a Real ID, you’ll need to pick one up. They can be obtained through your local DMV. Keep in mind that your local DMV may be busier than ever and waits may be long. We encourage travelers to get a passport to use as ID, especially if you have international travel planned in the next year.

Required documents vary by state but at a minimum you must provide documentation showing:

• Full Legal Name
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• Two Proofs of Address of Principal Residence
• Lawful Status.

Because states can impose additional requirements, you’ll want to contact your local DMV or visit your state’s government website to learn more before trying to obtain a Real ID. Visit the Oregon or Idaho sites.

Can I Board an Airplane Now?

Yes! Your current Oregon or Idaho driver license or ID card is still good to board flights within the U.S. However, beginning May 7, 2025, you will need a Real ID card or other federally approved forms of ID to board a flight or enter secure federal facilities.

If you’d like to learn more about the Real ID Act of 2005, prepare for Real ID changes, and learn about federal requirements, click here .

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Due to COVID-19, the Real ID deadline has been pushed back to May 7, 2025.

SALEM – Oregonians now have the choice to get a Real ID the next time they renew their driver license or ID card.

On July 6, DMV began issuing Real ID-compliant licenses and ID cards to Oregonians who meet the federal requirements and bring the required documentation to their DMV appointment. Although a standard license or ID card is still available, some are choosing to get a Real ID-compliant card so that they are prepared for changes to TSA travel requirements next year.

On May 7, 2025, the Transportation Security Administration will begin requiring identification that complies with the Real ID Act to pass through airport security when boarding a domestic flight. The new ID requirements also apply to identification you use when entering a secure federal site, such as a military base.

How to get a Real ID

Getting a Real ID requires customers to come into a DMV office and provide specific documentation before a card can be issued. This means that you can’t use the new online service to replace a lost, stolen or mutilated card on DMV’s website and expect to receive a Real ID in the mail.

“Since Monday, we have had many customers attempting to get a Real ID by ordering a replacement card online,” DMV Administrator Tom McClellan said. “Due to federal requirements, DMV must see physical copies of the customers’ documentation and make a copy of them. The law also requires a new photo be taken the first time you get a Real ID. If a customer wants to get a Real ID, they need to make an appointment to come into DMV for a new license or ID card.”

DMV has created a website where you can learn more about Real ID, including a tool to help you make a checklist of documents to bring so you are prepared for your DMV appointment. You can also read about other forms of ID that you can use instead of a card issued by DMV.

You may not need a Real ID

Instead of gathering documents and making an appointment at DMV, you may want to check and see if you are already “Real ID ready” with something you already have – like a passport or passport card. There are many federally accepted forms of identification like a military ID or passport that Oregonians may already have. These can be used to fly after May 7, 2025. See TSA.gov for a current list of federally acceptable ID.

Learn more about Real ID on our website at Oregon.gov/realid

You can make an appointment for a new license or ID card, including Real ID, at www.oregondmv.com/dmv2u

About Author

The Oregon Department of Transportation ​provides a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon's communities and economy thrive.

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