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REAL ID Alternatives and the Rise of Digital Identification
By Anya Sharma | WASHINGTON, D.C. – 2025/05/26 20:58:18
With the REAL ID enforcement deadline arrived on May 7th, understanding alternative identification methods and the evolving landscape of digital ids is crucial for travelers.
The REAL ID Act of 2005, along with its modern update, has faced numerous delays, but the enforcement date has now passed. While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) maintains that REAL ID is not a national identification card or a federal database, the implementation of these standards raises concerns about potential privacy implications, especially with the increasing adoption of digital IDs.
Acceptable Alternatives to REAL ID
Fortunately, a REAL ID is not the only option for flying domestically. Several alternatives are available to passengers.
REAL ID and othre federally accepted documents are supposed to be about verifying your identity, not about your citizenship status
The most common substitutes are U.S. passports or passport cards. These documents not only allow you to board domestic flights but also provide the added benefit of international travel. Besides passports, the TSA accepts a variety of other forms of identification, though the agency can change this list at any time:
- REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (excluding temporary driver’s licenses)
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)
- U.S.passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defence ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran health Identification Card (VHIC)
While foreign government-issued passports are accepted, travelers using them may face increased scrutiny at security checkpoints. the purpose of REAL ID and other federally approved documents is to verify identity,not citizenship. However,non-citizens might experience secondary screening or interactions with law enforcement. The power dynamics traditionally associated with border control are now extending to domestic air travel as of REAL ID, perhaps affecting who can fly and under what conditions.