Time is running out to get your REAL ID. Starting May 7, 2025, travelers without a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license — marked with a yellow star — could be denied boarding for domestic flights.

REAL ID is a federal security measure created after the 9/11 attacks to better verify identities. Although the enforcement date has been pushed back several times, the deadline is now firmly set.

In Texas, you can get a REAL ID through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). However, appointments in major cities are booking up fast and could be backed up for several weeks.

To obtain a REAL ID, you’ll need:

• An original or certified copy of your birth certificate or a valid U.S. passport,
• Your Social Security card,
• Your current Texas vehicle registration or title,
• Your auto insurance policy or statement.

If you’ve changed your name — for example, through marriage — you’ll also need legal proof linking your new name to your birth name.

If you don’t have your REAL ID by May 7, you can still board a flight with a valid U.S. passport, permanent resident card, or military ID. Without any of these, TSA officers may ask additional questions to verify your identity, possibly causing delays or even denial from boarding.

You will still be able to apply for a REAL ID after the May 7 deadline, but beginning that day, you must have one of the approved forms of ID to board domestic flights.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit the Texas Department of Public Safety website.