AUGUSTA, Maine — In less than a year, the Department of Homeland Security will no longer be accepting driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards for federal purposes, such as boarding domestic flights or entering federal buildings. However, another government-issued option that will be accepted is the Real ID.
If you're planning to fly domestically or visit a federal facility on or after May 7, 2025, it's important to make sure you have a passport, passport card, or Real ID. Otherwise, you might not make it through.
Real IDs are the result of a federal act passed by Congress in 2005. It established "minimum security standards for license issuance and production," according to the DHS website.
To apply for a Real ID in Maine, you'll need to bring documentation to your local Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles office and get your photo taken.
Here's a list of what you'll need before you go, according to the Maine secretary of state's office:
- One document that establishes identity, date of birth, and proof of U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, or other lawful U.S. status
- Social Security number (card not required) or evidence of SSN ineligibility
- Two documents to establish proof of residence in Maine, such as a utility bill, paycheck stub, or mortgage payment
If your name has been legally changed and differs from what's on your birth certificate or other documents used to show your identity, legal proof of that change must be provided.
A Real ID compliant driver's license, non-commercial original or renewal, for persons under the age of 65 costs $55. A Real ID compliant non-commercial driver's license, original or renewal, for people aged 65 and older is $40. And a Real ID card, original or renewal, for any age is $30. Duplicate ID cards or licenses are $30. Commercial licenses are listed on the BMV website.
Here are a few important things to keep in mind ahead of the deadline.
Children, which is anyone under the age of 18, who are traveling by air with a companion within the U.S. will not need to present identification to TSA, as long as their companion provides acceptable identification.
Real IDs cannot be used for international travel or border crossings. If you're planning to travel internationally, you'll need a passport. Passport cards are also accepted for land border crossings or ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Passport cards are Real ID compliant, according to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
AAA locations are not authorized to issue Real IDs, even though they can issue normal driver's licenses and state IDs.