Can you fly anywhere in the US with an ID?

In a word: No. Starting on May 7th, 2025, any person traveling within the United States must possess a REAL ID-compliant driver's license, state-issued enhanced driver's license, valid passport, or U.S. military ID as an acceptable form of identification.



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On May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities.

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Bottom line: You can fly to all 50 states and surrounding territories without a passport. Just make sure to carry either your driver's license or a state-issued ID. To avoid frustrations in the future, ensure your driver's license and other ID are REAL-ID compliant before May 2025.

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If you have a valid foreign passport, state-issued enhanced driver's license or valid USCIS Employment Authorization Card Form I-766, you can technically board a plane for domestic travel. In this scenario, it is best to travel with a state-issued enhanced driver's license.

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In the United States, you need a valid U.S. government-issued photo ID or a passport from your country of origin to travel through security. You must show that the name on your boarding pass matches the legal name on your unexpired government-issued ID.

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You can travel without a passport in the following countries: Puerto Rico. US Virgin Islands. Northern Mariana Islands.

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If you only have an expired passport, you can still bring it along for domestic travel within the United States, but you must convince TSA officers that you are who you say you are. However, if you're traveling internationally, you must have a valid passport.

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You do not need a physical passport to book a flight. Instead, what you need is the passport number. As such, you can book a flight even if your passport has expired, is damaged, has alteration, or does not have enough blank pages.

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Adult passengers 18 and older must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel. Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant.

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Background Information on Flying With IDs
If you're over 18 and intend to fly, you must present a valid government-issued form of photo identification when you check in to your domestic or international flight. Acceptable forms of ID for TSA include passports, driver's licenses, passport cards, or military IDs.

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To pass through the TSA checkpoints, you must have acceptable identification. An expired passport isn't valid by definition.

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If you were age 16 or older when your passport was issued, your passport is valid for 10 years. If you were under 16 when your passport was issued, your passport is valid for 5 years.

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All U.S. citizens need U.S. passport books if re-entering by air. Land and sea border crossings accept additional travel documents, such as U.S. Passport cards and Trusted Traveler cards. Child travelers have additional options - see the Traveling with Children section.

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If you don't have any acceptable alternate form of ID, a TSA employee will ask you to complete an identity verification process by filling out a TSA Form 415, also known as a Certification of Identity form. It asks for your full name, current address, signature and date.

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Beginning May 3, 2023, U.S. travelers flying within the United States will need to show Transportation Security Administration agents either a security-enhanced driver's license that's Real ID-compliant or another T.S.A.-approved form of identification like a passport.

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As a general rule, passports must be valid for six months beyond the date the traveler will exit the United States.

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One of the most important security measures at an airport is confirming the identity of travelers. This is done by checking a photo ID, such as a driver's license. If you are traveling internationally, you need to present your passport. Simply taking a look at a photo ID isn't enough, however.

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Yes, it will show up as an object made of (probably) paper, maybe with a chip in it. The chip might give it away as specifically a passport, if the security person manning the system was actually looking for that. But their primary role is to look for weapons and other potential hazards to flight safety.

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