After nearly 20 years of delays, the deadline to change your license over to a Real ID is just months away.
Beginning May 7, 2025, regular Wisconsin driver's licenses or state IDs will not be accepted to fly domestically, enter federal buildings, or go on military bases.
A compliant Real ID has a star in the right hand corner of the card. If a license or ID doesn't have the star, it will not be able to be used at airports starting in May. Some non-compliant cards are marked "NOT FOR FEDERAL PURPOSES."
Wisconsin's licenses and IDs have been Real ID compliant since January 2013, so all Wisconsin residents have had the option to convert to a Real ID at renewals over the last decade.
The change to Real IDs has been 20 years in the making, with the deadline moved numerous times due to opposition from state governments and then the pandemic.
The federal Real ID Act was passed by Congress back in 2005, with the goal of enhancing security and preventing identity fraud.
"It's a recommendation that came out of the 9/11 Commission, and we've been working on it for a while," said Jessica Mayle, a regional TSA spokesperson. "But the idea is, we had 50 states, 50 different agencies issuing driver's licenses, and we wanted to have one consistent set of security guidelines verifying who the person is when they came to the checkpoint, that they're the same person that's ticketed, the same person on the ID. That's a really important part of the TSA security mission. We just want to make sure that we have the best documents that make sure that we are enforcing that security mission, and we know who is coming to the checkpoint."
Wisconsin state law allows residents to choose whether or not to obtain a regular ID or a Real ID, and that will continue after the May deadline. Regular IDs will still be acceptable forms of identification when driving, but will not be accepted at airports.
At airports, people will be able to use other forms of ID, such as a passport. TSA offers a list of acceptable alternative identification cards: TSA.gov/REAL-ID
To date, 62 percent of Wisconsin's driver's licenses or ID cards currently display the Real ID star, indicating they are federally compliant. Wisconsin has nearly 1.9 million people using non-compliant cards.
Those who already have a driver's license or ID may obtain a Real ID-compliant card for $14 (the cost of a replacement driver's license) or $16 for an ID card. There is no additional fee if the upgrade takes place at the same time as the renewal.
To obtain a Real ID-compliant driver's license or ID card, individuals must visit a Wisconsin DMV and bring the following original documents or a certified copy (not a photocopy, fax or scan):
For a complete list of acceptable documents, visit wisconsindmv.gov/REALID.
For a personalized checklist of the required documents needed to bring to the DMV, check out the interactive Driver Licensing Guide. It also allows customers to pre-fill any required application, print and bring the forms, or submit them electronically (if eligible).