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Adults who plan to fly within the U.S. or visit a military base or federal buildings on or after Wednesday, May 7, will need a Real ID or other Transit Security Administration-approved documentation.

Here’s what you need to know to get a Real ID in Wisconsin before enforcement begins.

What is a Real ID?

AReal ID is a state-issued driver’s license or identification card that meets security standards of the federal REAL ID Act, which Congress enacted in 2005.

Wisconsin-issued Real IDs are marked with a star in the upper right corner. You can check if your Wisconsin ID is a Real ID here.

Over 64% of Wisconsin residents now have a federally compliant driver’s license or ID card, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles.

Can I still use another ID?

Starting May 7, a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, or another TSA-acceptable form of identification, will be required for domestic air travel or visiting U.S. military bases or federal buildings.

The Wisconsin DMV offers both Real IDs and non-compliant IDs.

You do not have to apply for a Real ID if you have no plans to fly or visit a federal building, or if you have another accepted form of identification, like a valid U.S. passport.

You can continue to use your current driver’s license or ID for other identification purposes until its expiration date.

How to get a Real ID

You can apply to get a Real ID online or through a local branch of the Wisconsin DMV.

Using the DMV’s interactive driver licensing guide, you can start an application online, print out a checklist of required documents and schedule an appointment.

Appointments are not required, but the DMV is seeing an increase in visitors as the Real ID enforcement deadline approaches, a department spokesperson said.

What documents do I need to bring?

When you apply, you must provide additional documentation in the form of an original document or certified copy (not a photocopy, fax or scan) from each of the following categories, according to the Department of Transportation.

Some documents can apply to multiple categories, but others may only meet the requirements of one category.

The document categories include:

How to get a copy of your birth certificate or name change documents?

If you were born in Wisconsin, you or an immediate family member can request a copy of your birth certificate online through the Department of Health Services..

This process also requires forms of identification. The cost of the certificate is $20, plus $3 per additional copy.

If you are a U.S. citizen born outside Wisconsin and need a birth certificate, check this guidance.

The simplest way to provide proof of a name change is to bring a valid, unexpired U.S. passport in your current name when you apply for a Real ID. If you don’t have that, you will need to provide documents to support each name change from birth to the current date.

How will the TSA enforce the deadline?

Travelers planning to fly within the U.S. without compliant identification could face delays, additional screening and possibly not be allowed into an airport security checkpoint, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

TSA accepts some other forms of identification.

Minors are not required to have a Real ID, but it is required of adults accompanying them to travel. 

Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

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MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Badgers were back inside the McClain Center for their fifteenth and final practice of the spring.

BadgerBlitz.com was on the scene. Here are my three biggest takeaways from Wednesday’s action.

The first hour of practice went as usual, but in the second hour of practice, the team held a special teams scrimmage. We watched nothing but kicking and punting for an hour.

Atticus Bertrams had a strong day, but the attention was grabbed by the two top kickers. Nathaniel Vakos and Gavin Lahm faced off in a field goal battle. Vakos has been the starter for the past two years, but Fickell made it known that the position is far from locked down.

“It’s gonna be one of those ones that we’re gonna have to figure out,” coach Luke Fickell said on April 15.

“I don’t know that either one just wants to be a kickoff specialist, and I respect that. We did a good job of being able to keep both of those guys because they both have a really unique skill set, but there’s still a little bit of a difference. Lahm, by nature, does have a bigger leg on some of those really long ones, but Vakos, just the other day, was pretty consistent with his 55-yarders as well.”

It was tough to gauge their progress throughout the spring because the kickers only attempted two or three field goals per practice. We got a much better look Thursday.

Vakos seems to still be in the lead. He made six-of-seven field goals, converting from 42, 43, 50, 50, 52 and 53 yards, for an average distance of 48.3 yards. His only miss came from 52, which doinked off the upright.

Lahm, on the other hand, made just three of his six attempts converting from 42, 54 and 54 yards. Fickell was right about him having a stronger leg. Distance wasn’t an issue on any of his misses. There was a 54-yard attempt that could have converted from 64, yet it sailed right.

Regardless of Fickell’s mid-April comments, it doesn’t seem like there’s much of a position battle here. Vakos is the guy. But if he struggles like he did last year, I wouldn’t be shocked if the coaches turn to Lahm.