Have a flight soon but no REAL ID? Here’s how to get one in California, turnaround time

• Starting May 7, 2025, a REAL ID will be required for domestic flights and entering federal facilities.
• California residents can begin the REAL ID application process online.
• Physical REAL IDs are mailed within approximately two weeks of application completion in California.
• Temporary paper REAL IDs are not accepted by the TSA for air travel.

Twenty years in the making, the 2005 REAL ID Act is finally going into effect on May 7.

The act, passed amid other increasingly tight security measures following 9/11, established that Americans would need identification that met “minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.”

It also prohibited federal agencies from accepting identification from states that did not meet those standards, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 

Actual implementation of the regulations ultimately took two decades, hitting several road bumps. Now that enforcement is soon to begin, however, those who do not secure a compliant ID in time will soon be unable to enter federal facilities or board domestic flights.

Have a flight coming up and no REAL ID on hand? Here’s what to know about trying to get one. But spoiler: It will take you at least two weeks, at that’s the best-case scenario.

Is there a deadline for REAL ID?

Yes. Travelers must have a REAL ID to fly domestically on or after May 7, 2025.

After the deadline passes, travelers can use acceptable alternative forms of ID, including passports, military IDs, tribal nation and Indian tribe IDs, or an Enhanced Driver’s License (only available in Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont) for domestic travel.

What’s the fastest way to get a REAL ID before the deadline?

To aid in the last-minute crush of those seeking REAL IDs, select California DMV officers across the state will be opening an hour early to assist applicants by appointment only. Participating offices will be taking appointments beginning at 7 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays through June 27, according to the agency.

The DMV offices that will be offering the early-bird appointment are:

• Pleasanton (6300 W. Las Positas Blvd.)
• Fremont (4287 Central Ave.)
• Folsom (323 E. Bidwell St., Suite A)
• Carmichael (5209 North Ave.)
• Thousand Oaks (1810 E. Avenida De Los Arboles)
• Van Nuys (14920 Vanowen St.)
• Arleta (14400 Van Nuys Blvd.)
• Glendale (1335 W. Glenoaks Blvd.)
• Pasadena (49 S. Rosemead Blvd.)
• Culver City (11400 W. Washington Blvd.)
• Westminster (13700 Hoover St.)
• Costa Mesa (650 W. 19th St.)
• San Clemente (2727 Via Cascadita)
• Rancho Cucamonga (8629 Hellman Ave.)
• San Diego Clairemont (4375 Derrick Drive)
• San Marcos (590 Rancheros Drive)
• El Cajon (1450 Graves Ave.)
• Poway (13461 Community Road)

What documents are needed for a REAL ID in California?

You’ll need to present several documents to apply for a REAL ID, according to the California DMV.

One document includes proof of identity, which could be your passport, your birth certificate or your permanent resident card, among other options.

You’ll also need to prove you live in California.

For that, you’ll have to provide two documents showing your California mailing address, such as a home utility bill or cell phone bill, a bank statement, a tax return, or employment documents, among other options. You’ll also need to provide your Social Security number, although exceptions may exist.

You can visit the California DMV’s website to see a full list of all valid documents.

Can you get a REAL ID online in California?

Yes, you can start the process to get a REAL ID in California online, then complete the process in person.

Can you get a REAL ID online? What to know as the May 7 deadline approaches

How long will it take to get my REAL ID in California?

In California, it takes about two weeks to receive your physical Real ID in the mail after completing the application process, according to the DMV. The turnaround time can vary depending on the DMV office’s number of applications.

While you wait for the physical card to come in the mail, you’ll receive a temporary paper version of the Real ID, but the TSA will not accept temporary paper IDs issued by the DMV or other temporary documents to fly.

What does a REAL ID look like in California?

A California-issued REAL ID will have a bear with a star in the top right corner of the license or identification card, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Homeland Security.

Other markings used in the United States for REAL-ID compliant cards include a gold or black star, according to DHS.

If you’re unsure if your ID is REAL-ID compliant, check with the California DMV, the Transportation Security Administration said.

So, what does that mean for you if you’re missing that bear and star on your card? Here’s what a REAL-ID does and what your alternative options are.

Contributing: James Powel, Nathan Diller, USA TODAY