• 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

SAN FRANCISCO – A newly released report shows that California has experienced a significant drop in international tourism.

Visit California, a nonprofit that promotes tourism to the Golden State, said international tourist visits from Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Germany, and Australia, among other countries, are down 15% to 26% this year.

In March, international tourism dropped 11% compared to the same month the previous year.

For four decades, Kervan Samuel has been a street musician at Fisherman’s Wharf.

“I’m seeing less, I’m seeing fewer tourists. You’re not seeing the real spending type of tourists that we had a couple months ago,” Samuel said.

In San Francisco, though foreigners make up about a third of tourists, they spend almost twice as much money. Major attractions, such as Pier 39, said it has been business as usual so far, but they face a potential triple whammy this fall: gift shops might not have enough merchandise, much of which is imported, not enough diners, and a big drop in foreign tourism.

“We haven’t seen any impacts yet on international visitors. What we are expecting is that many people right now internationally are keeping the trips that they already had planned,” said Pier 39 CEO Scott Gentner.

Hotels are doing alright for now.

“We’re keeping a very close eye on the numbers into our airport. And we’re paying attention to the patterns and practices of travelers, and we recognize there’s a lot of uncertainty right now in the air,” said Alex Bastian of the Hotel Council of San Francisco.

For San Francisco International Airport, the only negative upcoming sign has to do with Canadian tourists.

“We do know that some of the Canadian carriers are adjusting their summer travel schedule, citing some softer than usual demand,” said SFO spokesman Doug Yakel.

Going into May is just the edge of the traditional vacation holiday season, so whatever numbers exist may be skewed for a lot of reasons. But come five or six weeks from now, we’ll have a clearer idea of how this has impacted the tourist trade.

“I don’t think that’s impacting travel as much as ICE is. People are afraid that if you don’t have the exact perfect paperwork, you can get picked up,” said Curtis Sparks, a Seattle cruise passenger.

“But I have heard a lot of people being very, very negative with the tariffs. Yes,” said Seattle cruise passenger Joe Bahr.

The acid test comes as soon as school’s out and for the 100 days that follow.

• California’s “SUN Bucks” program will provide over 4 million eligible children with $120 each on EBT cards for food purchases during summer break.
• The program aims to combat childhood hunger during the summer months when school meals are unavailable.

Millions of children across California will receive “SUN Bucks” to purchase food during the summer school break.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, announced the return of the food program that is expected to help feed over 4 million eligible California children.

The Sun Bucks EBT cards can be used to purchase groceries starting in June, and each eligible child will receive $120, state officials said. 

“It’s absolutely essential that no kid in California go hungry – especially during the summer months when school meals aren’t available,” Newson said. “We’re proud to administer the SUN Bucks program and lead the nation in beating childhood hunger.”

How SUN Bucks work

Most children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals through a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application, or receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, and/or Medi-Cal benefits (certified at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level), are automatically enrolled. 

Children in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or attending Head Start are also categorically eligible and are automatically enrolled. 

Children who are not determined to be automatically eligible may apply by submitting a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application to their school or school administrator’s office by Sept. 1, to receive SUN Bucks benefits for summer 2025.

Putting food on tables

“We’re excited to see SUN Bucks return for the summer of 2025,” said Jennifer Troia, California Department of Social Services director. “Last year, this program not only helped put food on the table for millions of California families, but it also bolstered local economies where food benefits were spent.”

Per federal rules, funds must be used within 122 days of funds being added to the card. Any unused funds on the card will expire after 122 days. Expired benefits cannot be replaced. 

California was one of the first states in the nation to launch SUN Bucks in the summer of 2024. 

In its first year, nearly $500 million in food purchases were made and the families and caregivers of more than 4.3 million California children activated their SUN Bucks cards. 

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz