REAL ID deadline is coming. How to get one in Oregon and why you shouldn’t delay

Oregonians will soon need to meet federal security standards and get a REAL ID by May 7, 2025 if they want to fly domestically.

Here’s how to get a REAL ID, why they are required and why you should make plans to get one soon.

What is a REAL ID?

A REAL​ ID is a state-issued driver’s license, permit or ID card that meets federal security standards, according to a press release from the Oregon Department of Transportation.

An Oregon REAL ID has a star inside a black circle on the upper right corner of the card. Renewing identification without opting for a REAL ID will show “Not for REAL ID Act” in the upper right corner.

Why will REAL IDs be required?

In 2005, Congress passed the REAL ID Act in response to the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation to improve protection and “establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Can I still fly after May 7, 2025 if I don’t get a REAL ID?

No. Past the May deadline, any person 18 years or older without a REAL ID, passport, passport card or military ID won’t be able to board domestic flights.

Chris Crabb, public information officer for the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles, said 51% of Oregonians have their passport.

REAL IDs cannot be used as a passport alternative to board foreign flights, and Oregonians will still be able to legally drive, vote or prove their identity without a REAL ID.

How to get a REAL ID in Oregon?

Oregonians can get a REAL ID at any DMV office by walk-in or appointment. Applicants must bring documents that prove their identity, date of birth, social security number, two different proofs of address and lawful status in the United States.

There will be an up to 20-day wait period before the REAL ID arrives in the mail after completing the application.

How much does a REAL ID cost in Oregon?

REAL IDs cost $30 each time you apply, and that fee comes in addition to the regular costs for an original, renewal or replacement of a standard Oregon driver’s license, permit or ID card. Getting a REAL ID does not change the expiration date on your card.

An original standard driver’s license costs $64, an ID card costs $47 and a permit is $30.

Renewal of a standard driver’s license costs $54, an ID card costs $43 and a permit is $26.

Replacement of a standard driver’s license costs $30, an ID card costs $40 and a permit is $30.

Why should I make plans to get a REAL ID in Oregon ASAP?

Crabb said the DMV is expecting an influx of REAL ID seekers toward the deadline, so they’re hoping people can make the switch as soon as possible.

Since the option became available in 2020, one-third of the state’s license, instruction permit or identification card holders have opted to switch to a REAL ID — a little over a million people, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Applicants who show up two weeks before the deadline might not receive the REAL ID in time if they are traveling close to the deadline, she said. Temporary paper cards will not be accepted.

“The sooner you get it, the less you’ll probably have to wait,” Crabb said.

Alexander Banks is an AAJA-SPJ reporting intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach him at abanks@statesmanjournal.com