Maryland residents will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or another approved form of identification, such as a passport, to board domestic flights or access secure federal facilities starting May 7, 2025. To obtain a REAL ID, individuals must visit the Maryland Department of Transportation MVA in person with required documents, including proof of identity, residency, and Social Security.
Per the Transportation Security Administration (TSA): “Individuals who want to board an airplane for a domestic flight will soon need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license. If their driver’s license is not REAL ID-compliant, they will need another form of approved identification, such as a passport to board their flight or enter a secure federal facility or military base. The Maryland REAL ID driver’s license has a small star on it to indicate that it meets federal regulations that establish minimum security standards.
“REAL ID goes into effect starting in two months–May– and the countdown is on,” said Christopher Murgia, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Maryland. “REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver licenses and identification cards. The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.”…