New Federal Requirement for Drivers Licenses

Starting May 7, 2025, you must have a REAL ID-compliant driver's license/ID to fly within the U.S., unless you use a U.S. passport or another federally approved form of identification.

*Updated 4/13/2023 with new information and formatting.

REAL ID is the new federal requirement for state-issued driver's licenses and non-driver IDs to help prevent fraudulent identification.

Previously, drivers were not required to get a REAL ID. However, starting May 7, 2025 [pushed from May 3, 2023], if you use your driver's license to fly within the U.S. you may want to get a REAL ID. Otherwise, you will need to use a valid U.S. passport or other federally approved forms of ID to travel domestically via air.

You can schedule an appointment to switch to a REAL ID here. [MAKE SURE YOU CHOSE THE CORRECT OPTION]

You will need to bring 2 proofs of residential address, 1 proof of your social security number, and six proofs of ID. [Watch the video.]

“The major difference is that a Standard driver license or non-driver ID will no longer be accepted as identification to fly within the U.S. after May 2, 2023. The REAL ID looks like your traditional New Jersey driver license or ID, but with a star in the upper right corner. The Standard driver license or ID looks similar, but instead of a star, it will have the words NOT FOR “REAL ID” PURPOSES printed on it. Both the REAL ID driver license and the Standard driver license are valid for driving.” – New Jersey MVC

The REAL ID driver's license looks like a traditional NJ driver's license, but with a star in the upper right corner.

Non-REAL ID licenses will look similar, but instead of a star will have the words NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES printed on them.

A REAL ID is an acceptable form of a driver's license and simply provides a way to use your driver's license to fly within the U.S.

By federal law, people 18 years of age and older after May 2, 2023, will need a REAL ID to fly within the U.S. if they do not have a passport.

The REAL ID will also cost more than a standard license. The traditional NJ License/ID costs $24. The REAL ID costs $35.

If you lost your NJ REAL ID, you can get a duplicate online.

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What are 6 points of ID?

In response to reader questions, below is a detailed description of the forms one needs to collect achieve the 6 points of identification required to obtain a REAL ID.

*indicates a required section

Required Documents: Step 1*

2 Proofs of address: two of the following options -

Valid NJ driver license/non-driver identification card, or a Motor Vehicle Commission issued driver license renewal form (displaying residential address)
Utility or credit card bill issued in the past 90 days
Checking or savings account statement from a bank or credit union issued within the past 60 days
Original, unexpired lease or rental agreement
Tax bill, statement or receipt, and/or any letter or correspondence received from the IRS or tax office within the past year
First class mail from any government agency in the past six months
If under 18, statement from parent or guardian certifying address of applicant

Required Documents: Step 2*

1 Proof of Social Security Number: one of the following options -

Social Security Card
W-2 Form issued within the past year
Pay Stub with name and full SSN
1099 Form issued within the past year

Required Documents: Step 3, Six-points of ID*

1 Primary Document: select one of the following -

Unexpired US passport or passport card - 4 points
US or US Territory birth certificate certified copy filed with a state office of vital statistics or equivalent agency in the individual’s state of birth - 4 points
US Department of State birth certificate (Form FS-545 or DS-1350) - 4 points
US Department of State Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) - 4 points
Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550, N-578, or N-570) - 4 points
Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561) - 4 points
Current Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by USCIS (with expiration date) - 4 points
Unexpired foreign passport with valid visa and I-94 (stamp or form version) - 4 points
Current photo employment authorization card (USCIS Form I-688B or I-766) - 4 points
Current Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) issued by INS (without expiration date) - 2 points

And if needed, a Secondary Document(s): cannot use more than two 1-point documents -

Unexpired standard photo driver license from NJ or any state, or US Territory, and the District of Columbia - 1 point
Unexpired standard non-driver identification card from NJ only - 1 point
Social Security card - 1 point
Bank/credit union statement or record (within the past 60 days) - 1 point
ATM/debit card with preprinted name and applicant’s signature (ATM/debit card and bank statement cannot be submitted together) - 1 point
Current health insurance card or prescription card displaying applicant’s name - 1 point
Current employee identification card with pay stub - 1 point
State professional license - 1 point
NJ public assistance card with photo (also known as an NJ Social Services identification card) - 1 point
High school diploma, GED or college degree - 1 point
Property tax statement, bill or receipt issued by an NJ municipality - 1 points
For NJ high school students: a waiver certificate for the written portion of the driver’s test - 1 points
Veterans Administration universal access photo identification card - 1 points
Unexpired federal government employee driver license - 2 points
Unexpired federal government employee photo identification card - 2 points
US military discharge papers (Form DD-214) - 2 points
FAA pilot license - 2 points
US school photo identification card with transcript or school records - 2 points
US college photo identification card with transcript - 2 points
Legal name change court order signed by a judge or court clerk - 3 points
Civil marriage or civil union certificate or divorce decree - 3 points
US adoption papers - 3 points
Current US military photo identification card - 3 points
Current US military dependent card - 3 points
US military photo retiree card - 3 points
NJ firearm purchaser card - 3 points
Unexpired REAL ID driver license, non-driver identification card, or probationary license from any state, US territory and the District of Columbia - 4 points